One of many rocks from Marysvale Volcanic Field strewn across Fish Lake Plateau. Fish Lake High Top summit highest point on horizon.
Fish Lake Highpoint summit is also Sevier County, Utah High Point
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Trip Stats for Fish Lake Hightop
Overview: Next to deep blue Fish Lake, hike through a rocky, forested canyon to the flat and spacious Fish Lake Plateau peppered with large volcanic boulders containing small pools. From this elevated plateau, find a route through the cliffs of the huge boulder-filled Fishlake Hightop and Sevier County's highest point. Location: Fishlake National Forest - Richland Ranger District - near Torrey, Utah Distance/elevation gain: 10.5 miles out and back/2,800' Elevation/Prominence: 11,633'/4,183' Date hiked: 8/30/25 Maps/Apps: AllTrails, USGS 7.5 min Fish Lake quad. See Google Earth maps at end of this post. Geology: The cliffs of Fish Lake Hightop are made of rocks of Osiris Tuff (23 Ma), erupted from the Monroe caldera, one of many in the Marysvale Volcanic Field, one of the largest in the western U.S., causing prolific volcanism (eruptions, lava flows, fissure eruptions) due to the Farallon Plate subducting under the North American Plate. Flora: Pando, the world's largest tree - a clonal aspen stand - grows southwest of Fish Lake (see map end of post). Coordinates: 38.52459 -111.75066 "I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree." -Joyce Kilmer, 1913 Click "open in Caltopo" upper left to view map. |
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Sue and Fred
A trip to Jumbo Rocks Campground in Joshua Tree National Monument 40 years ago sparked my passion for hiking, exploring, and learning about desert ecosystems. I met my husband Fred on Mt. San Jacinto. We've explored the American West together; we love this land and I hope to inspire you to get out and explore through my photographs and trip descriptions. In 1992, Ray Wilson and I conceived the first Cactus to Clouds hike which climbs over 10,000 feet in one day to the summit of Mt. San Jacinto near Palm Springs, California. |
Fish Lake, Utah's largest alpine lake. Pando, the largest tree in the world (clonal aspen), is at the far end of this lake.
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Hike Summary via Pelican Canyon Trail #4125 from the southeast 0-4 miles: Pelican Canyon to entry onto Fish Lake Plateau 4 - 4.6 miles: Entry onto plateau to Forest Road 40352 4.6 - 5.2 miles: FR 40352 past kiosk sign to base of cliffs of summit plateau via Fish Lake Hightop Access Trail marked by occasional cairns 5.2 - 5.4 miles: walk due north on summit plateau to highest point, 11,633' We're continually amazed with central Utah. Every time we venture into it, there's something extraordinary. On this adventure, we passed Pando, the largest tree in the world at the southern shores of Fish Lake on our drive to the trailhead, and hiked on rocks from one of the largest volcanic fields in the western U.S.
I've heard many praises for Fish Lake, so Fred and I decided to stay in Torrey, Utah, to see what it's all about. Torrey, right outside Capitol Reef National Park, is in the middle of the colorful cliffs of the Moenkopi Formation deposited on a coastal plain 250 million years ago. In fact, the Torrey Member of this formation is known for its tracks of swimming reptiles. North of Torrey, Fish Lake is Utah's largest alpine lake, a deep blue color, surrounded by gorgeous aspen forests. It's so picturesque, set in a graben valley (lowered block of earth with raised land on each side made by normal faults). |
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On another hike up Hilgard Mountain, just northeast of Fish Lake, the trail linked huge, untrammeled aspen groves interspersed by meadows. We walked over a steep boulder field made of rounded lichen-covered volcanic rocks. We should explore this area again in late September to see the yellow and orange aspen seas on the Utah high country plateaus.
The long, broad summit of Fish Lake Hightop is not only the high point on Fish Lake Plateau, but the highest in Sevier County. The entire hike is spent negotiating 23 million-year-old rocks of the Marysvale Volcanic Field, one of the largest in western North America. This isn't our first time hiking in this volcanic province. A favorite mountain range is the Tushars to the southwest, where Mount Delano and Holly Peak sit on the edge of a giant caldera, a caved-in eruption site.
Fish Lake High Top's summit is deceiving. Approaching from the south, as you walk across Fish Lake Plateau, it doesn't appear to be grand. But when you get on top, at over 11,600 feet elevation, the rugged terrain suddenly drops thousands of feet far below. The summit is a cluster of huge boulders, one holding a tringulation station geodetic survey marker for Fish Lake Highpoint, and all with water-filled panholes.
We could have driven further on forest road 034 with our 4x4 truck, but instead parked a little ways up this road near the northwest shore of Fish Lake. We walked a few switchbacks, then arrived at Pelican Canyon Trailhead at the clearing for Pelican Promontory Overlook. From here, Fish Lake Hightop lies five miles ahead.
