East Red Castle Trail, UT

This trail begins in the Smiths Fork drainage, very near to Lower Red Castle Lake. It ends at Smiths Fork Pass, where it connects with the Yellowstone Creek drainage. But the real destination of this trail is the two high lakes at the top of the drainage: East Red Castle Lake and Smiths Fork Pass Lake. Tiger Trout are stocked and can grow to a large size.


Beginning on the west side of East Fork Smiths Fork river, the trail starts with a pair of footbridges which can accommodate horses. Once on the east side of the river, the first hill begins immediately but then levels out for a section of open terrain. This is a great spot to stop for a snack and to enjoy the views of Red Castle and surrounding mountains.The trail is designed to incline gradually as you continue upward to the pass. There are some marshy sections which are common to many of the trails in the area. Fortunately there are less horses used on this trail and it is smoother going. As you begin to reach treeline, the waterfalls come into view. Just beyond that are the lakes. East Red Castle Lake is very picturesque because it is tucked into the rocky slopes of Red Castle on two sides.

2015-07-16 Woodsnative