Trail Review: High Creek Canyon to Naomi and Cherry Peaks

Distance:  19.0 miles
Vertical:  5900'
Difficulty:  Hard

Looking North down High Creek Canyon from Cherry Peak

When Cody and I first attempted this trail, we made a couple of critical errors which resulted in more of an adventure than we bargained for.  First, we didn't get a map, second, we started at 4 AM with hours of darkness still ahead of us, and then, to top it off, we trusted that there would be a sign pointing in the correct direction.  Wrong.  Needless to say, we got quite lost, ended up bushwhacking up the wrong drainage for miles, and by the time we found the turn we missed, it was light enough to see that the sign had been ripped from the post.  Later that week, Cody went solo and scouted the trail and we were finally able to run it together last weekend, as what will likely be our last real high country trail run until the snows melt next spring. 

We started at a campground partway up High Creek Canyon, just East of Richmond, UT (north of Logan about 25 minutes), but you can start at the beginning of the dirt road to get in a few extra miles.  The road winds through a few campsites here and there for a mile or two, then ends in a parking lot.  This is where the single track starts.  It starts out flat for a few hundred meters, then takes a hard left across a foot bridge and begins to climb.  You alternate flat and climbing for a little while, until you reach a sign (or, if you're not lucky, a post).  DO NOT GO LEFT HERE!!!  Well, you can, and it will take you to a cool little waterfall, but that's as far as it goes.  There is nothing but misleading deer tracks after that point.  Go right at the sign across a rickety foot bridge (there are a few of these), and the trail begins to climb in earnest.  We did this trail in the late fall, and the colors mixed with the dark green fir was beautiful.  In the summer, it is very green.  You'll make a couple of switchbacks, and the trail will turn somewhat rocky as you continue to climb High Creek Canyon.  There is a nice little creek running by the trail, and you'll cross it several times.  There are always little bridges to cross, as the trail is also heavily used by horses.  Between mile 5 and 6 you'll come out of the forest upon a small pond.  Watch for moose here, as we know of at least two moose sightings at the pond.  You'll then cross a large meadow, where you'll have a great view of Cherry Peak directly in front of you.  Once you cross the meadow, the trail climbs steeply to the left, up the side of a very large bowl rimmed by cliffs.  The trail climbs a couple of steep ridges, and then drops down into High Creek Lake.  The freezing water is mirror smooth and clear enough to see to the bottom of the lake.  Looking to the South, you'll see a saddle above you.  The trail climbs to this saddle and splits at the top.  To the right is the way to Cherry Peak.  To the left, the trail to Naomi Peak.  We took Naomi to start with.  Naomi Peak is the highest point in the Bear River Range, and coming from this side is much more impressive than it is from the Tony Grove side, which is the short hike most people take.  The trail climbs about 1000' within a little over a mile to the peak.  You'll reach another saddle and another fork in the trail 4/5 of the way there.  Right takes you the last few hundred meters to the peak and left takes you down the hiking trail to Tony Grove.  Cody and I are planning to take this route next summer, traversing the way we came, to Naomi Peak, across the Seven Sisters and Mount Elmer, to Green Canyon, about a 50k run.  That will be an epic trail run.  This time, we paused for a few minutes at the peak before deciding that it was too cold and windy (there was about a foot of snow on the ground above 8,000' on this day) and turning around.  Follow the trail back the way you came to the saddle above High Creek Lake, and this time take the other fork.  You'll be able to see the trail ahead of you as it skirts another large bowl, slanting steeply up the side of Cherry Peak.  You'll reach yet another saddle, and from here the trail kind of disappears, leaving you to find your own best route to the summit.  This peak offers breathtaking views of High Creek Canyon, City Creek Canyon, Cache Valley, Naomi Peak, the Seven Sisters, and all the other peaks to the South.  We paused here to drink some water, snap some pictures, and eat some of Cody's granola bars before heading back down the way we came.  Going down High Creek Canyon is somewhat technical, with all the rocks, but is not nearly as bad as it looks coming up.  Enjoy the downhill and the views as you make your way back to the start point.  

Here are some photos:

View of Cherry Peak coming up High Creek Canyon

Yours truly at High Creek Lake

High Creek Lake from the saddle

The last bit of the high saddle near Naomi Peak

Looking SE near Naomi Peak

Possibly the most hardcore photo of me in history, from the top of Cherry Peak

Looking back towards Naomi Peak (top center) over what we just ran across

Accessibility:  About 25 minutes drive from Logan.  2 Stars

Runnability:  Rocky in places, but not as bad as it looks.  3 Stars

Scenic Value:  Two peaks at or above 10K, great views of the valley and surrounding mountains.  5 Stars

Overall Rating:  3.3 out of 5 Stars.  Great for a long, tough, weekend run with lots of vertical, spectacular views, and everything that makes trail running great.

