Temperatures in areas above 10,000 feet are seldom above 80 degrees during summer days. Night temperatures during summer are 30-40 degrees with freezing weather possible at any time. Summer afternoon thunderstorms may occur with little warning. About one half the area is forested. Quaking aspen occurs in scattered patches throughout most of the lower elevations of the area.
Variety is added by isolated meadows and willow fields which occur throughout the timber.
The remaining area is talus slopes, boulder fields, and water. The Uinta Mountains have outstanding wilderness qualities and are geographically unique as the highest mountain range in Utah. Other than the Brooks Range in Alaska, they are the most prominent east-west range in the United States. Their pre-Cambrian rocks are over 600 million years old. These ancient rocks were elevated by tremendous pressure to form nearly vertical faults.