Autumn is upon us, and backpacking trips to the Uinta Mountains may soon be in short supply. If you want to squeeze in a quick overnight trip, but don’t want to skimp on the scenery, Cuberant Lake may be just the trip you’re looking for. A short but stern hike leads to a uniquely shaped lake smack-dab in a gorgeous mountain setting. Old man winter is still a ways off…it’s time to go camping!
The hike to Cuberant begins from the Pass Lake Trailhead, off of Mirror Lake Scenic Byway. Walk west towards Weber Canyon, and just a short time later you will arrive at the first junction. Veer north to the Lofty Lake Trail, and the scenery gets better with every footstep. Tiny streams and marshes line the trail towards the impressive Reids Meadow area. As you pass the meadow, the trail begins to slowly climb towards the Lofty Lake region. The wet lower area gives way to an alpine forest of Lodgepole Pine.
When the trail splits again, take the western path marked for Cuberant Lake. Things get tougher here. The trail climbs towards Mount Marsell, and the path gets considerably rockier. The section directly under Mount Marsell is a steep huff-n-puff climb, but only for a few hundred feet of elevation. A high talus field provides an unobstructed view of this impressive landscape. Switchbacks lead the way down towards several small lakes popular with fishermen. Lillypad Lake is the last body of water before the final climb to Cuberant.
The first sign of your destination is a shoreline view from the trail. Cuberant has an interesting shape; it trends north to south and is long and skinny. Many vantage points from the trail reveal only small sections of the lake, giving it a more private feel than other lakes with more acreage. The best camping spots are found along the northern tip of the lake, and several are large enough to accommodate big groups and pack animals. The rocky slopes that form the ridgeline to Mount Marsell tower over half of the lake, while looking south will reveal views of Reids Peak and Bald Mountain. Definitely a nice place to call home for the evening!
The short hike allows plenty of time to explore the area around Cuberant. There are at least four other small lakes in the vicinity, as well as a number of interesting dells and glacial alleys. You can clearly see old glacier paths that cut away swaths of trees, then deposited their payload of rocks before melting into the area that became the lake. It’s a pretty cool geology lesson disguised as a backpacking trip.
When your stay is over, return the way you came. You can take the Lofty Lake Trail for a different view on your way out and enjoy different scenery. Lofty Lake Trail ends back at the Pass Lake Trailhead, and only adds a couple miles to the overall journey. The Cuberant Lake backpack trip is short, sweet, full of views, and guaranteed to be a fun way to wind down your backpacking season before the flakes start to fly.
Getting There: From the town of Kamas, head north on the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway (Highway 150). Approximately 2 miles past the Mirror Lake campground, turn left and park at the Pass Lake Trailhead. The start of the trail is at the northeast end of the lot.
Total Mileage: One-way travel to Cuberant Lake is approximately 3.5 miles.