Springtime breeds anxiety. You’ve put the skis and boots away for the winter, and the snow has finally melted away from your yard. You start wearing short-sleeved shirts without a jacket. You spend hours figuring out where you stored your summer recreational gear last fall.

For me, I start dreaming of summer in the mountains amidst the wildflowers, afternoon adventures in the high reaches of the Wasatch Range with our Jeeps, desert drives and hikes on panoramic ridgelines.

Then, reality sets in. It’s springtime in the mountains. Those dreams of hiking boots on rocky ridgelines … well, they’re still a month away.

One of our real treasures here in Utah is the Mirror Lake Highway. We love bringing dinner and a kayak up to the shores of Teapot Lake or hiking through a wooded trail to tiny watering holes deep in the forest.

There’s a scenario founded in great anxiety that plays out each spring in the Mirror Lake Highway Lovers Facebook group. With tulips coming out of the ground down in the valley, campers are de-winterizing their RVs and making plans for weekend outings at Trial Lake — seemingly oblivious that Mother Nature has other plans. 

Some play out their dreams by posting summertime photos of their campsites from last July. Others seem bewildered at how long it takes 15 feet of snow to melt.

“Why ain’t they clearing the road yet?” writes one group member. “’Cause it’s April! It’s a bit early! If you’re looking to drive it, come back around July 4th!” writes another.

Let’s remember that the Mirror Lake Highway is the highest road in the state — 10,715 feet at Bald Mountain Pass. That’s 1,000 feet higher than Guardsman Pass!

I like to dream, too, but with a good dose of reality. I figured there was still adventure to be found.

As a kid, I developed a real passion for maps. I love poring over the teeniest details, imagining the terrain, and seeking little-known adventures in the contour lines and labels. 

Knowing the Mirror Lake Highway was open to just past milepost 20, I scoured map layers from Yellow Pine to Shingle Creek. On one map layer, I found this little icon: Smooth Rock Falls. With little information but a pioneering passion for adventure, I set out to find Smooth Rock Falls.

Driving back and forth, I caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eye of a rocky gorge. I pulled over and walked just 25 feet to a flat rock, staring down at a raging Provo River cascading down rocks ground smooth by the water’s sheer power. The whitewater crashed up against the side of the gorge as it navigated a chicane, first to the left, then to the right, spilling out into placid waters downstream.

The roar showcased the power of the water. Its brilliant white foam amidst a golden glow gave it a majestic look as it coursed its way through the 25-foot golden walls of the gorge. The light drops of spray that floated up to me conveyed a sense of summer ahead.

There are more power waterfalls upstream a few miles. And this wasn’t a Niagara-like cascade. There was still snow on the ground all around me. But this small flat rock offered me a front-row seat in the amphitheater of spring.

What adventure awaits you this weekend?

DETAILS

Getting There: This is a full pavement trip. Just take S.R. 50 east from Kamas. The road is wide open now without heavy traffic. As of this writing, it was open to mile 20 and beyond. Expect more to open soon, but it will be some time before you can get over Bald Mountain Pass.

Smooth Rock Falls: The Smooth Rock Falls gorge is just before the 20-mile marker on S.R. 150 and is easily accessible from the highway turnout.

Dining: After a Sunday drive on the Mirror Lake Highway, The Notch is a great spot to stop — open on Sundays and fine for families. There are plenty of other Sunday options in Kamas.

When to Go?: Now is a great time to see the Mirror Lake Highway in a different light.