Ephraim Canyon~~White Pine

A short, but nice trail a little further up Ephraim Canyon.  Probably best in July through September.  We rode on August 4 and there were still a few wildflowers left.  This IS a biking trail that is probably used quite a bit on the weekends.  We were there on a weekday and didn't see anyone else but a woman hiking with two dogs at the intersection of FS road and the trail.  I like the deep forest of evergreen and aspen.  I like the small water feature that provides enough for the animals thirst.  I like the soft, dirt trail and the peace and quiet. I do like the nice place to park, even though it catches the dust from passing vehicles. I don't like the washboard, dusty road for 1.2 miles.

The yellow arrow shows a turn out for parking.  Enough room for a couple of rigs.  Another option to park is the pink arrow with a clearing and dispersed camping area.  To reach this pullout, go past the turnoff to Lake Hill. (the paved road stops). Drive about 1.2 miles further.  It is about 1/4 mile past the hairpin turn.  If you reach the Great Basin Station, you have gone too far.  The photo below shows the pullout parking area.


 We weren't too sure about the access road, but it looks do-able with a trailer.  This is shown in the photo below.  It is steeper than it appears.  The photo is an optical illusion.  The road actually goes downhill.

This is a third parking option.  Not pointed out on the map, but easily seen from the pullout parking.

Our track for the day, August 4, 2022.  About 4.7 miles total. My GPS was being "crazy", but it shows the general track.  The side trek to the left was a "wrong" turn.  When the two track gets to a "Y" intersection keep to the right.  Follow the bike tracks, not the two track.  We ventured on the " wrong trail" encountering multiple log falls and eventually we could go no further, so we turned back to find the "right" trail. In looking at the map I realized we had gone on the wrong side of the meadow and pond.  The elevation is around 8,300' to 8,800'.  Trail conditions= 95% dirt, 5% slightly gravelly or rocky.

Our track on August 9, 2022.  2.6 miles. We explored the short dirt road that went to Cottonwood Creek and saw the beginning of the Pioneer Trail.  We cut the ride short and did not go down the Pioneer. 

The two track going through what looks like a popular dispersed camping area.

If you reach this across the trail, you are on the WRONG one.

This shows a portion of the small streamlet.  It is only 6 to 12 inches wide, but the water is clear.

Once we got on the correct trail it was smooth riding.  It is 98% downhill with quite a grade, but not too bad.  It provided a fun ride back up and gave the horses a great workout.

Looking at the old pipeline aquaduct that goes over Cottonwood Creek.

The dirt road back from Cottonwood Creek.

This is where we turned back on August 4.  It is at the confluence of the White Pine and Pioneer Trails and FS road 1105.   

Little streamlet.

This is almost back to the trailer.

 

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.

Willow Creek Trailhead parking, Nov. 4, 2025

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

Almost the same spot as the photo above, except 5 years later.

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

 

Nov. 4, 2025, trail still dry and beautiful  

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.

Nov. 4, 2025, just coming upon the Templar from the Willow Creek connector showing the new wood carving statue of a"Knight Templar."

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.)