GWT Parleys to Big Water
GWT Parleys to Big Water Trail is a 13.4-mile trail in Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Utah. The Forest Service rates it trail class 3, developed. It is open to hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest official page carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 40.7540° N, 111.6241° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 40.7111° N, 111.6827° W · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start. The trail is recorded as 9 segments.
The trail
| Length | 13.4 miles |
| Trail class | 3, developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical grade | 12-20 percent |
| Typical tread width | 18-24 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Evaluated and does not meet accessibility guidelines |
| National designation | National Recreation Trail or other national designation |
| Trail numbers | 1900G5 |
| Forest | Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest (unit 0419) |
| States | Utah |
| Detail published | management level, with uses |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Weather by month
Allowed uses
| Hiking | Allowed 06/01 to 10/31 (month/day) |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed 06/01 to 10/31 (month/day) |
| Mountain biking | Allowed 06/01 to 10/31 (month/day) |
A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.
Trailheads
Elbow Fork Trailhead No season published | under 0.1 mi |
Lambs Canyon Trailhead #002 No season published Salt Lake City watershed restrictions apply and are strictly enforced. | 0.1 mi |
Distance is from the point to the nearest part of the trail line. Season text is what the forest wrote and is often a season name rather than a date.
Trails nearby
Camping nearby
Campsite Atlas cards carry site counts and booking links from Recreation.gov. Forest Service cards come from the recreation layer and link the agency page.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedThaynes Canyon 2026 Piles Rx
10 mi from the trail midpoint · 73 acres
- PrescribedTaylors Fork Rx
26 mi from the trail midpoint · 300 acres
- PrescribedPitt And Page Rx
36 mi from the trail midpoint · 170 acres
- PrescribedCastle Peak Rx
36 mi from the trail midpoint
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Closure orders are on the forest's official page.
Explore
Historic places nearby
Guidebooks for Utah
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the GWT Parleys to Big Water Trail?
The Forest Service records 13.4 miles under this name in Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, the sum of 9 segments.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the GWT Parleys to Big Water Trail?
Hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking are allowed. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round. Some uses are seasonal. The allowed uses section lists the dates.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the GWT Parleys to Big Water Trail start?
The line begins at 40.7540° N, 111.6241° W and ends at 40.7111° N, 111.6827° W. The nearest recorded trailhead is Elbow Fork Trailhead, under 0.1 miles from the line. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the GWT Parleys to Big Water Trail in a wilderness area?
No. The trail line does not cross any polygon in the National Wilderness Preservation System layer.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Where can I camp near the GWT Parleys to Big Water Trail?
Jordan Pines (2.7 mi) and Spruces - Big Cottonwood (3.1 mi) are within five miles of the trail. The camping section lists all 2 with site counts and booking links.
Source: Campsite Atlas
How developed is the GWT Parleys to Big Water Trail?
Trail class 3, which the Forest Service describes as developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is the GWT Parleys to Big Water Trail?
The typical grade is 12-20 percent. The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the GWT Parleys to Big Water Trail accessible?
No. The Forest Service evaluated it and found it does not meet its accessibility guidelines.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the GWT Parleys to Big Water Trail a national trail?
Yes. The record marks it as a National Recreation Trail.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the GWT Parleys to Big Water Trail?
Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Forest Service unit 0419. The trail is in Utah.
Is there a fire near the GWT Parleys to Big Water Trail?
The interagency feed shows 4 active incidents within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Thaynes Canyon 2026 Piles Rx at 10 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 9 segments named GWT Parleys to Big Water in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0419. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed November 1, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.