Holbrook Canyon, Bountiful, Utah

This is a trail for the adventuresome...and a well trained horse in reasonably good condition.  It has some beautiful scenery, mostly oak, maple and evergreen forest and some meadows.  Occasionally, a mountain scene. I really liked the water feature.

Link to more information:  Hike Holbrook Canyon

  Keep in mind, there are many water crossings and some very rocky places.   Be warned that this trail has many places where the creek has undercut the bank.  I admire King Green and others who have helped build and maintain this trail over the years. However, I don't think I'll be returning any time soon because I had an "incident" with my horse. 
 We were the tail end of a group of horses.  Ellie hasn't had a lot of trail experience because I have only had her just over a year. (Before that, she was mostly a show and lesson horse.)  She stepped on the edge of a muddy spot in the trail on which the previous horses had stepped with no problem.  The bank gave way under her feet and we both slid down into a 5 foot ravine.  She went down on her knees and I bailed off to avoid being slammed by bushes and trees.  Fortunately, we were both "okay" and I mounted again and continued the ride a little further.  When we dismounted for a break a few minutes later, I checked her and found a nasty little cut on her knee.  Washed it off and treated with helichrysum.  At this point, we chose to head back, while the rest of the group went a little further.  It was a somewhat rough ride back, but Ellie did not seem lame at all. (I was understandably "paranoid" about the narrow places in the trail and drop offs.)  The cut has now healed fine, with no adverse effects.  

Here is a link to a video of less than 5 minutes of the ride...gives a feel for some of the best parts. : https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202039148362715&set=vb.1306625453&type=2&theater 


(click on any photo to open enlarged images.)

October 12, 2013; Total Distance=7 miles; Maximum altitude=6, 787 ft; Ascent/Descent=2,100 ft; Trail conditions: 50% dirt, 50% rock/gravel, many water crossings.  The trailhead is just across from the Bountiful LDS Temple.  Not much parking there, but can park along the road.

This is the "Pipeline" clearing for a natural gas line.  This must have been quite a project to clear all this.

Photo courtesy of Julie Heavirland

Photo courtesy of Julie Heavirland

Photo courtesy of Julie Heavirland

North Shore, Great Salt Lake, Utah

  Some photos of a trip out to the North Shore of the Great Salt Lake north of Spring Bay.  We have been out there twice for horseback rides.  The last time was in 2002. Anyway, that was 11 years ago.  Not sure what it's like now. The photos were taken at a higher lake level where we were able to ride in the water. 

 Good news= fun riding and galloping through the water and on the beach.

  Bad news= If riding IN the water, the tack becomes covered in corrosive salt, which must be immediately washed off when back in civilization. Not so much a problem if you stay on the wide expanse of sandy beach.  

 We were warned of quicksand to the west, closer to the fresh water springs, but never encountered any.

 The drive out there is mostly on unpaved roads, but there is a lot of solitude and almost nobody around. The driving time is over an hour from Ogden.    The lake is probably much lower now.  

(These photos were before digital. Thanks to Sheila Bowler for some of the photos. Click on any photo to open enlarged images.)

View from our parking area

Showing the road in relationship to the Golden Spike Nat'l Historical Site.

Close up showing where we parked.

Lots of beach riding...

Can you tell where water ends and sky begins?

The "pink" water is from salt water algae.

The salt "Hoodoos" are interesting...not quite sure what created them...maybe old fence posts??

Galloping in shallow salt water...

North Ogden Pass, Pioneer Trail, Utah

There are many trails accessible from these two trailheads.  The first trailhead parking is at North Ogden Equestrian Park, 2675 North Mountain Road.  Refer to the map below for routes to access the trails. 

 We just rode the Pioneer trail up from the equestrian park, (October 29, 2014) and I must say that it has really deteriorated, especially in the last year.  Truckloads of golf ball to fist sized sharp rocks have been hauled in. (Presumably to keep the road from being too muddy to service the powerlines and water sources.) The rocks are terrible, all the way up. We used to be able to canter on soft stretches of the road.  No more.   

 And the burdock is way overgrown.  My horse got it all through her mane and tail and on the saddlebags and saddle blanket. And...the lower trail has a good share of stinging nettle and poison ivy. 

 Even the "pretty" part of the trail has deteriorated with much bike use and erosion. 

 Soooo....as much as I hate to say it, we don't think we will be riding this trail again from the bottom.  We might do it from the "top" down to the bridge. 

  

(click on any photo to open enlarged images.)

Two different places to park for access to the North Ogden Divide Trails, Pioneer Trail, etc.

North Ogden Equestrian Park 

Photo courtesy of Ann Hyde

Half Moon Rock

Shows how rocky the trail is on the bottom half.

It is kinda pretty.

On the way up North Ogden Pass

Pioneer Trail at the bottom of North Ogden Canyon looking West

 Shots of riding on the Pioneer Trail, just west of the North Ogden pass Trailhead

 As it gets closer to the North Ogden Divide Trailhead, the trail narrows and winds through some   forest. 

The turn off to "Cowboy's Paradise". (although the "Paradise" part is somewhat questionable in November)

"Cowboy's Paradise"

Notice the elderberries in the foreground.  Still viable in November.

"Upper" part of the trail in late October

"Upper" part of the trail in late October

"Upper" part of the trail in late October

"Upper" part of the trail in late October

Going up the "Service Road" in November when the other part of the trail is too muddy and snowy.

Headed back down the Service Road.

Lovely shot of Ben Lomond just as the trail starts up the canyon.

An excellent place to park is at the top of North Ogden Divide.  Access to both sides of the Pioneer Trail. To Lewis Peak from the trail in the background. To the north from this trailhead, a trail goes up Ben Lomond and eventually over to the Ben Lomond trail head at North Fork.

This shows where the trail goes West from the North Ogden Divide trailhead. Recommended option is to park there, ride down the "pretty" parts of the trail, then ride back up and go down the east side.

The trail going East starts just behind this monument.

From the Divide East, the trail is dirt and some rocky.  Winds through stands of evergreens.  

Heading east on the Pioneer trail from the North Ogden Divide trailhead.

Important junction...No trespassing on the power line access to the left.  Keep to right trail.

Goes through some nice forested areas.

Out to Stoney Point.

Looking at Ogden Valley from Stoney Point in autumn

Looking at Ogden Valley from Stoney Point in summer.

One of my favorite parts of the trail.  There is always a cool breeze coming out of this little draw.

The trail continues towards Liberty and behind some homes.