Desolation Lake–Dog Lake, 4 sights is a 10.9-mile out-and-back in Mount Olympus Wilderness near Pine Lodge, UT. The route passes Dog Lake and Desolation Lake. It climbs 3,205 ft, with sections as steep as 24% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 53/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi7,123 – 9,804 ft · steepest grade: 24%11.6 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Butler Fork Trailhead 40.64931, -111.66168
Nearest town Pine Lodge, UT
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Desolation Lake–Dog Lake, 4 sights
10.9 mi · ▲ 3,205 ft · 5 hr 14 min
Elevation 7,124–9,804 ft
Out & Back · Mount Olympus Wilderness
Trailhead: Butler Fork Trailhead · 40.64931, -111.66168
Weather Sep 4: Clear, high 74°F / low 56° · precip 1% · wind 14 mph · sunrise 6:58 AM · sunset 7:56 PM
No dogs on part of this route · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Butler Fork Trail, heading NW.
- 2.2 miContinue straight onto Desolation Trail, heading E.
- 0.1 miPass Dog Lake.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
- 500 ftSharp left, heading SE.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 2.1 miPass Desolation Lake.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Wasatch Crest Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miReach Desolation Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Desolation Trail, heading NW.
- 0.4 miBear left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 2.2 miTurn left, heading W.
- 200 ftTurn right, heading W.
- 100 ftSharp left, heading W.
- 50 ftSharp right, heading W.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Butler Fork Trail, heading NW.
- 1.8 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 74°F56°
Precip1%Wind14 mphUV7Humidity23%
Rained 0.4″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperature
75°55°
Sunrise 6:58 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:56 PM
Sat
73°55°
Sun
70°50°
52%
Mon
58°47°
62%
Tue
70°45°
Wed
78°53°
Thu
74°53°
28%
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.3 mi in (~208 min). Leave by 4:08 PM for the 7:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:26 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Butler Fork Trailhead Trailhead
- Circle All Peak & Mill A Basin Trail 3.3 mi · ▲ 1,559 ft
- Dog Lake & Butler Fork Trail via Desolation Trail 4.8 mi · ▲ 1,740 ft
- Reynolds Peak–Dog Lake, 4 sights 5.7 mi · ▲ 2,366 ft
- Spring Water Pipeline Leak–Beaver Pond, 5 sights 9.9 mi · ▲ 3,217 ft
- Mill B Overlook & Mill A Basin Trail via Desolation Trail 13.7 mi · ▲ 4,604 ft
- Mill A Basin Trail & Porter Fork Trail via Desolation Trail 13.8 mi · ▲ 4,894 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Pine Lodge, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Pine Lodge, Utah