Cutthroat Lake

Cutthroat lake is like a typical Uinta lake except that it is officially "off trail". That being said, it is certainly not a difficult lake to reach, and the lack of a marked trail means that solitude is more likely (although complete solitude can still be uncommon). The lake typically holds tiger trout, rainbow trout, brook trout, and cutthroat trout. Like many Uinta lakes, fishing is hit-and-miss. Hiking to Cutthroat Lake "seems" fairly straight forward‚ start at the marked trail at Ruth Lake and maintain elevation as you traverse to Cutthroat Lake. This is NOT recommended! There are cliffs and a fairly difficult boulder field that prevent easy passage between the southern peak and Jewel Lake. The boulder field, which is immediately south of Jewel Lake, can be crossed with some leaping and scrambling, but the distance saved by going south of Jewel Lake is minimal because the cliffs force you to go almost to the water's edge. Therefore, the most sensible path is to go north of Jewel Lake, and then gradually regain lost elevation on the next ridge. Once over the ridge, there is a large bog which can be skirted by a rough trail along its eastern side. Once above the bog, traversing to Cutthroat Lake is a gentle west-by-southwest climb. The prime value of Cutthroat Lake, is as a base to hike to Kamas Lake and Lofty Lake. The alternative routes are steeper and more strenuous. The climb to Lofty Lake from Ruth Lake defies rational contemplation for all but the most fit or sadistic, and the climb from Reids Meadow via the Pass Lake Trailhead is far to long and needlessly sacrifices too much elevation to be sensible. However, from Cutthroat Lake, there is an unmarked but established trail that leads up to Loft Lake via the gentler western approach. Its also fun to wander up the meadows in the pass behind Cutthroat Lake to Kamas Lake, and then hike up the trail from Kamas Lake to Lofty Lake.