Lakeside Near Torrey: Three Ways
A trio of Capitol Reef-area reservoirs where you can take a dip, cast a line and cool-off.
At 6,800 feet above sea level, the town of Torrey enjoys a 10 to 15 degree reprieve from the sizzling summertime temps that characterize most Southern Utah destinations. That said, one of Torrey’s most delicious summer pastimes is spending time on or near the water. Thankfully one size does not fit all when it comes to hitting the shore near this charming national park gateway community. Whether you’re looking for an old-fashioned, amenity-heavy day at the lake or are willing to hoof it to a high-altitude oasis for a little solitude, Torrey is the place.
Photo: Andrew Burr
Photo: Andrew Burr
Fish Lake: An Old Timey Vibe
- 45-minute drive from Torrey
- Three designated campgrounds (Mackinaw, Bowery Creek and Doctor Creek; each with flush toilets but no electric hookups), recreation.gov
- Cabin, RV Park sites and watercraft rentals through Fish Lake Resorts
Fish Lake is, bar none, one of the most beautiful natural mountain lakes in the western United States. This six-mile long, one-mile wide body of water is located about 39 miles north of Torrey along Highway 25, better known as the Fishlake Scenic Byway. As your car climbs through Fishlake National Forest up to the lake, you’ll begin to see the shimmery “Pando,” a single enormous quaking aspen cluster estimated to be more than 80,000 years old. (In September, these trees’ soft, green leaves turn into a sea of vibrant yellow.)
Past the trees, as the road moves to the western edge of Fish Lake, the scenery opens up to jaw-dropping views across the lake to the towering Mytoge Mountains, rising more than 1,000 feet on the lake’s opposite shore. You’ll soon arrive at the venerable Fish Lake Lodge — a rough-hewn-log lodge built in the 1930s — and your base camp for the day. Get out on the water to cast your line in a fishing or pontoon boat, kayak or even a paddleboard — all available for rent by the hour from the lodge’s marina. (Read: An Insider’s Guide to Fish Lake). Fish Lake is also renowned by anglers who flock there to bag rainbow, splake, brown and Mackinaw trout from the lake’s cold depths (Read: Fishing Fish Lake).
If fishing is not your jam, no problem. The 17-mile Fish Lake Loop trail circumnavigates the lake, beginning and ending at the lodge, and is popular with both hikers and mountain bikers. Nearby the lodge, the trail is fairly flat and is scattered with benches and multiple access points to the shore. The trail offers more challenge and solitude on the eastern side of the lake, where the route travels through several steeper and more technical stretches before returning to the lodge. Or leave the adventuring to someone else and simply grab an ice cream cone from the lakeside store, find a seat on the lodge’s wide and uber-charming old porch and spend an afternoon soaking in Fish Lake’s unparalleled views.
Lower Bowns Reservoir: Into the Wild
- 45 minute drive from Torrey
- Primitive and dispersed camping available
- No rentals on-site
About 22 miles south of Torrey just off the stunning All-American Road: Scenic Byway 12 is Lower Bowns Reservoir, a wild and rugged oasis tucked up on the highest timbered plateau in North America: Boulder Mountain. Amid its cool pine and aspen forests are more than 80 lakes, including Lower Bowns, many of which are accessed via rough, two-track roads or after a short hike. Fishing and backpacking are popular throughout the mountain, as is driving Highway 12 over into the town of Boulder, home to the famed Hell’s Backbone Grill. Spend the day or several at Lower Bowns Campground. Reserve one of the campground’s four individual sites or the 50-person group site, each outfitted with a fire ring and picnic table, within the campground. (Pit toilets are located on site, but potable water is not available, so be sure to bring plenty of your own.) Day-use parking and dispersed camping are allowed along the two-track road traversing the reservoir’s north and southeast sides.
Hike, fish, pedal a mountain bike or ride an ATV — find ATV rentals, with or without a guide, in Torrey at Fremont River Guides — around the south and east sides of the reservoir to one of many sandy beaches. This reservoir is typically quiet even on summer’s busiest holiday weekends, making it an ideal destination to find solitude while dropping a line, swimming, picnicking or just hanging out along its shores. Several mountain biking and ATV trails bisect this area, including the Oak Creek Trail. Maps, local info and a picnic area are all available at the Wildcat Rest Area and Information Center, open Memorial Day to Labor Day and located just north of the turn-off to Lower Bowns Reservoir.
Blind Lake: A High-Country Gem
- 30 minute drive from Torrey to the Blind Lake trailhead
- Dispersed camping available
- No rentals on-site
Blind Lake, the largest of Boulder Mountain’s 80 lakes, is a stunningly scenic reservoir accessed by a relatively easy, 1.3-mile hike. To get there, take Scenic Byway 12 from Torrey for about five miles to a right turn onto the dirt Blind Lake/North Slope Road. The trailhead is about 8 miles from the pavement — a four-wheel drive, high-clearance vehicle is recommended.
From the trailhead parking area, the path to the lake meanders through aspen and Ponderosa pine trees past two smaller lakes — which, truth be told, are more similar to ponds than lakes. You’ll climb a gentle rise before the big reveal: a glittering, turquoise-hued lake framed by a craggy Donkey Point moraine on the far shore. The trail continues around the lake for about two miles, offering access to multiple campsites (Blind Lake is an excellent place for a short, family-friendly backpacking overnight.) and several open, though rocky, spots to hunker down for lunch, to cast for trout or, for the truly adventurous, launch a stand-up paddleboard.
