Dream Packer Trail Adventures: Ephraim Canyon~~Ponderosa/Stop Watch

Thursday, June 23, 2022

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.