Park City company becomes only one permitted to guide on Uinta Highline Trail
May 28, 2025, 7:00 AM
FILE — A hiker travels along the trail to Kings Peak from Henry's Fork, which are part of the Uinta Highline Trail. (Tom Smart)
(Tom Smart)
PARK CITY, Utah— The Uinta Highline Trail is a 104-mile route through the high elevations of the Uinta Mountains, providing stunning views to experienced hikers. Inspired Summit Adventures, a Park City guiding company, recently became the only company permitted to guide treks over the route.
Inspired Summit Adventures Founder Shaun Deutschlander and her team are excited to be the only crew offering a guided experience.
“We’re offering a variety of trips … we understand that it is a privilege to be able to have 10 days off in a row or to decide that you want to spend those 10 days on one trail network,” Deutschlander said.
The guiding company is offering a 10-day trip that covers the entirety of the 104 miles, which includes Kings Peak, the highest summit in Utah. Alternatively, there is a six and four-day option.
Steep, rocky terrain in the High Uintas Wilderness, such as this scene in the East Fork Bear River drainage, can prove treacherous for hikers who are unskilled, unprepared or unlucky. (Dave Cawley, KSL Podcasts)
“The six-day we can still do a point-to-point in a faster fashion,” Deutschlander said. “The four-day, we start trimming down sections … so we kind of do a highlight reel.”
Uinta Highline Trail trips are more than just guiding
For Deutschlander and her team of guides, their job is not just to lead clients through the wilderness.
“That mentorship piece is important within our company culture and it’s a really important piece that we play in our community,” she said. “Maybe your goal personally is you want to do the Highline Trail on your own, but you want to get some basics down.”
Treks like the Uinta Highline Trail require more skills than the average day hike. For example, backpackers must know how to prepare food without an open flame, how to store it, and how to dispose of human waste and wastewater. Additionally, hikers must be strong enough to carry all their gear, which should weigh approximately 20% of their body weight, per The Trek.
Deutschlander said she believes teaching community members important outdoor skills is a way to contribute and to “lead from the back.”
The permitting process was “long”
Acquiring permits to guide on the Uinta Highline Trail was a long process, according to Deutschlander. It spans two forests: Ashley National Forest and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest.
A screenshot of AllTrails’ app shows the span of the Uinta Highline Trail.
“We carry two permits that are inside of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest that piece together parts of the Highline Trail there,” Deutschlander said. “We had some success getting some [Ashley National Forest] permits for our winter operations out there and that has led us to getting summer.”
Currently, Inspired Summit Adventures holds a temporary use permit, which is valid for six months. Deutschlander hopes her company can eventually get a year-round permit.
“I feel very fortunate to be able to operate in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service. I take it very seriously,” Deutschlander said. “I feel honored that I get to have an opportunity to help the public explore and engage in … all of our lands.”
Looking to dive into a mystery on the Uinta Highline Trail? Tune in to Uinta Triangle on KSL Podcasts.
