Spirit Lake Campground - 2026

 

Meadow above the Lodge

070126 - 070526  - 4th of July weekend at Spirit Lake Campground. Second year in a row that I visited the High Unitas, Ashley National Forest.  (2025 post) I stopped in Vernal Ut., which is my habit for provisions. This year I used the Utah Fish and Game phone app to purchase my fishing license instead of Walmart. 

Spirit Lake Campground 2026

I also make sure I stop and download all the offline maps and latest Geocaching information that I will need. As soon as I turned onto Spirit Lake Rd FR 001 I noticed there was many more rigs in the dispersed camping areas, many big 5th wheel toy haulers.  Luckily there was plenty of sites in the campground, I would say that it was about 1/2 full when I got there, mostly the perimeter sites, the middle sites stayed open all weekend. I drove around the campground twice to select the right site and ended up setting up in the same site I was at last year. I knew I would have plenty of sun during the day and plenty of space for my moon shade. Plus there is that little creek that runs down the base of the ridge. 

By the time I got all set up, the sun was setting and the temperature dropped. I walked down through the first group site to the bank of the lake. The water level seems high to me but I really have no basis for it. No matter how many times I visit, the site of Spirit Lake is full of special feelings and memories of family fishing trips. I feel so fortunate to have spent time with love ones in such a wonderful place.  I returned to camp and cooked up some beef stew and a grilled ham & cheese that could not be beat. 

Bounty Lake

 My focus the next morning was to find GCBAM6G Bounty Lake the newest cache hidden July 30th last year. So far no one has logged it, giving me a chance at a first to find. It was less than a mile almost directly south. I headed directly towards it, there is not a trail that I know of, but there was a washed out creek up the steep hill off the campground road. After a 1/4 mile trek up the hill I found the trail referenced in the hint. I found the cache under/behind a big rock off the bank of the lake. The container was a brand new plastic ammo can. I opened it up and grabbed what I thought would be a blank log. But to my surprise, 🤯 there was a entry made on 8/31/25 by Samantha. So I am the 2nd to find and still the only one to log it online. 

Now I have never heard of Bounty Lake and official or widely recognized body of water named Bounty Lake near Spirit Lake, it could be considered a unnamed pond. Although it is not as big as Tamarack or Jessen, it is bigger than the Lilly Pond Lake which is named. It is not very far from the campground, but there is not a mapped trail to it that I can see. Not sure where the cache owner got the name from. 

Tiger Trout

Each time I visit it is a custom to make the hike up to Tamarack Lake, a natural body of water at 10,400'. I was able to locate  Tie One On GC8328 hidden 08-22-2002 and found it is great shape. The theme is to leave a fly and take a fly which are all organized in small plastic cubes. The log shows that I was the last one to find it last year. Again, I swapped flies and used it and caught a nice Tiger Trout on the first cast, and that is no fish 🎣 story. 

I packed myself a lunch and spent the day walking up and down the north banks casting my fly out in the clear alpine spring water, I caught a few more and release them all except for a pretty big one that I cleaned for dinner. It was another Tiger Trout, a sterile hybrid fish created by crossing a female brown trout and a male brook trout.  Up here the weather can change quickly and the big clouds were moving over the south ridge line, time to pack it up and head back to the van

Met hikers on the trail heading to Fish Lake. "No fish in Fish Lake" I said from personal experience. They were not anglers so they didn't care, but they were amazed that I carried my catch in my vest. I wished them a happy hike and continued down the trail. When I got back to the van I prepared the Tiger Trout for dinner. I had to use the larger frying pan Kate gave for this fish. I was surprised on how pink the meat is, it made a very tasty meal. I saved 1/2 of future tacos! 

Spirit Lake Lodge

The next morning, I took off after breakfast to check on Osprey Cove cache and fish the west side of the lake. I found the cache in good shape and was not surprised I was the last one to log it. I continued down the length of the lake and settled at a nice spot near the north end. While I was fishing I met Jason, a young man that volunteers for the Utah Fish and Game. He asked if he could ask me questions about fishing, part of a volunteer project. His questions just about where and how I fish. He said there is a project to protect the native Utah Cutthroat Trout subspecies which are having trouble surviving with the more aggressive hybrid species like the Tiger Trout.  The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) perform efforts to remove invasive or overabundant species to protect the native cutthroat. So Jason asked if I want to protect the native cutthroat which would result in slower fishing activity and less aggressive catch or continue to stock Tiger Trout and let the native cutthroat continue to struggle. I answered to protect the native fish, but when I started to explain why, a large train of side by sides drove up the road on the other side of the lake. The noise was so loud and echoed throughout the valley.  

