Ephraim Canyon~Patriot/Badger Run

Badger Run trail, June 11, 2021

I have split the Ephraim Canyon trails into 7 different posts because of the large amount of photos and material.  Please refer to the other posts before venturing and riding there.  The Patriot Trail is accessed from the Scandinavian Trail or from Willow Creek Road on the top.  Or from the Badger Run Trail on the bottom. 

https://www.trailforks.com/trails/patriot-trail/

 It has a nice variety of scenery and views.  It is more "open" than the other trails and may be ridden as a "Loop" if desired or as an out and back.     See photos below for update as of May, 2022.     https://www.trailforks.com/trails/badger-run-447099/)

On October 21, 2020 we rode the Ponderosa, Scandinavian and all of the Patriot.  This ride was 9 miles exactly out and back.  We rode to the Forest Service boundary which was just about to a dirt road.  Trail conditions=80% soft dirt, 15% slightly gravelly and 5 % slightly rocky.

Patriot Trail, Oct. 8, 2020

This is the "end" of the Patriot  just before it reaches the road at the Forest Service boundary. There is a "cattle guard" and barb wire fence.  It had a gate, but we did not go through. We could have made a "loop" and ridden that dirt road back up to the Willow Creek. We chose not to and turned back here.  The rest of the photos are of the Patriot. I called it the "Tree Nature Ride" because of all the different trees--firs, spruces, ponderosa, aspen, juniper, oak, maple and more.

This is a photo of the old "Maple Syrup" trail which has been de-commissioned.  It pretty much just goes straight down (or up).

Lower trail, June 4, 2021 showing the old Maple Syrup trail to the left

A small bridge almost to the end. Oct. 21, 2020

Another view of the small bridge, June 4, 2021

This road crossing is where the Scandinavian turns into the Patriot.

Casualty of the winter on the Patriot Trail.  May 16, 2022.

Patriot Trail, May 26, 2021 (The wildflowers were nice, but BEWARE in this area.  There is a fair amount of DEATH CAMAS.)

 

"New" Badger Run Trail on June 4, 2021

Our track on Sept. 19, 2022, 5.6 miles

Badger Run trail, June 11, 2021

A nice part of the Patriot Trail-- photo courtesy of Utah Mountain biking

On Sept. 19, 2022, we cleared the brush and branches and jerry-rigged a gate.  Took us about 15 minutes. (update As of August 4, 2023--no gate there, but a trail on the side--easily passable without getting off your horse.)