The long, broad summit of Fish Lake Hightop is not only the high point on Fish Lake Plateau, but the highest in Sevier County. The entire hike is spent negotiating 23 million-year-old rocks of the Marysvale Volcanic Field, one of the largest in western North America. This isn't our first time hiking in this volcanic province. A favorite mountain range is the Tushars to the southwest, where Mount Delano and Holly Peak sit on the edge of a giant caldera, a caved-in eruption site.
Fish Lake High Top's summit is deceiving. Approaching from the south, as you walk across Fish Lake Plateau, it doesn't appear to be grand. But when you get on top, at over 11,600 feet elevation, the rugged terrain suddenly drops thousands of feet far below. The summit is a cluster of huge boulders, one holding a tringulation station geodetic survey marker for Fish Lake Highpoint, and all with water-filled panholes.
We could have driven further on forest road 034 with our 4x4 truck, but instead parked a little ways up this road near the northwest shore of Fish Lake. We walked a few switchbacks, then arrived at Pelican Canyon Trailhead at the clearing for Pelican Promontory Overlook. From here, Fish Lake Hightop lies five miles ahead.
Entrance into Pelican Canyon.
Pelican Canyon Trailhead and trail through beautiful Pelican Canyon's aspens and wild raspberry bushes!
Begin in a beautiful sagebrush steppe and hike left out of the drainage at the first intersection.
Begin in a beautiful sagebrush steppe and hike left out of the drainage at the first intersection.
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Even if you don't feel like climbing to the highpoint, the walk through this forest is enchanting, the trail narrow with profuse vegetation growing over it in some places, with wild raspberry bushes along the way. Compared to the red rock parks in the southern part of the state, this part of Utah doesn't get much foot traffic, so the aspen and fir forest seemed so pristine.
The walk on a lot of volcanic rocks gets to be tiresome. It's remarkable that these felsic rocks (at least 65% silica) came from one of Marysvale Volcanic Field's calderas many miles away - 35 miles as the crow flies, and a 3-hour drive, closer to the Tushar Mountains. Pelican Canyon Trail passes the headwaters at ~ three miles, suddenly steepens to top out on Fish Lake Plateau, about 4 miles into the hike. A trail sign appears in a meadow clearing, indicating 2 more miles to Fish Lake Hightop. |
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It's a rocky trail up Pelican Canyon. After you pass the headwaters for the canyon, you reach a large meadow giving a break from the climb, and Fishlake Hightop only two more miles away.
Climbing out of Pelican Canyon through meadows to a steep climb and entrance onto the plateau.
The second photo down on the left shows the trail approaching Fish Lake Plateau on the horizon.
The second photo down on the left shows the trail approaching Fish Lake Plateau on the horizon.
Flat Fish Lake Plateau felt almost otherworldly, accentuated by a cold wind and cloud cover, causing the land to darken. Strewn all around are large boulders, seemingly buried in a huge rock-meadow, containing chemically- and water-eroded pits. There's a few cairns marking the "trail"; here, rely on navigation skills and basically just head toward the cliffy plateau to the northwest.
AllTrails and my iphone's TopoMaps US app helped us aim toward Forest Service Road 40352, at the base of our final climb, which we followed ~0.3 miles to a large kiosk sign. From here, we headed west toward the rocky cliffs of our final destination.
AllTrails and my iphone's TopoMaps US app helped us aim toward Forest Service Road 40352, at the base of our final climb, which we followed ~0.3 miles to a large kiosk sign. From here, we headed west toward the rocky cliffs of our final destination.
A few cairns mark the trail as you enter the very rocky Fish Lake Plateau.
"Mystical" Fish Lake Plateau.
Panholes in eroded volcanic rock, filled from a large rainstorm two days before. Acidic water dissolves the rock's minerals to form bigger and deeper holes.
This is a spacious plateau with a contrast of soft tufts of grasses in between the scattered rocks of all sizes.
We are headed toward the cliffs ahead; Fish Lake Hightop is on the right side, center-horizon.
Panholes in eroded volcanic rock, filled from a large rainstorm two days before. Acidic water dissolves the rock's minerals to form bigger and deeper holes.
This is a spacious plateau with a contrast of soft tufts of grasses in between the scattered rocks of all sizes.
We are headed toward the cliffs ahead; Fish Lake Hightop is on the right side, center-horizon.
Reach Forest Service Road 40352 at about 4.7 miles and walk north on it to Fish Lake Hightop Trailhead kiosk.
From here, take a left (west) to walk toward the final rocky plateau seen in the photos on the left.
From here, take a left (west) to walk toward the final rocky plateau seen in the photos on the left.
The trail, marked with small piles of rocks (ducks), goes up through the boulders on the left side of the taller rocks, near right side of image.
Final climb through weakness in the cliffs to Fish Lake Hightop.
