Stand up paddle boarding in the Uinta Mountains is a great summer escape. Inflatable SUP boards take that escape to the next level. Lakes that are off the beaten path are now accessible for paddling. This past weekend we set out to conquer a high alpine lake in the Unita Mountains. Our goal was to avoid the crowds by finding a decently sized natural lake at least 1 mile off of Mirror Lake Highway. We settled on Shepard Lake, a 1.5 mile hike from the parking lot off the highway just past mile marker 30. After a fantastic scenic drive we made it to the parking lot, at an elevation of over 10,000ft. We parked, grabbed the two board bags and a third backpack full of snacks and essentials, and started our hike. I have always carried traditional fiberglass composite boards down a 1/2 mile path to the Jordenelle, so right off the bat I was so excited to have this board rolled up tight and strapped to my back.
Boardworks Badfish MCIT Inflatable SUP boards are very easy to carry and inflate once you have reached your destination. They do weigh 35 pounds and are bulky in shape, so its good to carry one board for every two people. Once at the lake the boards are very easy to inflate. Unrolling the board and pumping up the three chambers took us less then eight minutes. It was so much easier than I anticipated. Once you get the two outer chambers pumped to 7 PSI and the center chamber at 14 PSI, flip the board over and attach the fin. This is a great design as well, with no tools necessary!
Shepard Lake is only moderately sized, so paddling all around the lake can be done in no time at all. There is a nice waterfall on the west bank that is worth docking your paddle board and checking out. In mid July the water is no longer bone chilling cold, which makes the water is great for taking a quick dip, hanging out, or simply taking in the piece and quite. In a tranquil and low traffic lake, it is really nice to just lay back, relax, and enjoy a little rest as you float whichever way the wind takes you.
The best part is that when you are done, the boards pack up even easier than they unpack. Within seconds the boards deflate and are ready to be rolled up, strapped up, and packed out. Unfortunately on this day, the hike back out was all uphill. The boards felt heavier as we hiked back to the car, but the wild flowers and views helped distract from the weight of the pack and in less than an hour we were back at the car. This hike was the perfect distance for a half day trip with the two paddle boards and three people.
Directions:
From Park City, take Highway 248 to Kamas. In Kamas, take a right onto Mirror Lake Highway and drive up over Bald Mountain Pass. Roughly 1 mile after the summit just past mile marker 30, take a right into a parking lot. The trail starts off of the parking, skirts past Fern Lake, and continues to Shepard Lake and many other alpine lakes in Murdock Basin.
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