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Directions • Remember to purchase your $6 recreation pass at the Forest Service office in Kamas, 50 E. Center St., or at the self-pay stations along Highway 150. From Kamas, take Highway 150, also known as the Mirror Lake Highway, east for 10.6 miles. Then turn northeast onto Norway Flats Road. In about a mile it become Forest Service Road 035. It is unpaved, very bumpy and requires a high-clearance vehicle. The road continues snaking north and east until, about 6.5 miles from the highway, you reach a sign for the trail to Big Elk Lake. The trailhead is at 40.659620, -111.055560.

The trail to Big Elk Lake offers some nice shaded Uinta Mountains scenery, including meadows and, of course, a lake. From the trailhead, the hike takes you north and east through the trees. At one-quarter mile, the trail begins descending. You'll hit bottom at about four-tenths of a mile where there is a nice meadow that, in the summer, has wildflowers. Then the ascent begins and lasts until about three-quarters of a mile. The trail levels until you reach a big clearing that is a swampy meadow. Follow the trail to the left, across the creek and up some switchbacks and you'll arrive at Big Elk Lake. Be careful on your return. When you pass that swampy clearing again, the trees obscure the trail and it's easy to get lost. DestinationBig Elk Lake

Hiking time2.5 hours

Round trip miles3.5 miles

Elevation gain457 feet

DifficultyModerate

Trail head restroomsNo

Dogs allowedYes

Bikes allowedNo