Trail Review: Bunchgrass-White Pine Trail

Distance:  14.6 miles
Vertical Climb/Descent:  3100'
Difficulty:  Hard

I had nearly forgotten this trail until I drove past the trailhead on the way to Stump Hollow the other day.  I've only done Bunchgrass/White Pine on two other occasions, but each time I am reminded that I should do it more often.  This trail is difficult, but gives you a good mix of just about every type of running you can think of.  You'll get your fill of steep climbing/descent, smooth and flat, meadows filled with sage and wildflowers, evergreen and aspen forest, rocks, stream crossings, sweeping mountain vistas, and the beautifully emerald White Pine Lake at the turnaround.  Oh, and cows...lots of cows.  Anyway, onward we go.  The trail begins right from US Hwy 89 about 0.25 miles past the turnoff to Tony Grove (about 30 minutes northeast of Logan).  Once you pass the Tony Grove turnoff, which is well signed, look for a big pullout on the right side of the highway.  This is your parking lot.  The trail starts just on the opposite side of the highway and is marked with one of those flat, brown posts they use to mark trails.  A few yards in, you'll come to a gate which you should go through.  The trail continues on the other side.  You'll climb fairly steadily for the first 2.5 miles, then you'll begin to ascend and descend a series of ridges, which will test your hill climbing abilities and footwork, but which will in return offer some great photo ops.  There are several junctions with other trails along the way, including a big one just past the 2.5 mile mark.  Bear left as a general rule (with one exception which I will mention later) and you will stay on course.  You'll traverse several meadows filled with fragrant wildflowers alternating with some thick stands of aspen.  During my last outing on this trail, I saw a big bull moose in this section (didn't get a good photo or it would be on here).  At the 3.8 mile mark, you'll come to a sign.  You want to keep left, as I stated before, heading towards White Pine Lake.  A right will take you to Franklin Basin, Steam Mill Hollow, and other points northeast (I plan on blogging a run including these trails at some point).  You are now on the Bear 100 course, in case you were wondering.  The trail soon enters a wide valley of alternating meadows and conifer forest.  Presently, you will see the imposing figure of Mount Gog (9700') straight ahead.  You're heading for a point about a quarter mile to the south of this prominent landmark.  At about 4.6 miles you will come upon a barely noticeable fork in the trail, right next to a small watering hole.  The trail appears to go up and to the left, but you should go down and to the right instead, near the stream.  You'll continue straight up the middle of this lush, steep sided valley until about the 5.8 mile mark, at which point the trail begins to climb steeply as it swings to the left.  The trail here gets more technical, but the scenery more than makes up for it.  You'll now be able to see both Mount Gog and Mount Magog, the forbidding spires that sit on either side of White Pine Lake, which is your destination.  The trail will eventually top out at the bottom of the small valley between the two mountains, and the going will be pretty easy the remainder of the way to White Pine Lake at 7.6 miles.  Stop and take a few pictures.  It's well worth it.  Just before you get to the lake, you'll notice a sign at an intersection.  From here you can take a left and get to Tony Grove, another 4 miles and a steep climb to the south, if you want to get some extra miles in.   Head back the same way you came and enjoy the views of Logan Canyon, and the ability you'll have to really get flying once you get past the more technical portion of the trail.

Some great photos:

Start from across Hwy 89 near the Tony Grove turnoff

Some of the locals.  You'll see lots of these, and maybe, if you're lucky, a larger relative of theirs.

I caught the wildflowers at the perfect time.  This is looking back towards Logan Canyon.

Another field of flowers.

Waterfall near White Pine Lake.  You can just see the tip of Mount Magog peeking from behind the trees on the right side of the photo.

White Pine Lake

Full view of Mount Magog with White Pine Lake in the foreground.

 

Accessibility:  About 35-40 minutes drive from Logan, depending on whether the driver in front of you is from a mountainous state. 1 Star

Runnability:  Mostly very good, but with a few technical sections.  Trail may be churned up by cows in some places, depending on the time of year.  There are enough downed trees to keep the average mountain biker at bay and make the running a little more fun.  3 Stars

Scenic Value:  Great views, especially as you near White Pine Lake.  Bring a camera.  You won't regret it.  4 Stars

Overall Rating:  2.6 out of 5 Stars.  A good trail for the occasional moderately long run.

