Location
Cutthroat Lake also known as BR-37 is located in Summit County and is part of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. The lake is located a little more than a mile west of Ruth Lake.
Fish Species
Cutthroat Trout, brook trout, and Tiger Trout.
The cutthroat population is naturally reproducing. in 2024, 398 brook trout were planted. In 2022, 419 tiger trout were planted.
The Hike
The quickest way to the lake is to hike to Ruth Lake, then head north west of Hayden Lake and hike towards Jewel Lake. You can hike around and up the mountain past Hayden but its rocky and more steep then the area around Jewel Lake. From this area you pretty much head west. There isn't really a trail around this area so a GPS will help immensely. From what I saw the lake looked deeper around the south west bank.
You can also access the lake from the Lofty Lake Loop Trail, although it is twice the distance.
Historical DWR Info
1964
CUTTHROAT, BR-37. 5 acres, elevation 10,400 feet, maximum depth 16 feet, average depth 13 feet. 1/2 mile south of Teal. A heart-shaped lake in a rugged setting. No direct trail to the lake. Some open shoreline for fly fishng. Good campsites with horse feed. Plenty of running water. Wary cutthroat and rainbow trout. Stocked with cutthroat trout.
1985
CUTTHROAT, B R - 3 7. Cutthroat is a natural lake located near timber line in a rugged cirque basin at the head of the Hayden Fork Drainage. It is 3.8 acres, 10,390 feet in elevation, with 16 feet maximum depth. There is no direct trail to Cutthroat Lake. Access is 1 rough mile west of Ruth Lake through thick timber and boulder fields. Horse access is possible but difficult. Campsites in the immediate lake vicinity are limited and poor due to the open and windswept nature of the surrounding terrain, but good sites are available to the east in the vicinity of a wet meadow. Spring water can be obtained at the lake through at least mid-August. Cutthroat contains a wary population of brook trout and a few remaining cutthroat trout. Fisherman use is moderate.
2024
Cutthroat is a natural lake located near timberline in a rugged cirque basin at the head of the Hayden Fork drainage. It is 3.4 surface acres, 10,390 feet in elevation, with 16 feet maximum depth. There is no direct trail to Cutthroat Lake. Access is 1 rough mile west of Ruth Lake through thick timber and boulder fields. Horse access is possible but difficult. Campsites in the immediate lake vicinity are limited and poor due to the open and windswept nature of the surrounding terrain, but good sites are available to the east in the vicinity of a wet meadow. Spring water can be obtained at the lake through at least mid-August. Cutthroat Lake contains a wary population of brook trout. Angler use is moderate
Nearby Areas to Fish
Teal Lake, Cuberant Lake, Jewel Lake, Hayden Lake, Naomi Lake, Ruth Lake, Kamas Lake, and Scout Lake.
