Pyramid Lake (Murdock Basin)
Region: Wasatch Front & Uinta Mountains | Land Manager: U.S. Forest Service (Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest) | Cost: Recreation pass required
Alpine lake terrain representative of Pyramid Lake. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Deeper into Murdock Basin than the main dispersed corridor, Pyramid Lake is a small, drive-to alpine lake at nearly 9,700 feet, named for the peak that rises straight up from its western shore. It's a rougher drive than Murdock Basin Road itself, which keeps the crowds down.
Quick Facts
| Distance from Kamas | About 22 miles up Mirror Lake Highway (UT-150), then Murdock Basin Road (FR 137) about 5.5 miles, then Forest Road 410 |
| Road & Clearance | Rocky in the final stretch; at least 18 inches of clearance recommended, AWD/4WD helpful |
| Rig Suitability | High-clearance vehicles and vans; not for low-clearance cars or trailers |
| Amenities | None |
| Cell Signal | Little to none |
| Best Season | Summer through early fall, short season at this elevation |
| Stay Limit | 14 days |
Map
Getting There
Follow the Mirror Lake Highway (UT-150) from Kamas about 22 miles, then turn onto Murdock Basin Road (FR 137). About 5.5 miles up, turn onto Forest Road 410 toward Pyramid Lake, this last stretch is where the road turns to large, uneven rock, so take it slow.
What to Expect
A small, walk-up-friendly alpine lake ringed by forest, with Pyramid Peak rising directly behind it. Dispersed sites are scattered around the approach roads rather than right on the shore. Because the access road filters out lower-clearance vehicles, it's noticeably quieter here than the main Murdock Basin corridor.
Good to Know
This is a Mirror Lake Highway corridor destination, which means it falls under the Forest Service's recreation pass requirement, a three-day pass runs about $6, or it's covered by a qualifying annual/interagency pass. Bring the pass or be ready to buy one at a self-pay station along UT-150.
A short season at nearly 10,000 feet means cold nights even in July, reliable power for heat and light matters more up here, not less. See what an off-grid power system looks like