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Camp / Hike Gear
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East Fork Duchesne Trail
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The East Fork Duchesne Trail is a good choice for entering the Pinto Lake and Granddaddy Basin areas. Use is light. Note that the trail climbs 800 feet in about 2 1/2 miles to the junction where a branch trail takes off to the right and climbs to the Pinto-Governor Dern Lakes area. This trail, the Skinner Cutoff Trail, climbs steeply for about 1/2 mile then levels off as you approach Pinto Lake, which is about 1 1/2 miles from the trail junction..Staying on the East Fork of the Duchesne Trail, you will pass another trail, Pinto Lake-East Fork Trail, in about 1 mile, leading off to the right going back into Pinto Lake, about 1 1/2 miles away. Continuing farther up the East Fork, you reach the Highline Trail in about 2 miles. At the Highline junction you will be 1 1/2 miles from the Naturalist Basin turnoff and 7 miles from the Mirror Lake Trailhead. Turning to the right on the Highline Trail leads to Rocky Sea Pass, the gateway to the entire Wilderness lying to the east. .
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The Basics |
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Location: |
Along Highway 150 about 32 miles northeast of Kamas |
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| Difficulty: |
Intermediate
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| Length: |
5 miles oneway
Up to 7 miles oneway if you take the other fork. |
| Elevation: |
1300 feet |
| Season: |
June to October |
| Map: |
USGS Quads: Hayden Peak
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Some More Things to Know |
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This trail runs parallel to the East Fork of the Duchesne River, connecting the North Fork of the Duchesne Trail with Pinto Lake and the Grandaddy Basin and the Highline Trail. Fording the stream at the beginning of this trail can be hazardous, especially in high water. Immediately east of the crossing, the trail climbs a steep grade across shale rock. The shale tends to slough, making footing unsure for horses. Horse riders are advised to be particularly careful crossing this slope. The rest of the trail is in fair to good condition. Many small streams cross the trail, and there are a number of soft, muddy areas.
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Directions to Trailhead |
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The trailhead is a 3 1/2 mile hike in from Mirror Lake Campground on the North Fork Duchesne Trail. The west end of the East Fork Duchesne Trail begins at a junction with the North Fork of the Duchesne Trail (#086) just below the confluence of the East and North Forks of the Duchesne River. The east end of the trail forks. The right fork connects with the Fish Creek Trail on the Ashley National Forest, about 1/4 mile north of Pinto Lake. The left fork continues east up the Duchesne River, connecting with the Pinto Lake Trail and the Highline Trail.
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