Bald Mountain (11,776 ft.) is the large, gently sloping dome in front of you. The landscape here is unbelievably photogenic, so don't forget your camera. Current conditions, warnings and historical records The route up is the ridge to the far right. Water is plentiful along the trail to Red Castle Lakes and accessible from small streams and lakes. That’s why it blew my mind a few years back when I learned that thru-hikers cover thousands of trail miles every year in running shoes. Red Castle Lake weather forecast updated daily. There's nothing quite as satisfying as having just the tool you need for a job, right when and where you need it. Whether you’re fly fishing or otherwise your chances of getting a bite here are good. This was one of my favorite shots from the hike. Time: 2-5 days overall. SLEEPING PAD: We used the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite and NEMO Tensor Insulated sleeping pads on this trip. A trusty pair of rain pants should be in every outdoor adventurer's gear arsenal. FIRST AID KIT: Always bring a small personalized first aid kit. Here’s why we prefer hiking in trail running shoes: 5 Reasons to Ditch Your Hiking Boots. We explore several key differences in women-specific gear. Our focus is building educational resources to help backpackers of all levels feel more comfortable in the wilderness. Use a combination of permethrin on your clothing and bring a small bottle of DEET for exposed skin to provide full protection. 1 Fleece jacket - Extra warmth under your down jacket that will be warmer when damp and better to hike in. We love backpacking, international travel, useful gear, and all things nature. You'll begin this hike at the China Meadows Trailhead. A trusty pocket knife will come in handy for both the ordinary and the unexpected. With all the technical data to sift through and seemingly endless choices on the market, it can be a real challenge to figure out what to buy. We researched and tested dozens of headlamps to put together this list of this year’s 10 Best Headlamps. Daytime highs are typically in the high 70s, while night temperatures during summer range between 30-40 degrees. Below are the Free Visitor Guides for Uinta Mountains. Red Castle Lake from Mapcarta, the free map. The right camping mattress can be a real game changer. lcarreau - Oct 1, 2009 11:33 pm - Voted 10/10 Afternoon thunderstorms are fairly typical and lightening is always a serious threat above treeline. At one point or another I’ve fallen victim to every one of the blunders listed below (and then some!). See our full. All Rights Reserved and. With the ability to visit three different lakes along the trail, you could easily spend three days here, though most complete the trip in two. The map also shows hotspots where our fishing junkies have caught lunkers and posted photos and stories. As always, difficulty ratings depend on the route you choose, experience, physical fitness, pack weight, and weather conditions. Freeze dried meals are convenient, calorically dense, and lightweight, which is why they’re so popular for backpacking. Some books say that, but I believe Grandaddy Lake is bigger (it depends on who's measurements you use, but on the map it appears so). So get in the mix! To get to the trailhead, take Wyoming State Highway 410 South out of Mountain View for about 8 miles. Once at the Upper Red Castle Lake, you will have a good view of your route up, seen here. We outline critical considerations and our favorite food choices in our Best Lightweight Backpacking Food Guide. For a full list of wilderness regulations in this area, visit this website. 1 Pair rain mitts for wet trips (optional). Location: The trail to Red Castle Lake begins at China Meadows.From there you take the East Fork Smith Fork Trail (Trail #110) all the way to Red Castle Lake. For those looking to get an early start the following day, there's also a fee campground at China Meadows. Check out our Best Footwear page to explore the best hiking boots, shoes, trail runners, winter boots, rain boots, and sandals. You’ll spend months communing with nature, build jaw-dropping endurance, and develop lasting friendships along the way. Whether you’re heading out for a picnic or a full-blown expedition, a quality cooler makes all the difference. A good pair of hiking pants should be functional and durable. So when you're in the market for a new shelter, pick up one of the Best Backpacking Tents of 2020. Upper Red Castle Lake is a small, rocky lake, about 200 yards in diameter. Anyone who is interested in visiting Red Castle Lake can print the free topographic map and street map using the link above. Elevate your next backpacking trip with a minimalist seat that makes break time and chilling in camp more comfortable. Black Lives Matter Not only will they keep you dry when the skies open up, but they’ll also cut the wind and hold in valuable body heat to keep you safe and warm in the backcountry. Stay on designated trails and do not cut switchbacks. WET WIPES: These can be useful for cleaning up after hiking. MAP & COMPASS: Although the trails here are well-marked, you always want to hike with a good map and GPS system, such as Gaia GPS. Here's my list of the Best Backpacks of 2020. The trail begins at the China Meadows Trailhead. Go 2.5 miles east, then southeast on this trail to the Junction with Lake Hessie, go west for a ¼-mile and camp at the lake.Day 3 - Retrace back China Meadows Trailhead. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn." Doing so will make for a more safe and enjoyable adventure. The trail follows the grassy, treeless ridge at an elevation of 11,500 feet for almost two miles before dropping down to the East Fork Smiths Fork drainage, and Red Castle Peak occupies a prominent place on the skyline for almost the entire distance. Some content provided by www.utahtrails.com. Gorgeous alpine meadows and pitch-perfect backcountry camping make this area, especially at sunset, a wonderland. You can send yourself an email as well. A solid daypack should be a staple of every outdoor enthusiast's gear collection. Choosing the right footwear will be one of the most important gear decisions you'll make. Pairing down the essentials into one single bag can be fun and freeing as long as you have the right gear and the right travel backpack to pack it in. Show more. Natural history. There are several good camping spots near the trail on the west side of the lake, and the views of Red Castle Peak are fabulous. POCKET KNIFE: We brought along a small Swiss Army Knife, which came in handy here and there. We're big fans of ours. We've built over 30 instructional backpacking videos in two series - Essential Trail Skills & Lightweight Backpacking Foundations. Campaign Zero Read more... Then you'll love our biweekly newsletter. Because getting good trail sleep is crucial, we’ve researched, field tested, and narrowed this list down to the 10 Best Backpacking & Camping Pillows of 2020. The following lakes prohibit campfires: Black bears are not a problem in this area so there are no food storage requirements. So give a gift that gets someone outdoors this year. Here are some of our favorite hiking/backpacking clothing items from our Top Gear list. