wildmanh
Part time Leather Bender/Sheath maker
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2000
- Messages
- 7,764
I'm planning a semi big campout here in Central Utah for the end of the month or sometime in August. This trip would involve hiking, camping, maybe some backpacking, wood/fire skills (weather/fire conditions permitting), good food and company.
This trip can be be done in 2 or 3 days, 3 days being the funnest, but least practical for more. The idea is to Hike or backpack up Canal canyon (hitting the trail between 8 and 9 am is best) to Skyline drive (if hiking in, a vehicle or two with camping would meet us at camp), spend the night at a neat spot I know along the drive. Play around in the mountain valley, maybe hike to the top of the local peak, explore and head home that afternoon or spend 2 nights then head home the afternoon of the 3rd day.
The trail up Canal canyon to Skyline drive is pretty easy most of the way. Mostly the trail follows a ravine which isn't very steep. The last 3rd of the trail goes up a ridge and the last bit of that trail gets kind of steep. But nothing to bad, especially if you don't take the short cut right up the ridge. The trail was used by loggers back in the 1800 and early 1900's and goes past one of the logging areas. I've seen old saw blades and other remnants of logging camps along the trail near the top.
The campsite is along Skyline drive where a Jeep trail meets it coming up from Joe's Valley Reservoir. I think it was an old Sheep camp. There's a creek that runs past it. The spot sits at about 10,500 feet above sea level on the west side of a mountain valley. It's at the base of South Tent mountain which is the highest peak of our mountain range and along Skyline drive. The peak is above 11,200 feet (11,230?) and the views from there are Amazing!!
Canal Canyon trail is well used and maintained. It is a popular horse and mountain biking trail. Using Google Earth to plot the trail I would estimate it to be about 6 miles from the trail head to the camp site at the top. Part of the time you are hiking along the Creek that comes out of the mountain and part of it is up a ridge. The vegetation changes from Scrub oak, juniper, Pinion and Poplar at the trail head to Fir, Pine and Aspens near the top of the ridge.
I'd like to start planning this now so that we have a better chance at a good turn out. If you're interested let me know. Thanks!
This trip can be be done in 2 or 3 days, 3 days being the funnest, but least practical for more. The idea is to Hike or backpack up Canal canyon (hitting the trail between 8 and 9 am is best) to Skyline drive (if hiking in, a vehicle or two with camping would meet us at camp), spend the night at a neat spot I know along the drive. Play around in the mountain valley, maybe hike to the top of the local peak, explore and head home that afternoon or spend 2 nights then head home the afternoon of the 3rd day.
The trail up Canal canyon to Skyline drive is pretty easy most of the way. Mostly the trail follows a ravine which isn't very steep. The last 3rd of the trail goes up a ridge and the last bit of that trail gets kind of steep. But nothing to bad, especially if you don't take the short cut right up the ridge. The trail was used by loggers back in the 1800 and early 1900's and goes past one of the logging areas. I've seen old saw blades and other remnants of logging camps along the trail near the top.
The campsite is along Skyline drive where a Jeep trail meets it coming up from Joe's Valley Reservoir. I think it was an old Sheep camp. There's a creek that runs past it. The spot sits at about 10,500 feet above sea level on the west side of a mountain valley. It's at the base of South Tent mountain which is the highest peak of our mountain range and along Skyline drive. The peak is above 11,200 feet (11,230?) and the views from there are Amazing!!
Canal Canyon trail is well used and maintained. It is a popular horse and mountain biking trail. Using Google Earth to plot the trail I would estimate it to be about 6 miles from the trail head to the camp site at the top. Part of the time you are hiking along the Creek that comes out of the mountain and part of it is up a ridge. The vegetation changes from Scrub oak, juniper, Pinion and Poplar at the trail head to Fir, Pine and Aspens near the top of the ridge.
I'd like to start planning this now so that we have a better chance at a good turn out. If you're interested let me know. Thanks!
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