Okay heres my rant. This is becoming a popular place for side by sides ( named for their specific seating arrangement, where the driver and passengers sit adjacent to each other on bench or individual bucket seats rather than straddling the vehicle). These vehicles are not allowed on the hiking trails, they ride them on the same dirt road that any other vehicle use. But they sound like a motor cycle and the sound carries across the forest.  They go through the campground day and night traveling from there huge toy haulers down below to the lodge and back again and again.  Utah has been poisoning the lakes and streams for decades and a google search will show that the Tiger Trout are not the problem. So I don't think it matters what fish that you would have caught while you are waiting for the traffic jam on Spirit Lake Road.   This is what I get for visiting over a holiday weekend.  I will alway visit Spirit and Tamarack but I'm thinking of finding another place to camp.  End of rant.

Ruble Ranch 

Okay, remember the van would not start when I was leaving Gooseneck, well the next morning 7/5/26 I was all packed up ready to go and my startup battery was dead. While I was trying to charge it with my power pack, I fired up the Starlink and found a Auto Zone open in Rock Springs.  The battery jumper worked and I drove off heading for Wyoming. On my way I drove through Manila, specifically where Dot & Chief had their cabin. It's no longer there but the Ruble Ranch is and the field to the old barn where I delivery fresh milk to Grandma after helping Danny Ruble milk the cows and gather the morning eggs. Amazingly it looks quite the same except the ranch house is much bigger.  I made it to Auto Zone and bought and installed a new battery. 

Thanks for visiting

Here my shared photo album. 

  

Williams, Gooseneck, Arches

 

Arches National Monument

06282026 - 07012026 After spending 12 days recovering from the Colorado Crud, missing a visit to San Diego and an Old Time music camp, it was time for me to hit the road again. During the 12 days, I took care of some van maintenance items; New Tires, repaired a broken gray tank valve and raised the 12V refrigerator. I decided to start with an overnight closer to home in Williams AZ, just in case I had lingering symptoms  and to shake down the changes I made.

Williams, AZ

I found a nice spot at Garland Prairie Road Dispersed Camping near the south rim of the Grand Canyon. When I left Sun City about noon it was well over 100°F. 2 1/2 hours later I was setting up camp in 75° and sunshine.  There was still plenty of time left to go get some caches and enjoy a nice hike through the 6852' park. I found 3 caches that included a nice ammo box traditional that was in honor of a grave stone. 

Completely satisfied with my refrigerator reinstallation, I set off early in the morning west to Flagstaff then north through the Navajo reservation. 

When I first planned this trip, I automatically scheduled to stay at Sunset View campground at the Navajo National Monument, but it is barely 3 hours away and I wanted to get a little more miles in, so I continued north into Southern Utah 

Gooseneck - San Juan River

Just across the state line I stopped and logged a virtual cache called Harry and Mike's Place near the Goulding Lodge. I drove through Monument Valley on the highway that is in the movie Forest Gump, the scene where he stops running. 

I was not sure what to expect when I arrived at the Gooseneck State Park campground  hoping that there was an open campsite. There were probably 8 designated sites and I was only the second camper there. There was a steady stream of visitors throughout the day because the view of the Gooseneck canyon was breathtaking and I was camped right on the edge of the canyon. The San Juan River twists and turns through sinuous 'goosenecks' as it flows toward Lake Powell traveling over 6 miles while it advances to the west only 1 mile.  Well worth going off the beaten path to see the 1,000 feet between the overlook and the river, 300 million years of geology is revealed in the layers exposed by erosion. (GC5H9T9)

I got set up and took a long walk to get the two regular caches near the canyon. There was also a EarthCache and a Virtual cache at the visitor's overlook. So 4 smileys and a $10 campsite, throw in a beautiful sunset and a more exciting moon rise. Life is good. 

I stayed up late watching the sky, using some of the things I learned at RMSS, and tried to capture a photo of the red moon rising.  In the morning, I wanted to get an early start, but it was hard to stop staring at the views. I was able to get everything ready before 10am, but the van would not start!  I mean it was like the battery was dead. Fortunately, I have a VIKING 1000 Peak Amp Multifunction Jump Starter and Power Pack with 150 PSI Air Compressor.  I had to google how to jump start the van, because the battery is under the driver floorboard. After several minutes of purposely keeping calm, I was able to jump start. I got my multimeter out and verified it was charging and let it run for about 30 minutes. It started right up after that. I must have left something on that drained the power overnight, I don't know. I'll keep an eye on it. I set my GPS to Arches National Monument, 2 1/2 hours away and headed out of the Gooseneck. 

South Window - Arches National Monument

After a quick stop at the visitors center, I decided on the Windows arch hike. I spent about 3 1/2 hours at the park and barely scratched the surface of all there is to see. The hike was pleasant but the air quality was bad due to fires to the west.  Still there was plenty of activity on the trails and viewing areas.  The parking lots were crowded but not full which made for a very fun and quick visit. Centrally located in Utah, I'm sure I will have the opportunity to return during my future trips.  I pulled into Green River State Campground just before 1700, where I can dump my gray tank and get in a shower. I monitored my startup battery all day and it started fine the next morning. I thought about getting it tested, but it seems to be working normally.  Next stop Spirit Lake for the 4th of July weekend. 

Here is my Photo Stream thanks for visiting. 

