Desolation Lake–Dog Lake Loop, 7 sights is a 10.1-mile loop near Lost Acres, UT. The route passes Dog Lake and Desolation Lake. It climbs 2,535 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 74/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi7,628 – 9,679 ft · steepest grade: 20%10.7 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Lower Big Water Trailhead 40.68446, -111.64880
Nearest town Lost Acres, UT
Directions
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Desolation Lake–Dog Lake Loop, 7 sights
10.1 mi · ▲ 2,535 ft · 4 hr 38 min
Elevation 7,627–9,679 ft
Loop
Trailhead: Lower Big Water Trailhead · 40.68446, -111.64880
Weather Sep 4: Clear, high 73°F / low 56° · precip 1% · wind 16 mph · sunrise 6:57 AM · sunset 7:56 PM
No dogs on part of this route · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Mid Millcreek Connector, heading NW.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Lower Big Water Link Trail, heading W.
- 0.4 miSharp right onto Big Water Trail, heading S.
- 0.9 miTurn right onto Great Western Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Little Water Trail, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left onto Big Water Trail, heading S.
- 450 ftPass Dog Lake.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Little Water Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left onto Big Water Trail, heading S.
- 200 ftBear left onto Desolation Trail, heading SW.
- 300 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 500 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 2.1 miPass Desolation Lake.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 0.4 miSharp left onto Wasatch Crest Trail, heading SE.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Mill Creek Meadows Trail, heading NW.
- 1.8 miTurn right onto Great Western Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 miSharp left onto Old Red Pine Road Trail, heading NW.
- 1.9 miContinue straight onto Upper Big Water Trailhead Road, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left onto Big Water Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Lower Big Water Link Trail, heading W.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Mid Millcreek Connector, heading S.
- 50 ftThe loop closes 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 73°F56°
Precip1%Wind16 mphUV7Humidity21%
Rained 0.2″ 6 days ago
Hourly temperature
75°55°
Sunrise 6:57 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:56 PM
Sat
72°55°
Sun
69°49°
48%
Mon
56°45°
61%
Tue
69°44°
Wed
77°51°
Thu
73°51°
27%
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.6 mi in (~174 min). Leave by 4:42 PM for the 7:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:08 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 Lower Big Water Trailhead Trailhead
- Mid Millcreek Connector 2.9 mi · ▲ 481 ft
- Reynolds Peak–Dog Lake, 4 sights 4.2 mi · ▲ 1,871 ft
- Dog Lake–Big Water Trail, 3 sights 4.4 mi · ▲ 1,206 ft
- Mid Millcreek Connector 4.5 mi · ▲ 1,407 ft
- Little Water Trail & Old Red Pine Road Trail Loop via Great Western Trail 4.7 mi · ▲ 1,035 ft
- Mid Millcreek Connector 6.5 mi · ▲ 1,104 ft
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