Nebo Loop~~Jones Ranch

 

This delightful trail we found "by accident."  Actually, I had done research enough to know it was a trail I would like to try.  Our goal on October 12 was to do the "Summit" trail on the highest point of the Nebo Loop. We drove up the steep side from State Road 132.  However, the small parking area was full.  So, we drove on down to the Payson Lakes area looking for an option.  I spotted the Jones Ranch trailhead with plenty of parking, so....we decided to try it.  If it got too bad, we could always turn back.

This was our track for the day.  8 miles total.  We did the entire Jones Ranch trail plus two side trips--one up what we now know is called Done Ridge (for about 100 yards)    The other up to Box Lake.  HOWEVER, do not recommend that one because we got to the edge of a campground which became off limits to horses, so we didn't even see the lake and turned back to the main trail. The elevation was 7,398-8,212' with 1,150' ascent/descent.     The only thing I didn't like was that it is open to motor bikes/cycles and we encountered two that had no awareness of trail etiquette. Other than one other non-motorized cycle, we had the trail to ourselves.  (Update as of June 16, 2021:  The trail is 60% soft dirt, 20% hard dirt and 20% somewhat rocky.)

This is the trail as shown on All Trails.

(As usual, click on any photo to open enlarged images.)

This is the Jones Ranch trailhead.  It is about a mile past the Payson Lakes Campground if you come up that way.  Recommend coming up from Payson and parking at the "Double Falls" trail head.

This is a google maps search for Double Falls Trailhead from our place.     Although coming over the Nebo Loop shows 2 miles shorter, it used about 10 more gallons of gas because of the climb and took closer to 1 hour, 50 mins. The third option is coming up through Nephi.  For us that one is a few miles longer, but "seems" shorter and I think I like it better.

This is a view of the Double Falls trailhead from the end of the Jones Ranch trail. No one was parked there on Oct. 12.   

The trail sign is in the far background on the opposite side of the road. The trail on the right is Done Ridge. (see that post for more information.)

The following photos show some of the trail taken either Oct. 12 or June 16.  It is full of aspen, evergreens, open meadows and a few springs where horses and dogs can get a drink.

This is the turn off to Box Lake. (not recommended)

Looking at the Trailhead parking on June 16.  We were the only rig parked there, but it WAS a week-day morning.

For more information and photos, search these trail names on All Trails.  I'll keep this blog updated as we ride more in that area.