Uinta Highline Trail (From Hayden Pass to Naturalist Basin Trail Junction)

This forested section of the Uinta Highline Trail from the Hayden Pass Trailhead to the Naturalist Basin Trail Junction is either the first or last few miles of your journey on the challenging thru-hike. The Hayden Pass Trailhead, also known as the Highline Trailhead, is a popular starting or ending point for hikers. It features a parking area and a vault toilet. Due to its accessibility from the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway, this trailhead experiences high usage, especially on summer weekends. A federal fee area pass is required for parking. This section of trail is characterized by dense forest, which is different that the rest of the UHT, which is quite open and often above treeline. Wildfires have opened some areas, allowing for glimpses of mountains and lakes through the trees, but much of the trail remains closed in by forest. This section can be heavily trafficked, particularly on weekends, with numerous hikers and their dogs.