Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest

The most heavily visited forest in the Intermountain Region at over 2.1 million acres, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest protects the Wasatch Mountains immediately east of Salt Lake City, supporting seven world-class ski resorts including Park City, Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, Solitude, Deer Valley, and Sundance. The forest encompasses ten wilderness areas including the popular Lone Peak, Mount Olympus, and Twin Peaks Wilderness areas, where rugged granite peaks tower directly above the Salt Lake Valley. The Mirror Lake Scenic Byway climbs through the western Uinta Mountains past dozens of alpine lakes to Bald Mountain Pass at 10,687 feet, offering easy access to high-elevation hiking, fishing, and camping. As the primary watershed for over two million Wasatch Front residents, the forest's Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons are carefully managed to protect drinking water quality while accommodating millions of recreational visitors annually. The Cache division in northern Utah protects the Bear River Range with extensive trail systems popular for mountain biking, while the Stansbury Mountains west of Salt Lake City offer more remote desert-mountain experiences. From legendary powder skiing dubbed "The Greatest Snow on Earth" to summer wildflower meadows, world-class rock climbing in Big Cottonwood Canyon, and fall foliage along the Alpine Loop, this forest is essential to Utah's outdoor identity.