Mount Watson and Notch Mountain via Three Divide Lakes Loop in Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, UT

Hike Mount Watson and Notch Mountain via Three Divide Lakes Loop Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, UT

Class 3 7.8 miles 2500 gain 4-6 hrs Loop Jul 22, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Mount Watson and Notch Mountain via Three Divide Lakes Loop GPX Track

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This hike showed us that the west side of the Uintas is very different from the east. Our hike to Mount Watson and Notch Mountain was enough to get me excited for the Uintas' eastern peaks, where more lakes and less expansive peaks meant we had more fun and less slog to look forward to (*cough* Kings Peak *cough*). Starting from the absurdly popular Crystal Lake Trailhead, Matt and I headed along the well-marked trail, passing multiple lakes along the way. Cliff Lake was of particular interest, and we took a bunch of wildflower photos with Mount Watson in the background, the somewhat overcast day giving us decent lighting. Shortly after Cliff Lake and its constructed boardwalks along the trail, we ascended a steeper section of trail and made it to the south side of Watson Lake. While the trail continued along the right side of the lake, we headed around to its west side. We passed a couple of campsites and began ascending the southeast ridge of Mount Watson. Initially, we encountered some minor bushwhacking, but soon we had no issue as we left the treeline behind and started ascending Class 2 boulders. There's deifnitely no one correct way up Mount Watson. We stumbled onto a couple of Class 3 sections, but I'm sure that with careful route-finding, you could keep the ascent Class 2/2+. Regardless, we found the scramble to be pretty enjoyable, made nicer from the incresingly gorgeous views.

The summit of Mount Watson was much more incredible than we could have hoped, the shimmering lakes and bright green trees below getting us psyched for more. We noted Notch Mountain to the northwest, named for a feature called "The Notch", which separates the east and west peaks. We would only be going to the eastern peak today, the high point of Notch Mountain. We headed down the northern slope of Mount Watson, keeping to the ridge until seemed to be getting too rugged. At this point, and I can't say where the ideal spot would be (ours was fine), we dropped off a steep slope toward Clyde Lake below, our route taking us to the north side of Clyde Lake. A sort-of land bridge led us between a bunch of minor lakes as we headed up to The Notch. Just below The Notch, a social trail led along a pretty bench and avoided the cliffs and trees above North Twin Lake.

Once at The Notch, we ascended the west ridge of Notch Mountain, an unexpected, fun Class 3 move preventing easy access. Once above the scramble, we stayed low, though we were tempted to keep higher. Lower meant fewer boulders, but whichever way you end up traversing to the summit, there will be plenty of Class 2 boulder-hopping. A few hundred feet from Notch Mountain's summit, we headed directly to the ridge to avoid trees and a social trail brought us up from there.

After coming down from Notch Mountain and making it to The Notch, we hopped onto the well-traveled Notch Mountain Trail leading south down from The Notch. This trail passed a junction (we went left, as right would have brought us back toward Clyde Lake), and back to the trailhead.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Mount Watson
11521 ft
1000 rise
2
Notch Mountain
11263 ft
863 rise