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including cutthroat trout and others here. That said, the connecting trails can be very hard to follow and non-existent at times. At Red Lake Ice Cabins, we strive to provide superior Ice Fishing Cabins, great customer service, and an overall experience that will keep you coming back for years to come. Whatever your pleasure; walking, running, biking, or hiking - being equipped with the right mindset and a quality rain jacket will empower you to seize any opportunity to get outdoors, regardless of the forecast. Most people complete this backpacking trip in 2-3 days. Your email and your recipient's email will NOT be shared with anyone. Social media is great, but our bi-weekly newsletter is a much better way to stay in the know. We also have visitor guides available in states highlighted in blue below. Utah's 13ers are generally overshadowed by their 14er neighbors to the east, but do not be fooled, Utah's 13ers require a tremendous amount of effort to summit. The formation seems oddly out of place, because although the Uinta Crest is composed almost entirely of gray colored Precambrian quartzite the Red Castle is composed primarily of sandstone and shale based material. Copyright © 1997 - 2020 The Go Travel Sites. For our trip, we hiked with the National Geographic High Uinta’s Wilderness Trails Illustrated Map and used the route description provided in Hiking Utah's High Uintas: A Guide to the Region's Greatest Hikes. For many of us, it’s been drilled into our heads since day one that backpackers wear boots. SHOES OR BOOTS: We wore Saucony Peregrine 8 trail runners (men's and women's) on this trail and they were excellent. Mustering up the courage to set out on your first thru-hike just might be the best decisions you ever make. Completing a thru-hike will be one of the most profoundly rewarding achievements of your life. Whether you’re springing to action in an emergency situation or just need an easy way to open packaging, you’ll feel confident knowing you’re equipped with a reliable blade whenever you need it. It is fed entirely from the melting snows on the higher slopes of Red Castle Basin and it is not very deep; hence its size varies a great deal from year to year. This is also a summer grazing area for sheep ranchers, and you will probably see signs of sheep if not the sheep themselves. Our goal is to help make your adventures as rewarding and enjoyable as possible, and to inspire you to plan your next excursion. We offer cabins with great amenities, so that the entire family can enjoy ice fishing! Request a few more Visitor Guides, or, Complete the form below to email this page to a friend or family member's email. Dogs and horses are also able to use this trail. Tired of sitting in the dirt? The primitive trail from Red Castle Lake does not stop at Upper Red Castle Lake, but continues upward to a small pass on the ridge 628 feet above Upper Red Castle. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The Bald Mountain Route, on the other hand, is much more strenuous. Soon the path begins to climb again and within a mile you will be above timberline. NOAA weather radar, satellite and synoptic charts. We all use them, but many of us don’t really put much thought into it. Red Castle Lakes is sure to be on everyone's Uintas "to-do" list, especially if you are a backpacker. Tasty food, cold drinks, and the great outdoors - the perfect trifecta! The first route, beginning at China Meadows and following the East Fork Smiths Fork all the way to its source, is the most popular route. Hikers planning a trip to the scenic Red Castle Lakes on the north slope of the High Uintas generally have two different trails to choose from: the East Fork Smiths Fork Trail or the Bald Mountain Trail. Sign up to get our curated emails with the best content from CleverHiker and around the backpacking world. If you’re planning your own trip to Red Castle, this post has everything you need to know. Keep up with our latest tutorials and gear reviews on YouTube. BACKPACK: We used Hyperlite Mountain Gear's Southwest 2400 backpacks on this trek. Current conditions, warnings and historical records The Red Castle Lakes area is arguably the most picturesque area in the Uintas. Packing a top-notch tent is one of the best ways to increase comfort, safety, and enjoyment on backcountry trips. In this guide, we break down all of the best features from articulated knees to zip-off legs. Just a mile before you reach Lower Red Castle Lake and right after you finish … Campsites are first come, first serve and most abundant around Lower Red Castle Lake in forested areas. The route is not difficult, and the elevation gain to Upper Red Castle is only 247 feet. Bury human waste and fish entrails 6-8" deep and 200 feet away from water sources. We offer a compact version of Go-Utah for mobile users, allowing you to access just the information you need on the road. Fork drainage, very near to Lower Red Castle Lake & Wilson Peak, the highest in! Campground at China Meadows Trailhead the basin the outdoorsy person in your life and fast... Policy - Terms of use, we stand in solidarity against systemic racism,,... Best headlamps highest point the trail is easy to access via well traveled trails route up, seen.... Badboys on your pace but we would only recommend this route for backpackers! The map also shows hotspots where our fishing junkies have caught lunkers posted! 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