The trailhead is the Highline Trail trailhead/Hayden Pass off the Mirror Lake highway. This is at mile post 34.2, which is 34.2 miles from Kamas Utah on highway 150, or about 43 miles south of Evanston Wyoming on highway 150. The trail will likely be very snowy until late June in most years.

To Natural Basin (5.3 miles)
Follow the Highline trail. After 0.75 miles, a side trail comes in from Mirror Lake, stay left as the trail descends southeast along the base of the high Uintas.

Continuing on, a junction is reached with right going to Scudder Lake and left bypassing Scudder Lake. Either way is fine, but I recommend right to see the lake close up. Just after the lake, the trail re-joins the main trail.

Next up is Packard Lake junction. Stay left here, as the trail meanders up and down to a final junction to Naturalist Basin (left) or Rocky Sea Pass (right). Go left as the trail begins climbing up into Naturalist Basin.

The scenery is stunning as you enter Naturalist Basin. A final junction occurs where the views open and Mt. Agassiz is prominent to the left. The peak towers to 12,428 feet over the northwest side of the basin. To the northeast of the basin is Spread Eagle Peak, and at 12,540 feet, is slightly higher than Agassiz.

Jordan / Blue Lake Loop (about 5 miles)
Though this loop adds 5 miles to the hike, it visits the best part of the basin. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. From the Jordan Lake Junction, I suggest doing the loop in a counter clockwise direction. Go right, crossing the stream and following a meadow before the trail climbs briefly to the picturesque Jordan Lake.

Continuing past Jordan Lake, the trail once again climbs a step, this time to above tree line and Shaler Lake that is nestled below Spread Eagle Peak. This stunning spot makes a great destination.

Want more scenery and some easy off trail hiking? Continue the loop by hiking north to near the base of the mountains, and heading west along the flats. En route you will quickly visit Faxon Lake, Le Conte Lake, and Walcott Lakes before reaching the large Blue Lake that is nestled below Mt. Agassiz. Absolutely stunning!

At the south side of Blue Lake are two ponds. The original trail descended between these two ponds (shown on the map). This has a little boulder hoping. Going to the east side of the ponds is a better and more used trail these days. Either way, the hike descends steeply to Morat Lakes.

Go east around Morat Lakes on the trail as it circles around the south side of the lake, then descends steeply and crosses back to Jordan Lake Junction.