Desolation Lake–Dog Lake, 3 lakes is a 15.7-mile out-and-back near Brighton, UT. The route passes Desolation Lake before reaching Dog Lake at the turnaround, 7.8 miles in. It climbs 2,769 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 60/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi8,596 – 9,905 ft · steepest grade: 18%16.2 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Wasatch Crest Connect Trailhead 40.61405, -111.57064
Nearest town Brighton, UT
Directions
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Desolation Lake–Dog Lake, 3 lakes
15.7 mi · ▲ 2,769 ft · 6 hr 37 min
Elevation 8,595–9,905 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Wasatch Crest Connect Trailhead · 40.61405, -111.57064
Weather Sep 5: Clear, high 64°F / low 46° · precip 1% · wind 17 mph · sunrise 6:58 AM · sunset 7:54 PM
No dogs on part of this route · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Wasatch Crest Connect, heading NE.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto Wasatch Crest Trail, heading NW.
- 4.6 miContinue straight onto Desolation Trail, heading NW.
- 0.4 miPass Desolation Lake.
- 50 ftBear left, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 2.2 miPass Dog Lake.
- 0.1 miReach Desolation Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 2.3 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Wasatch Crest Trail, heading SE.
- 4.6 miTurn right onto Wasatch Crest Connect, heading SE.
- 0.6 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
100% dirt
Weather
ClearTemperature 64°F46°
Precip1%Wind17 mphUV7Humidity24%
Rained 0.6″ 6 days ago
Hourly temperature
65°45°
Sunrise 6:58 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:54 PM
Sun
62°47°
25%
Mon
58°43°
55%
Tue
65°44°
Wed
68°47°
Thu
68°48°
Fri
64°46°
17%
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.4 mi in (~55 min). Leave by 6:38 PM for the 7:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:44 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Wasatch Crest Connect Trailhead Trailhead
- Wasatch Crest Trail 2.3 mi · ▲ 663 ft
- Mill F East Fork Viewpoint–Mill F East Fork Trail, 3 sights 2.3 mi · ▲ 851 ft
- Old Stage Crest Connect & Scottish Chief Mine Road 2.6 mi · ▲ 663 ft
- Guardsman Pass & Scott's Bypass 2.6 mi · ▲ 796 ft
- Mill F East Fork Trail–Old Stage Crest Connect, 3 sights 2.9 mi · ▲ 1,073 ft
- Scott Hill via Wasatch Crest Trail 3.1 mi · ▲ 929 ft
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