You can circle the lake in either direction, but if you choose to go around counter-clockwise, consider making the mile-long, side trip to Green Lake, well-marked with a sign about a third of a mile from where you first viewed Blind Lake. Swimming at Blind Lake is allowed — though at an elevation of 10,000 feet above sea level, prepare for the water to be brisk. A cool breeze is a welcome constant, keeping the bugs (mostly) at bay. Be sure to stuff a windbreaker or puffy jacket into your pack as cool can quickly become cold at this high elevation.
For more dining options in Torrey, browse the dining guide.
For more things to do in and around Torrey, read the insider's guide.
Discover More
-
The All-American Road: Scenic Byway 12
This is 122.863 miles (to be exact) of pure driving bliss. Welcome to Utah’s Scenic Byway 12, a designated All-American Road.
-
See the Fall Leaves Near Utah's National Parks
Sure, any of Utah’s Mighty 5 national parks are spectacular year round — covered in snow, peppered with spring wildflowers, and baked in sunshine. But find them exponentially special when the changing fall leaves are in juxtaposition to the immaculate red rock cliffs.
-
Moonscapes, Marscapes and More
If you want to know what Mars looks like — then the dramatic terrain of Capitol Reef National Park and the surrounding lands are a good place to start.
-
Mesa Farm Market
Best local shops and healthy eats near Moab and Capitol Reef. Try the goat cheese!
-
15 Non-Technical Slot Canyons
You don’t have to be Spider-Man to explore some of the best slot canyons Utah has to offer. You just need to be ready for an adventure in tight spaces with huge photographic rewards
-
How to Canyoneer Safely
Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned canyoneer, here are six expert tips for your next canyoneering adventure.
-
Permit of Solitude in Robbers Roost
Local guide Christopher Hagedorn leads a group through Robbers Roost in Southern Utah, where wind, water and time has left a primitive maze of canyons.
-
Serenity Found in Torrey and Capitol Reef’s Cathedral Valley District
Taking Southern Utah’s remote, less-traveled path in Capitol Reef's Cathedral Valley District to nurture your body, mind and spirit.
-
Utah’s Unexpected Pit Stops
You’re doing it wrong if you think road trip pit stops are boring layovers on your way to more exciting destinations. How many of these hidden gems have you been to? Here are 11 mini-adventures to check off your list next time you’re road-tripping through Utah.
-
An Insider’s Guide to Torrey
Look no further than Capitol Reef National Park and nearby Torrey for lesser-traveled red-rock hikes, plenty of lodging options, satisfying dining and night sky as our ancestors knew it.
-
Meet the Women Leading Utah's Food and Beverage Renaissance
When it comes to food and beverage in Utah, there are key influencers who have been the proponents of change, growth, and the role of women in Utah’s food scene.
-
Walking Off the Ledge Into Capitol Reef
Capitol Reef is breathtaking, but as you stare across the ledge you realize that some of the best scenery is only accessible by dropping in, 20, 50, sometimes 100 feet or more.
-
Alpine Fishing Above the Red Rock Landscapes of Southern Utah
Sitting just outside of Capitol Reef National Park, this 11,000-foot peak offers views of the surrounding red canyons and desert-like region. In contrast, Boulder Mountain is heavily forested and home to more than 80 lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. With an average rainfall multiple inches more than the lower regions, the area makes for some surprisingly good fishing.
-
Artisan Cheese in Red Rock Country
Two decades ago, Randy Ramsley traded his Dockers-and-tie city job for a 50 acre plot of land that he called a “Garden of Weedin” and the dream of establishing a sustainable farmstead. Now travelers from all over the globe know the small market and counter-service restaurant at Mesa Farm as a refreshing “must-do” respite seemingly plunked in the middle of nowhere on Highway 24 east of Capitol Reef National Park.
-
A Winter’s Desert: Visiting Southern Utah in the Slow Months
Experiencing the peace of canyon country in the winter is an attraction of its own.
-
5 Places You Can Try Glamorous Camping in Utah
Experience the fun and adventure of camping with a side of luxury.
-
10 Routes Chosen by Utah Cyclists
We reached out to cycling experts and enthusiasts — in some cases to people who literally wrote the book on cycling in Utah — to get a feel for some of Utah's best road cycling routes.
-
Across a Snow-Covered Desert
Follow this itinerary for a week-long winter road trip across the snow-covered desert of Southeastern Utah.
-
Torrey Dining
Thanks to it’s location eight miles from Capitol Reef National Park, this remote enclave is a great place to stop for some coffee, ice cream or dinner on your way in or out of the park.
-
A Wild Bunch of Apples
A new cidery, established in the historic orchard lands of Central Utah, draws upon the paradoxical story of its namesake’s outlaw life running around with Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch.
-
Utah’s Pie-Ala-Road: A Sweeter Way to Explore the State
Follow the Utah Pie Trail through a scenic landscape of water-sculpted canyons and sandstone peaks and past three iconic national parks to savor the flavor at five delectable pie stops.
-
Meet the Women Fostering the Arts in Central Utah
Women lead the way in Utah’s regional art galleries and exhibitions.
-
Winter in Southern Utah Like a Local
Southern Utah comes alive in winter with unexpected experiences for those who are well-prepared and solitude for those who want to expand their view.
-
Off the Eaten Path: Dining Between the Mighty Five
Whether you’re visiting a single Utah national park or all five, take time to explore and enjoy the local food on the spectacular routes between the parks.
-
A Guided Adventure for Everyone in Utah's National Parks
Thinking of hiring a guide? Leaving the planning to someone else and learning more about backpacking are just a few of the perks of going with a guide.
