Outbound Collective logo

Greg Christensen

I asked every ranger I met in the park what their favorite hike was. Thy all answered Lost Mine. The parking lot fills quickly, but there is a shuttle that runs between the Amphitheater overflow parking and the trailhead. Shuttle schedule is posted across the street from the overflow lot. We did this hike with 7 kids, the youngest being 5, 7, and 8. Challenging, but do-able. And well-worth the views!

We just returned from this adventure. We weren't able to summit the Middle Teton as planned (weather + altitude sickness), but the hike to Lupine Meadows was fantastic.

The directions here are excellent. The turn-off from the unpaved road was exactly 1.4 miles from where the pavement ended. But we didn't see a sign marking CF 300. This was in July of 2017. There was a large, free-standing sign that said "Crooked Finger ATV Trail System" and "Safety Zone, No Shooting." The 2.5-mile drive to the trailhead is not only rock (I wouldn't do it in anything but a 4x4), but overgrown. You may scratch your car if you're not careful. Roads are very narrow and if you meet another car coming head on, one of you may have to back up to where the road is wider. It's worth parking at 1.5 or even 2 miles and hiking in. The falls are gorgeous. Well worth the trip. We did this with our 7-year-old, and she managed it just fine.

This trail is the perfect balance of challenge and reward. It's not an easy hike - especially for acrophobes - but it's worth it.

If you're wanting to revisit Havasupai but don't have time on your calendar, pick up Edward Abby's "Desert Solitaire" and flip to his chapter on Havasu. It's an excellent read, and a great way to revisit this awesome patch of earth.

So often we view our National Parks from the car. We drive to a lot, do a short hike, see the thing that's on the postcards, and hike back to our cars. The Teton Crest Trail, however, is an emersion in one of the most scenic parks in the NPS system. Away from the ranger stations, vending machines, historical plaques, and visitors centers, this trail is what being in a National Park should be.

Great review of a fantastic hike. This is one of the best treks in the Uintahs.

An excellent way to get away from the inversion and traffic of Salt Lake. My six- and nine-year-olds have done this hike. It's a good and rewarding challenge for younger kids.