Trail Review: Stump Hollow

Distance:  10.0 miles
Vertical climb/descent:  1800'
Difficulty:  Moderate

Stump Hollow is an amazing trail.  I dare say it's probably the most runnable singletrack I've ever experienced, and that's not even the best part.  The trail starts near the turnoff from Highway 89 to Beaver Mountain Ski Resort, about a 45 minute drive (east--towards Bear Lake) from Logan.  There is a little parking lot right at the turnoff, and from there you just run down the left side of the main highway heading west (toward Logan) until you see a singletrack trail.  This is the trail.  Once you get on the trail, be prepared for some of the best mountain trail running and scenery I've seen in Utah.  The trail winds through pine, douglas fir, and aspen forest, climbing steadily and fairly steeply for the first 3 miles or so.  The trail is smooth as a baby's butt for the most part, and you can take your eyes off the ground to admire the forest and scenery.  After navigating some switchbacks, from which you get some spectacular views, you'll level out near the top of a ridge.  The trail continues to roll through thick pines and firs, interspersed with lush meadows of wildflowers, sage, and some other broad leaf shrub whose name I don't know.  You are still climbing in this section, but very gradually.  After about a mile or so of this, you'll top out on a ridge overlooking Peter Sinks.  As you descend, you'll note a strange phenomenon.   Usually, the tree line is at a certain elevation, and there are no trees above it.  This is the opposite.  As you descend into the Sinks, you'll see the trees abruptly disappear, giving way to stark, tundra-like terrain.  This is because Peter Sinks is one of the coldest spots in the lower 48 States on a regular basis.  In the winter, the topography, combined with a blanket of snow, creates a hyperbolic mirror which reflects all the sun's rays outward, no matter which angle they come from, resulting in frigid temperatures which can approach -70 F.  The result is that the only growth is low scrub sage, sparse grass, and wildflowers.  Beautiful in its own right, but not necessarily what you'd expect at 8000 feet.  The trail here is faint, and can be difficult to follow, but it is marked by rock cairns.  I usually stop and turn around at the 5 mile mark somewhere near the middle of the Sinks, but you can continue on and connect to the jeep trails which are visible across the depression.  I have yet to explore that far.  Maybe another day when I have more time.  Heading back you can really turn on the jets without much fear of stumbling in most places.  The trail is soft and smooth, and facing down the hollow you can take in even more of the great views.  Barring other factors such as travel time, this is hands down my favorite trail to run.

My camera phone fails to do this trail any sort of justice, but here are a few pictures for a taste:

One of the "rocky" parts of the trail...

Attempt at a closeup shot of blooming mule ear with some mountain mahogany and a beautiful backdrop

The view dropping into Peter Sinks. 

One of the bigger sinks, and you can see the little weather station just left of center.  70 below is REALLY COLD!

You might not believe me, but there is a herd of about 50 elk just to the left of the little patches of snow below the treeline.  My camera sucks, and I was kicking myself for not bringing my fanny pack and "good" camera, but trust me, they're there.

Yours truly...

Accessibility:  about 45 minutes drive from Logan.  Too bad, but I suppose that's the price you pay for solitude.  1 Star.

Runnability:  Best singletrack I've ever run.  Hands down.  5 stars.

Scenic Value:  Spectacular.  5 stars.

Overall Rating:  3.6 out of 5 Stars.  I would run this trail much more often if it were closer, but I guess that's part of the magic of it.  Too close and it would get old.  A run you must do once in awhile.

Trail Review: Green Canyon Single Track

Distance:  9.0 miles
Vertical climb/descent:  1135'
Difficulty:  Easy

A typical section of single track.

This trail is another favorite of mine.  Green Canyon lives up to its name in the summertime, and is equally beautiful in the fall when the colors come on.  The trailhead is within easy running distance if you live in Logan, either by roads or the Bonneville Shoreline Trail from First Dam.  Or you can simply drive to the parking lot and start from there.  The trailhead is located at the mouth of Green Canyon at King Park.  To get here, you simply follow 18th North (which turns into 19th North) until you pass the North Logan power substation.  King Park is about 100 m further on your left, complete with bathrooms, drinking fountains, etc.  You can also proceed farther up the road to the second parking lot, but this cuts out a section of about 3/4 mile.  The Green Canyon trail is broken up into 6 sections by road crossings, and follows the Green Canyon Road fairly closely. The trail starts just to the right of the bathrooms at King Park, and the way I usually go I just always bear to the right through this section, staying on the trail.  You will come to the second parking lot after about 3/4 mile, and here you cross the road, head for the bathroom, and just to your left before you get to the bathroom you will see the second section of singletrack.  At the end of this section, you will cross the road again, and here you can either continue on the road for a bit, or take a the short section of singletrack you will see about 50 m away on your front left as you turn onto the road.  Either way will make a short climb and then end up back on the road for a little bit of flat.  You will then go up a fairly steep, rocky hill, and immediately on your left the third section of singletrack begins.  After this, the road crossings are fairly simple, and you will continue through the remaining sections with ease.  The trail is well traveled by runners, mountain bikers, horses, and hikers, so be aware of the traffic, especially on weekends.  Once you get to the end of the sixth section of singletrack, you will be at a turnaround point in the road.  In the wintertime, Utah State University maintains a yurt here which is available for rental, so I refer to this terminus as "the yurt" even in the summertime.  One of the nice things about this trail is that in the winter, the dirt road (which is under 3-4 feet of snow) is groomed for skiers and snowshoers, so it makes a great escape from the monotony of the roads at a time when most other trails are not in a runnable condition.  For those who can or wish to run further than the yurt, the trail restarts on the other side of the turnaround and heads up into the Mount Naomi Wilderness.  From the Green Canyon trail you can access the Wind Caves, Beirdneu Peak, Mount Elmer, Tony Grove, and other locations.  These are long, steep, and difficult runs, but for those who can handle these trails, the views and backcountry running experience are well worth it.

