Ephraim Canyon~~Lake Hill

 

Another trail that can be accessed from either the Ponderosa or Willow Creek parking areas.  Please see the other Ephraim Canyon post for more information.  The new trail we rode is called either the "Camelot" or "Bovine" trail depending on which website you look at.  I prefer the name of Camelot.
https://www.trailrunproject.com/trail/7083529/camelot

https://www.trailforks.com/trails/bovine-102977/

I felt like I "had" to explore this option, even though it appeared it might be steep and rocky.  It turned out to be steep in places, but still negotiable.  What made it work~~steepness wasn't constant.    Beautiful forest, lots of evergreens and aspens.  A couple of meadows.  I am glad we did it, but it wouldn't be one I would choose often like the lower trails. Once we reached the end of the trail, we turned on a dirt road which led to a lake, which is a small reservoir, but pretty.  We had to circumvent one cattle guard and then came upon one more, not passable just as we reached the lake.  Luckily, we rode it on a week day and only saw forest service guys and a few people fishing on the lake.  

Entire ride on June 2, 2021:  About 5.7 miles.  Trail conditions of just the Camelot Trail=75% soft dirt, 22% slightly rocky and 3% rocky.  Our barefoot horses had no problem.  

Heading up the Camelot where it begins just off the Willow Creek road.

Junction where the Mirkwood Trail crosses the Camelot.  No signs.

The Camelot has not been "worked over" by trail maintenance.  It is basically a single track kept alive by bikers.  No motorized are allowed.  It would be nice to have it re-worked into switchbacks to avoid the steep inclines.

Very pretty trail, peaceful and secluded

A meadow half way up the Camelot.

Once up the trail, we turned left onto the dirt road leading to Lake Hill.  We talked to the forest service guy in the truck.  He is surveying for a "timber sale", where they will take down quite a few of the large evergreens.  

"Lake Hill Reservoir".  We were able to access it to give the horses a drink.     Yay for water features!  

Representative of the dirt road just past where the Camelot Trail intersects.