Uinta Highline Trail

The Uinta Highline Trail is a long east-to-west hiking route in the Uinta Mountains of Utah, spanning 125.59 km (about 104 miles) from McKee Draw to Hayden Pass. It’s built around sustained high-alpine travel and is known for big country, distance, and isolation.

The east end is at McKee Draw along U.S. Route 191, where the trail begins near the Highline Trailhead. The western end is at Hayden Pass near Mirror Lake on Utah Route 150, finishing at the Highline Trailhead at the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway.

For a full thru-hike, plan on an extended commitment: total elevation gain is listed at 16,700 ft (5,090 m) with 14,600 ft (4,450 m) of elevation loss on an east-to-west trip. The route crosses eight named passes exceeding 11,200 ft (3,414 m), with the highest point at Anderson Pass (12,700 ft / 3,871 m).

Terrain alternates between open, above-treeline sections and drops into broad glacial basins and valleys between passes. Expect long stretches of high alpine travel punctuated by climbs and descents over the pass sequence rather than a continuous low-elevation tread.

The trail can be hiked either direction, but the most common pattern is east to west. Logistics are a major part of the trip: the route links trailheads on Highway 191 (McKee Draw) and Mirror Lake Scenic Byway / UT 150 (Hayden Pass), so most parties use shuttling arrangements rather than a simple out-and-back.

Season timing matters because the route sits at high altitude. The typical hiking window is July through September; early in the season snowmelt can leave lingering snow and icy slopes on the higher passes, and weather can turn quickly on the high terrain.

More information: Wikipedia, Utah's Uinta Highline Trail Hiking Guide - Lady on a Rock, The Uinta Highline Trail - A Guide - LB Hikes