Barker Lakes Loop

The Barker Lakes Loop is an easy 2.9-mile trail through aspen, mixed conifer, and meadow in the North Creek Lakes area of the Dixie National Forest, northwest of Escalante. It's an easy day trip on foot or horseback, stringing together several small backcountry fishing lakes: Blue Lake, Flat Lake, Yellow Lake, Joe Lay Reservoir, Dougherty Basin, and both Round Willow Bottom and Long Willow Bottom.

Good to know

• Trailhead at the north side of the Upper Barker Reservoir parking area, end of Forest Road 149
• Access from Escalante: west on Highway 12, then north on North Creek Road to FR 149, about 16 miles to the trailhead
• OHVs and e-bikes are not permitted on this trail
• Several lakes along the loop have backcountry campsites with a bear box and fire pit

This is Forest Service land, so dogs are generally fine and dispersed camping is common — a more relaxed setup than the rules inside Bryce Canyon National Park.