This photo of the road section was taken in early spring before the leaves were out.  Very shady in the summer, and brilliantly colorful in the fall.

Accessibility:  a few minutes by passenger car or a short run, depending on where in Logan you live.  5 Stars.

Runability:  Very smooth trail.  Used by mountain bikers a lot, so the trail is smooth with very few rocks.  The road is actually more technical than the trail.  Road is runnable in the winter.  The only downside is the traffic, especially mountain bikers.  Most are courteous, though.  4 Stars.

Scenic Value:  This is a beautiful run.  It perhaps doesn't have the striking vistas of some of the other trails, but you do get a few good glimpses of Cache Valley coming back, and the greenery in the summer and colors in the fall are amazing.  4 Stars.

Overall Rating:  Close, runnable, shady, perfect for a good trail run before or after work/school, and with access to near unlimited backcountry trail running.  4.3 out of 5 Stars.

Trail Review: Jardine Juniper

Distance:  10.0 Miles
Vertical climb/descent:  ~ 2050 feet
Difficulty:  Moderate

The 1500 year-old Jardine Juniper

This trail is one of my all-time favorites, and it is named for the 1500 year-old juniper tree at its termination, which is thought to be one of the oldest trees in Utah.  The trailhead begins near the Woodcamp campground, about 20 minutes drive from Logan up Logan Canyon.  After turning off the highway, it is about 100 yards up a dirt road to the parking area.  Bathrooms of the pit variety are provided at the trailhead.  The sign says that the Jardine Juniper is a 5.2 mile hike (or run, in my case) away, and is accurate.  The trail is a steady climb pretty much the entire way out.  Not steep, but enough to let you know that you are gaining elevation at a good clip.  There is one stream crossing in the early part of the summer, so be prepared to balance across a couple of fence posts.  The scenery is spectacular.  Once you ascend out of the meadowed valley where the trail begins, you climb the first ridge which gives you some great views of the valley below and the surrounding mountains.  You cross several small rivulets that sprout from springs right in the mountainside.  Once you reach the top of the first ridge, the trail takes you through another high meadow, at the head of which  the Cottonwood Canyon trail splits off.  I am not exactly sure where that goes...it will warrant further exploration.  Continuing around the meadow, you begin to ascend the second ridge.  Near the top, you come to a split in the trail.  Either route will take you to the tree, but I prefer the right hand side (dubbed "Scenic Route") going out.  Here you will see some spectacular views of Logan Canyon, Logan Peak, Right-hand Fork, and Temple Fork areas.  When you come to the point of the ridge, you are at the highest point of the trail.  After a bit you will come to a sign which directs you to nearly double back down a steep, somewhat rocky quarter mile of switchbacks to the tree.  It's well worth a few snapshots if you bring a camera or phone.  Leave your name on the trail register.  I also usually leave my time to the tree when running.  Once you climb back up to the main trail, it's worth your while to take the "Shady side" back.  This section is as good as trail running gets.  Shady, smooth, cool mountain feel...it's great.  You then complete the loop and come back the same way you came to that point.   I love this trail.  Map, elevation profile, photos, and rating below:

Due to limited technical capabilities, elevations (on right) are in meters, and are probably only generally accurate.  Working to improve this.  Total climbing of 2050' is pretty accurate.

Glorious singletrack!

Looking to the southwest from near the top of the second ridge.  Logan Peak in the distance.

The trailhead looking northwest.

Caution, slippery river crossing.  Risk of wet, squelchy feet.

Accessibility:  20 minute drive from Logan, passenger car. 3 Stars

Runnability:  Some mildly rocky portions, especially if descending at a fast pace, but overall very good singletrack and no serious hazards, minus the occasional mountain biker on a busy day. 4 Stars

Scenic Value:  Sweeping vistas, forests and meadows, Jardine Juniper tree.  5 Stars

Overall Rating:  4.0 out of 5 Stars.  Well worth running often.