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Starting out from the Crystal Lakes Trailhead.
Starting out from the Crystal Lakes Trailhead.
Image 1 from gallery
Mount Watson obscured by trees on the left.
Mount Watson obscured by trees on the left.
Cliff Lake.
Cliff Lake.
Cliff Lake, Mount Watson visible center.
Cliff Lake, Mount Watson visible center.
Cliff Lake, as we near its northern side.
Cliff Lake, as we near its northern side.
The cliff at Cliff Lake.
The cliff at Cliff Lake.
Mount Watson.
Mount Watson.
Cliff Lake behind us as we ascend on a rocky section of trail.
Cliff Lake behind us as we ascend on a rocky section of trail.
Another minor lake (Petit Lake) along the trail.
Another minor lake (Petit Lake) along the trail.
Image 10 from gallery
Watson Lake, Mount Watson visible center. The trail continues to the right around Watson Lake, but we instead took a social trail around the left side of the lake to access the peak.
Watson Lake, Mount Watson visible center. The trail continues to the right around Watson Lake, but we instead took a social trail around the left side of the lake to access the peak.
Looking back toward Watson Lake.
Looking back toward Watson Lake.
Starting the ascent toward Mount Watson. In the distant center, you can see Reids Peak and Bald Mountain. On the left is Notch Mountain, which we will do after Mount Watson.
Starting the ascent toward Mount Watson. In the distant center, you can see Reids Peak and Bald Mountain. On the left is Notch Mountain, which we will do after Mount Watson.
Ascending some Class 2 and grassy slopes on the way up toward Mount Watson.
Ascending some Class 2 and grassy slopes on the way up toward Mount Watson.
Mount Watson and its fun southern ridge.
Mount Watson and its fun southern ridge.
View back toward Watson Lake, Wall Lake behind it, Notch Mountain top left.
View back toward Watson Lake, Wall Lake behind it, Notch Mountain top left.
Another shot back toward Watson Lake and the lovely peaks of the eastern Uinta.
Another shot back toward Watson Lake and the lovely peaks of the eastern Uinta.
Some Class 2+/3 as we ascend Mount Watson. The ridge required some fun minor route-finding to work around cliffs and vegetation.
Some Class 2+/3 as we ascend Mount Watson. The ridge required some fun minor route-finding to work around cliffs and vegetation.
Class 3 section. It might be avoidable, but it's fun.
Class 3 section. It might be avoidable, but it's fun.
Class 2 upper portion of the Mount Watson southern ridge.
Class 2 upper portion of the Mount Watson southern ridge.
View southwest, Long Lake in the center and Haystack Mountain on the left.
View southwest, Long Lake in the center and Haystack Mountain on the left.
Another view along the ridge toward Watson Lake (bottom) and Wall Lake (center).
Another view along the ridge toward Watson Lake (bottom) and Wall Lake (center).
Final push to the Mount Watson summit.
Final push to the Mount Watson summit.
View back along the ridge.
View back along the ridge.
Gorgeous views from the summit of Mount Watson.
Gorgeous views from the summit of Mount Watson.
Heading down Mount Watson's north ridge. Clyde Lake is visible below (the long one).
Heading down Mount Watson's north ridge. Clyde Lake is visible below (the long one).
Class 2 descent from Mount Watson.
Class 2 descent from Mount Watson.
Our route would lead off the grassy slope from Mount Watson (center), and down to the stretch of land between Clyde Lake (right) and Booker Lake (center).
Our route would lead off the grassy slope from Mount Watson (center), and down to the stretch of land between Clyde Lake (right) and Booker Lake (center).
Class 2 descent, working around some minor cliffs. We headed to the strip of land in the center of this photo.
Class 2 descent, working around some minor cliffs. We headed to the strip of land in the center of this photo.
Gorgeous wildflowers.
Gorgeous wildflowers.
Along the strip of land. Notch Mountain visible center.
Along the strip of land. Notch Mountain visible center.
Looking back toward Mount Watson as we pass by North Twin Lake.
Looking back toward Mount Watson as we pass by North Twin Lake.
At the base of Notch Mountain, known as "The Knotch", looking up at the scramble along Notch Mountain's west ridge.
At the base of Notch Mountain, known as "The Knotch", looking up at the scramble along Notch Mountain's west ridge.
Class 3 move along Notch Mountain's west ridge.
Class 3 move along Notch Mountain's west ridge.
Looking back at Matt coming up the Class 3 move, Mount Watson top center.
Looking back at Matt coming up the Class 3 move, Mount Watson top center.
Above the Class 3 move, continuing on Class 2 talus along what we considered the path of least resistance. I recommend staying low for  a while to avoid the worst of the talus.
Above the Class 3 move, continuing on Class 2 talus along what we considered the path of least resistance. I recommend staying low for a while to avoid the worst of the talus.
Looking back as we ascend the Class 2 talus.
Looking back as we ascend the Class 2 talus.
Wider shot of our progress, Mount Watson in the center.
Wider shot of our progress, Mount Watson in the center.
Notch Mountain ahead.
Notch Mountain ahead.
As we neared the summit, we kept to the ridge to avoid vegetation.
As we neared the summit, we kept to the ridge to avoid vegetation.
View back along the wide ascent to Notch Mountain.
View back along the wide ascent to Notch Mountain.
Notch Mountain summit, view east toward Reids Peak and Bald Mountain.
Notch Mountain summit, view east toward Reids Peak and Bald Mountain.
Back at the base of the Class 3 (at The Notch) move from Notch Mountain, we located the Notch Mountain Trail and followed it back.
Back at the base of the Class 3 (at The Notch) move from Notch Mountain, we located the Notch Mountain Trail and followed it back.
A junction: right leads to Clyde Lake, left back to the trailhead.
A junction: right leads to Clyde Lake, left back to the trailhead.
Some very nice scenery along the Notch Mountain Trail.
Some very nice scenery along the Notch Mountain Trail.
Image 46 from gallery
Image 47 from gallery
Image 48 from gallery
At the southern end of Wall Lake, Mount Watson visible above.
At the southern end of Wall Lake, Mount Watson visible above.
Looking back toward Notch Mountain. You can see "The Notch" on the left.
Looking back toward Notch Mountain. You can see "The Notch" on the left.
Image 51 from gallery

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