Mirror Lake

Mirror Lake is a natural lake in the high Uinta Mountains of Utah. It lies just east of Bald Mountain Pass at an altitude of 9000 feet. Click here for map. The lake is a popular fishing and camping spot, and is known for its beautiful setting. Although the shoreline is rocky, the lake bottom is soft crud. Picture: Mirror Lake, looking north. In the foreground is the lake perimeter trail. Bruce Argyle, September 17, 1998.

The Water: Mirror Lake is shallow, with a maximum depth of around 30 feet. The water is greenish with many suspended particles -- not nearly as nice as you'd think from the surface appearance. Visibility is 6-9 feet. Surface temperature in late summer is 60 degrees. On our dive, we encountered no thermocline. Our dive was at the south end, near the parking area at GPS N 40° 42.089' W 110° 53.249'. Picture: Dominic Bria and Mike Engberson prepare to enter Mirror Lake from the southern shore. Photo by Bruce Argyle.

Services: There are camping and picnic areas at the lake, with bathrooms near the beach. A ranger is stationed at the entrance to the lake area. Nearest dive services are in Orem or Salt Lake City.

Thermal protection: In early season (while the snow-melt is going on), you'll need a dry suit. In late summer, a farmer john, jacket, hood, and gloves will keep you toasty. Dominic Bria picks up one of several fishing rods we found on the lake bottom. Bruce Argyle, Sea & Sea MMII 20 mm lens, YS-60 strobe.

What to see: In the shallows, moss covers a muddy bottom. Tiny green plants protrude from the moss. Small fish dart around. In the deeper areas, the bottom is covered with six inches of odd brown "fluff" that suspends into the water with the slightest disturbance. Good buoyancy control is necessary if you plan to see anything. Small plant life in the shallows of Mirror Lake. Picture Bruce Argyle, Sea & Sea MMII with 2T macro lens, YS-60 strobe.

Trout cruise through the lake. You'll see the albino trout at a distance. The natural-colored trout will appear suddenly out of the green gloom then disappear again. An albino trout cruises the waters of Mirror Lake. Photo by Dominic Bria, Nikonos V 20 mm lens, 2 YS-50 strobes

Special note: While most people go to Mirror Lake for the shear beauty of it, some people go to catch trout. Neither trout fishing, nor the image of scuba divers, is helped by stirring up a bunch of mud right where your fellow citizens are trying to fish. The bottom is extremely muddy and soft, so please be sensitive about where you enter the water.

Fees: There is a $3 recreation fee, which you can pay either as you enter the canyon or as you arrive at the lake. Except at peak times, payment is by self-service envelope.

Our recommendation: This dive is worth doing. You'll see trout, yes, but the best thing about diving this lake is just being there. Take the kiddies to hike the lake perimeter trail and fish for trout. Don't make this lake your "fish-photo" site -- the crud on the bottom stirs up too quickly. (You have no idea how hard we worked to get the photos you see here! See our altitude camera precautions and the altitude-adjusted dive depths.) An albino trout. Photo Dominic Bria, Nikonos V 20 mm lens, 2 YS-50 strobes.

Getting there: Click here for map.
Salt Lake/Provo: Take I-80 east over Parley's Summit. Exit at US-40/US-189, turning south (right). Three miles later, turn left on US-189 towards Kamas. Drive through Kamas to U-150 "The Mirror Lake Highway." Drive 40 miles, dropping over Bald Mountain Pass. The lake is just off the road on your right, a mile or so past the summit.
Ogden: Take I-84 east. At Echo Junction, take I-80 westbound (towards Coalville and Salt Lake). At Wanship, go south on US-189 to Kamas. Turn left in Kamas when you reach U-150, then follow the directions as above.

This dive site review was compiled September 1998 by Bruce Argyle, Dominic Bria, and Mike Engberson.