Basics
- Length:
- 13 miles (20 km)
- Time:
- Allow at least 45 minutes to tour this byway.
- Fees:
- There are no fees along the byway proper.
Description
The hallmark of Fishlake Scenic Byway is the lake itself. The largest natural mountain lake in Utah, Fish Lake is surrounded by lightly wooded hills and provides recreational activities and a beautiful destination in itself. And although the area is remote, comfortable accommodations await you here.
Morning comes late with the song of a bird or the warmth of the sun as you awaken to a new day of outdoor fun. Fish Lake Basin contains many alluring trails including the Lakeshore National Recreation Trail. Extending around the eastern side of the lake, it rises over 900 feet in elevation, rewarding you with breathtaking views of Fish Lake. If you prefer a horse or mountain bike ride, try the Pelican Canyon Trail. This moderate five-mile hike climbs to an elevation of 11,000 feet.
Fish Lake boasts excellent fishing, particularly large Mackinaw Trout, splake and rainbow trout. If Fish Lake is too crowded for you, try Johnson Reservoir, just seven miles northwest of Fish Lake. Together, the two lakes support some of the biggest trout in Utah, with an occasional 30-pounder being reeled in. The fun doesn't end with the fishing, though. Scuba dive the lake's waters or watch waterfowl play across the waves. Wintertime invites ice fishing on the reservoir's frozen surface.
Fishlake Scenic Byway's 13 miles wind through the Fish Lake Basin at about 8,850 feet in elevation. The basin's namesake is a fisherman's delight, the marvelous 2,500 acre Fish Lake. Everyone from scuba divers to ornithologists to day hikers will feel at home here, off the beaten path but replete with modern comforts.
