Ephraim Canyon~~Ponderosa/Stop Watch

 Please refer to the posts on the Scandinavian and Patriot Trails for parking and more information.  All of this section of Ephraim Canyon trails are near or branch off from the others.  There are 7 different posts on this area.

A good map resource:  https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1p3r3Yz3gtqybACufeLvwVtiQCaL9bIBg&shorturl=1&ll=39.33094206778154%2C-111.49722740998462&z=15

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

This new sign at the Willow Creek Trailhead calls the upper portion "Stop Watch"

  

Here is our track for September 28, 2020.  5.77 miles, out and back.  Elevation change=7,920' to 6, 847'.  Trail condition= 95% soft dirt, 5% gravelly dirt.

Arrows showing two different parking areas.

This is a photo of the YELLOW arrowed parking area on Sept. 28, 2020. There is plenty of cleared space there for quite a few rigs. No one there on a Monday morning.  Notice the equipment still parked there from clearing the area. It is about 3.5 miles from the "New Canyon" road turn off.  I will call it the Willow Creek Road trailhead because it is at the head of that road. 

Here is another photo of the Willow Creek Trailhead, taken May 26, 2021.

This is LAVENDER arrowed Parking area.  It is 2.4 miles from the "New Canyon" intersection and about 5 miles from downtown Ephraim. Paved and room for about 2-3 rigs.  A very nice place to park.  I will call it Ponderosa Trailhead or Pull Out. (not to be confused with the one on the Mt. Nebo Loop.)  

  

View of the trail from the pull out area.

Livestock Trough about 100 yards from the Ponderosa TH. Photo taken July 1, 2021.  It had water in it, but our horses wouldn't go near it.  Looked too weird, I guess.

  The Ponderosa trail ("Gravity" portion) "ends" (or starts depending on which direction you're riding.) here.   About 100 yards back down this road is a parking area, which is newly paved and has a lot of room for parking and a rest room.  The catch is....have to ride on the road (or on the gravelly side) to get to the trail. But, it is one option and might be the best when there is snow on the upper trails.

A view of the "Gravity" Parking area.

Riding from the parking area to the beginning of the Gravity trail

Heading back up.  This is the "Gravity" portion.

The following photos are from the entire ride, mostly of the Stop Watch section.  Enjoy....  

 Stop Watch Trail, Sept. 28, 2020

Stop Watch Trail, Oct 21, 2020

 Stop Watch Trail, Sept. 28, 2020

Gravity Trail, Sept. 28, 2020

Ponderosa Trail, Sept. 28, 2020

Stop Watch Trail

 Here is a link to the website that helped me find the trail system: https://www.trailforks.com/trails/ponderosa-trail-324786/

This is on the Stop Watch trail.  Trail maintenance has dug some erosion control and berm on a small spring.  This will avoid the muddy run off onto the trail.

Stop Watch trail on June 11, 2021

Stop Watch trail on June 11, 2021

Stop Watch trail on June 11, 2021

Ponderosa Trail, Oct. 7, 2022

Ponderosa Trail, Oct. 7, 2022

Stop Watch, June 4, 2024

Stop Watch, June 4, 2024

Ephraim Canyon--Templar

 

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

 (formerly referred to as Pig Pen Spring) This is the 4th post on Ephraim Canyon trails.  Please refer to the previous posts before venturing here.  We rode this trail on June 22, 2022 because we had been informed the "cutting" was finished and it was a probable loop from the Ponderosa Pull Out.   We think we saw the remnants of a spring, but appears to be dried up now.  Apparently, it was used to fill radiators and cool off vehicles on their way to the Great Basin Research Station in the 1930s and 1940s. Someone else told us that pigs were raised right by the spring.

  This is a beautiful loop ride. No water features, but meadows, wildflowers, evergreens, juniper, scrub oak, maples, aspen and VIEWS!  I am fairly sure we were the first ones to ride on this trail. No tracks except for the trail making machinery.  (Update as of July 28, 2022.  The trail is now completely cut to the Ponderosa Pull Out. And trail maintenance crews have smoothed out the ruts and roots and are adding gravel in many spots. )

The Blue line shows where the trail begins across the road from the Ponderosa Pull Out.

Trail going up from the Ponderosa Pull out.

We parked and rode the Stop Watch trail up to Willow Creek Road TH.  Then across the road in about 30 yards where the new trail begins.

Track for the day.  4.3 miles which included the side trail up past the spring.     .3 mile up the road is the end of the Mirkwood trail. Trail conditions:  95% soft dirt/woodland twigs, 5% slightly rocky.  Total ascent/descent=759 ft.  Highest elevation=7,923'

Map courtesy of Sanpete Mountain Biking Community.  The green shows existing trails.  Yellow is the newly cut "Templar".  Orange is the Keebler Trail going from the Mirkwood Trail to the Lake Hill turnoff road.  Purple is the newly cut connector to the Pioneer Trail.

This is a track from June 27, 2022.  We were able to ride a beautiful loop by starting clockwise at the Ponderosa Pull Out.  Riding .3 mile on the side of the road to the top of the Mirkwood Trail and finishing up on the Scandinavian and Stop Watch Trails.  5.9 miles.  Elevation: 7,419' to 8,002'.  95% dirt, 5% slightly rocky.

June 4, 2024.  Death Camas was ALL over the lower parts of this trail

I have never seen so much Death Camas at one time!  Beware!

June 4, 2024.  This log was over the trail, but our horses were able to get over it.

Looking at the Willow Creek Rd parking area turn off from the "Templar" trail.

We can see the trailer.

Downfall that stopped us from exploring the cutoff to the Pioneer Trail on June 27, 2022

The cutoff trail is heavily forested...beautiful.

This is coming up on the Templar trail FROM Ponderosa.  The yellow arrow shows the intersection.  Keep to the left for the upper Templar trail and to the right to get back to the Willow Creek Road TH.

This shows the road which connects the upper Templar to the Mirkwood.  About 1/4 mile of riding along the roadside.

Sept. 1, 2022

Sept. 1, 2022

"Top" of the Templar Trail--no parking or pull out.

Sept. 1, 2022

Trail to Willow Creek Rd from the main Templar trail.

October 7, 2022

October 7, 2022

June 4, 2024, just coming upon the Templar from the Willow Creek connector.

September 5, 2024, A series of about 5 bike "jumps" are on the upper Templar.  Most of them bypass the regular trail.  This is one.

October 7, 2022

The following pictures are courtesy of Sanpete Mountain biking showing some "jumps" under construction (as of September 12, 2024. The trail is engineered so hoof and foot traffic can avoid them.)