Weave in and out of weathered 23 million year-old boulders of the Osiris Tuff from the Monroe Caldera of the Marysvale Volcanic Field, heading due north to the highest point on Fish Lake Plateau.
Weave in and out of weathered 23 million year-old boulders of the Osiris Tuff from the Monroe Caldera of the Marysvale Volcanic Field, heading due north to the highest point on Fish Lake Plateau.
Fish Lake Hightop - 11,633', with views of Mt. Terrill and Mt. Marvine to the north.
Just as on Hilgard Mountain, 12 miles to the northeast as the crow flies and 100 feet lower, the summit is covered in large volcanic boulders.
Just as on Hilgard Mountain, 12 miles to the northeast as the crow flies and 100 feet lower, the summit is covered in large volcanic boulders.
Fish Lake Hightop
The rock is Osiris Tuff - a densely welded ash flow with a groundmass of crystallized volcanic glass fragments.
Tuff is a volcanic rock made of hot ash that became fused together and compacted.
This tuff tends to be ledge-forming, which you can see as you approach Fish Lake Plateau Hightop.
The rock is Osiris Tuff - a densely welded ash flow with a groundmass of crystallized volcanic glass fragments.
Tuff is a volcanic rock made of hot ash that became fused together and compacted.
This tuff tends to be ledge-forming, which you can see as you approach Fish Lake Plateau Hightop.
Utah Solitude
Once through the tuff cliffs, walk through boulders due north until, basically, you run out of boulders on the north side of this cliff/rock pedestal above Fish Lake Plateau.
Scramble up the boulders to find the embedded triangulation station survey marker. To the north is Mt. Marvine and Mt. Terrill. Fish Lake Plateau stretches further to the north. From here, two more trails head off in different directions: Hightop Trail 4123 follows the length of the plateau north, passing Whiskey Knoll, eventually leading to Lost Creek Reservoir. The Tasha Creek Trail extends northeast, eventually ending at the northern end of Fish Lake.
When most attention and acclaim is given to Utah's famous national parks like Zion and Bryce, resulting in millions of visitors and trampled trails, it's refreshing to discover a beautiful place where you can hike in solitude, breathe, and see the distant layers of mountain ranges when you work your way to a summit. We are fortunate to be the only party on the mountain or meet just a few other hikers for a change. We've discovered a lot more adventure opportunities!
Always Explore!!
Once through the tuff cliffs, walk through boulders due north until, basically, you run out of boulders on the north side of this cliff/rock pedestal above Fish Lake Plateau.
Scramble up the boulders to find the embedded triangulation station survey marker. To the north is Mt. Marvine and Mt. Terrill. Fish Lake Plateau stretches further to the north. From here, two more trails head off in different directions: Hightop Trail 4123 follows the length of the plateau north, passing Whiskey Knoll, eventually leading to Lost Creek Reservoir. The Tasha Creek Trail extends northeast, eventually ending at the northern end of Fish Lake.
When most attention and acclaim is given to Utah's famous national parks like Zion and Bryce, resulting in millions of visitors and trampled trails, it's refreshing to discover a beautiful place where you can hike in solitude, breathe, and see the distant layers of mountain ranges when you work your way to a summit. We are fortunate to be the only party on the mountain or meet just a few other hikers for a change. We've discovered a lot more adventure opportunities!
Always Explore!!
Heading down through the cliffs back onto Fish Lake Plateau.
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Our GPS tracks of Fish Lake Hightop hike, beginning at parking (lower right), hiking through Pelican Canyon onto Fish Lake Plateau.
Google Earth image of our tracks from Forest Road 034 near the shores of Fish Lake, through Pelican Canyon, then onto Fish Lake Plateau and final summit climb to Fish Lake Hightop.
Note the Pando Aspen Tree on the south shore of Fish Lake - the largest tree in the world, growing on 106 acres and weighing over 13 million pounds.
Note the Pando Aspen Tree on the south shore of Fish Lake - the largest tree in the world, growing on 106 acres and weighing over 13 million pounds.
References
Anderson, J. 1986. GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE CIRCLEVILLE MOUNTAIN QUADRANGLE, BEAVER, PIUTE, IRON, AND GARFIELD COUNTIES, UTAH. Utah Geological and Mineral Survey.
Campbell, L., Oditt, L. 2022. A Landscape in Motion: A Geologic History of the Pando Tree's Homeland. (From the website Friends of Pando).
Anderson, J. 1986. GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE CIRCLEVILLE MOUNTAIN QUADRANGLE, BEAVER, PIUTE, IRON, AND GARFIELD COUNTIES, UTAH. Utah Geological and Mineral Survey.
Campbell, L., Oditt, L. 2022. A Landscape in Motion: A Geologic History of the Pando Tree's Homeland. (From the website Friends of Pando).