AUGUST 2007
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| DEAN LAKE |
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| DAD TAKING A CAST AT DEAN LAKE |
There are at least two different lakes in the Uintas called Dean Lake. This review is about the Dean Lake accessed located near Notch Mountain and accessed from the Bald Mountain Trailhead. This is one of those rare mountain hikes where the lake is located at a lower elevation than the trailhead. The hike is a very pleasant flat, four-mile round-trip walk through the forest. After walking for about a mile-and-a-half you will pass by Clegg Lake. Continue down the trail for another half-mile to Dean Lake. This was a very popular family hike when I was kid. I came here almost every summer. When we were kids, we would always leave the main trail at Clegg Lake, and just head straight down the hill to Dean Lake. Because we like the fishing so much at Dean Lake, we never really explored much past it.
From Dean Lake it is only about a half-mile to Notch Lake, and from there only about a half-mile to Bench Lake. It would also be fun to just keep on going around Notch Mountain on a loop hike and pass by Ibantik Lake, Twin Lakes and Wall Lake. In addition to the lakes, there are numerous ponds located throughout the area that would be fun to explore. I remember getting a creepy feeling once when we stumbled upon one with large worm/snake/leech-like creatures about a foot long swirling in spirals all throughout it.
From Dean Lake it is only about a half-mile to Notch Lake, and from there only about a half-mile to Bench Lake. It would also be fun to just keep on going around Notch Mountain on a loop hike and pass by Ibantik Lake, Twin Lakes and Wall Lake. In addition to the lakes, there are numerous ponds located throughout the area that would be fun to explore. I remember getting a creepy feeling once when we stumbled upon one with large worm/snake/leech-like creatures about a foot long swirling in spirals all throughout it.