Spirit Lake 2025

Spirit Lake 2025

 If you are ever traveling through Vernal Utah and plan on heading into the mountains, stop by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Northeast Region Office and get the latest on road access, campground closures and fishing information. They also have free wildlife reading materials and state park stickers.  

I got a fishing license, propane and provision in Vernal before heading up the south grade of US highway 191 into the Ashley National Forest, I reached UT 44 and Spirit Lake Rd FR 001.  

Spirit Lake in Ashley National Forest is a high-elevation lake with a geological history shaped primarily by ancient mountain-building forces and subsequent glacial erosion. It is situated on the northern flank of the Uinta Mountains, the only major east-west-trending mountain range in the contiguous United States.  

The weather was beautiful, temperature high 60° with calm winds. The campground was less than half full, I took space #5 an set up camp. At about 1630 I got on Jaguarundi to ride around the lake.  I headed to the north end of the lake where the water spills into Middle Fork Sheep creek. As I rode by the lake I noticed how high the water is. July is the highpoint of the snow melt off, so the lake is full. So full there was no way I was getting across the spill area and there is no foot bridge. So I turned around and head back towards the lodge on the south end of the lake.  The lodge was not open, only a "be back later sign"

I downloaded the the offline geocaching information,  so I pointed the GPS to Osprey Cove at Pappy's Lake GC1X7GJ hidden 16 years ago on 08-10-2009 by Todduh.  I saw how high the water in lake is I knew I needed to check on this one. I found the old road by the lodge. From there it was just a matter of weaving to the GZ. The cache is in great shape, looks like it was hidden last week.  

The next day I decided to hike up to Tamarack Lake, there are 2 new geocaches on the trail and I want to check on Tie one On cache. This is the cache that Todduh found while we were fishing in 2008.  

Nothing has changed on the Spirit - Tamarack Trail 024 over the years, up and down at the edge of the meadow behind the lodge, across the bridge over the creek then the trail goes up to the Lily Pad lake where it splits off, left to Jessen Lake, right to Tamarack.  The 2 new geocaches are hidden in this area. Found then both pretty quickly, however the coordinates are way off on one of them. Trail 024 continues southeast up to 10400' elevation where Tamarack sits under the penumbra of 11500' east west ridge featuring treeless rock cliffs a snow covered domes.  

I was able to locate  Tie One On GC8328 hidden 08-22-2002 and found it is great shape. The theme is to leave a fly and take a fly which are all organized in small plastic cubes, I selected a nice bumble bee looking fly and left a renegade fly. I dropped a geocoin that I got at the New York state campground in Cooperstown NY.  (as of 8/31/25 it is still there) then made sure the cache was well hidden. I wonder how long it will be before someone else finds it. 

So I took my new fly and rigged my pole with a fly behind a clear bobber 1/2 full of water. Wouldn't you know it, that I caught a fish on the first cast.  The fish got off just as I was landing it, but it got stuck in a pool near the bank, I used my needle nose pliers to grab that the tail fin sticking out of the water and flipped it onto my rock. At first I thought it was a Golden Trout, but after

referring to the fishing guide, it looks like one of those Tiger Trout, or maybe a hybrid.  I did not keep the fish I caught because I think I have caught my fair share over the years. I ate my lunch and headed back down the trail.  I met 3 groups on their way up  right as it started to rain. Back at the Van, the rain has stopped, so I rode my bike to check if anyone was at the lodge, but again the back later sign.  I really want to buy a sticker!  Once again back at the camp, I busied myself organizing my stuff and relaxing after a active day. Honestly I kind of missed the people I have been here in the past,  remembering all the fun we had, and thinking about Pappy and Kim. 

The next morning I was out early to get another geocache across the meadow from the lodge. Parked the bike at the lodge and made my way across the marshy meadow and past the snow survey station and found snotelin' where it is. Back to the lodge, someone called out that they would open in a minute. They must have seen me checking the door.  I was able to get my stickers and I got a mug! 

The next cache, Woodpecker Camp is half a mile passed the north end of the lake off the road on the edge of the meadow Pappy named Rainbow Gardens. Been 5 years since anyone logged this lonely cache. I found it full of water. I dumped and tried to dry but everything was soaked. I let everything dry out a couple hours. I went back to RAMVAM and retrieved paper pencil and baggie. The container is a little cracked but ok. I replaced it on its side, hopefully it will drain. I said hello to Bullwinkle grazing in the meadow.  Spirit lake is a special place for our family and I plan to not let as much time pass before I return again, 

👀Spirit Lake 2025👀

I know this is a long post, thanks for reading my blog. 

Waterfall Trail -Ogden Utah

 Well I can't make a visit without a caching trip with the Hatches. Today Cammo (Cameron), Chris and I hike up to the "Above the Falls" cache GC1G8CH and was rewarded with a beautiful view of downtown Ogden,

The transit up the ravine south of the falls was kind of dicey, but we made it just fine.  Coming down was another adventure!

The view next to the falls was wonderful and it is a long drop down!

We found three other caches on the way up and down.