Skull Crack Trail

The Trail

This moderate trail is 2.4 miles long (one-way) with a 350 ft elevation change. The trail starts at the southwest corner of the Causey Reservoir, heads up on the southern hillside, and ends at the southeast corner of the reservoir.

Topographical Map

 

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

The trail starts heading gradually uphill from the trailhead as it ascends the hill by the reservoir. It is easy to follow with patches of shade along the way.

Trailhead

 

Parking wraps around the road way up from
the trailhead on a busy day

There are some nice views of the surrounding cliffs and inlets of the reservoir along the way.

The trail ends as the reservoir narrows into the mouth of the Right Fork South Fork Ogden River. The trail that continues from here becomes the Lake Ridge Trail. This is a pleasant shady spot to take a break if desired before heading on or turning back to the trailhead.

 

Directions

This trail is located on the east side of Weber County, Utah. From I-15, take Exit 344 for 12th Street in Ogden. Continue straight along this road and up through the canyon. The road continues past Pine View Reservoir, curving around northward after the reservoir. Continue along UT-39 by turning right/east at the major junction. There are signs also indicating the way toward Causey Reservoir here. Continue about 8.3 miles to Causey Reservoir Rd, and turn right here. Next take a right at Forest Road 20016 to head across that dam. Continue down and around the tip of this southwest arm of the dam to the parking area at the trailhead. Be aware that this reservoir can become very congested during weekends and holidays, so you may have to park a good way up the road and walk down to this location if you come during a popular time. GPS Coordinates: N41° 17.389' W111° 34.976'

Baring Falls

The Trail

This short easy trail is about 0.4 miles long with only a 130 ft elevation change, ending at a beautiful waterfall. 

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

The trail start just off the road and descends down stairs adjacent to the bridge. Technically this part of the trail is along the Siyeh Pass Trail. The trail will follow Baring Creek for the first bit but quickly diverges from there. At the junction about 0.3 miles in, stay right to reach the falls. From here the trail loops around back to the creek at the point of the falls.

Trail heading down stairs next to bridge

 

California Tortiseshell butterflies
under bridge

The trail descends to the falls, so keep in mind that you will be heading uphill on your way back.

There is plenty of shade near the falls and many good points from which to enjoy the view. We also met a young buck near the falls.

Baring Falls

When finished enjoying the falls, you can head back the way you came or continue along the Pigeon Pass Trail.

Direction

This trail is located in Glacier National Park in Montana. To get there, follow Going to the Sun Road within the park and park at Sunrift Gorge. GPS Coordinates: N48° 40.708' W113° 35.726' 

Running Eagle Falls

The Trail

This trail is short and easy with only about a 15 foot elevation change in 0.3 miles. It falls is named after a Pikuni girl who became the only woman among their people to undergo 4 day fast above the falls and become a warrior. The falls is also known as Trick Falls because the upper cascade can hide the lower one during times of high water. While we were there, this upper cascade was not flowing.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

The trailhead has some signs explaining the background information for the falls. The trail itself is paved, but going over the bridge and up past that may be less accessible.

Signs at trailhead explaining trail's name

 

This flat paved trail is stroller and wheelchair friendly for
much of the way

At least until the bridge, where pavement 
is gone, and there are steps

 

There is a bench along the way with a bit of a view of the waterfall, but it is distant from this point and obscured by foliage.

The viewpoints closer to the waterfall though are fantastic.

 

After enjoying the falls, head back they way you came.

Directions

From MT-49, turn west onto Two Medicine Rd. Head just over five miles up this road to the trailhead on your right. GPS Coordinates: N48° 29.766' W113° 20.901'

North Shore/Upper Two Medicine Lake Trail

The Trail

This moderate trail does not have a lot of elevation change for its 5 mile length one-way, with only a 450 foot difference from its high and low points. There is some up and down to its path though. It gradually descends the 450 feet during the first three miles, then climbs just a bit more steeply up around 250 feet over the last mile to the upper lake.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

This trail starts at the far northwest corner of Two Medicine Lake by a campground area. It shares a trailhead with the trail to Old Man Lake. 

Trailhead

The trail then heads southeast, skirting the north shore of Two Medicine Lake.

 

 

After about 2.5 miles along, the trail reaches the opposite end of the lake and moves past it. After about another half mile or so, the turn off to Dawson Pass is on the right, and shortly after that is the turn off for the South Shore Trail. This latter trail also heads to the ferry stop that crosses Two Medicine Lake to the west side. If you are looking for a shorter option for hiking to Upper Two Medicine Lake and have the money to spend on tickets, the boat tour is a nice way to do this. It leaves from the boat dock at the east side of the lake and crosses to the far west side.

 

Trail crossing for Dawson Pass

South Shore Trail Crossing

After another tenth a mile past the South Shore Trail, there is a trail that breaks off to Twin Falls is on the right. This is about 3.4 miles from the trailhead. This side trip will add less than a fifth a mile total to your trip. The falls are difficult to get a clear view of together through the brush and other obstacles, but they are easy to see individually.

 

 

Twin Falls

Left Falls

Right Falls

 

From the falls, it is another 1.3 miles to Upper Two Medicine Lake. Some of the views along the way are just as stunning if not more so than the lake itself.

 

 

Looking towards Rising Blue Ridge over the small lake just
before Upper Two Medicine Lake

The upper lake is set up well with campsites and bear-proof storage bins for those wishing to backpack in and spend the night. A vault toilet is also available. It is possible to walk a good ways along the shore of the lake, taking in the views.

 

Path to vault toilet

Rising Bull Ridge behind Upper Two Medicine Lake
with Sinopah Mountain in background

Upper Two Medicine Lake with Lone Walker Mountain in
the background 

After enjoying time at the lake, head back the way you came or take an alternative route.

 

Directions
From MT-49, turn west onto Two Medicine Rd. After reaching Two Medicine Campground, turn right and heading past the ranger station to Loop A Road. Turn left upon reaching Loop B Road. There is a small parking area at the trailhead, but parking does fill up quickly. Be careful to park in a valid spot or you will be ticketed. Rangers are often happy to help you find a valid spot. GPS coordinates: N48° 29.497' W113° 21.936'

St. Mary and Virgina Falls Trail

The Trail

This moderate trail is about 1.9 miles one way to reach both St. Mary and Virginia Falls with about a 300 foot elevation change. There will be more climbing than that during the course of this trail though if you return the way you came, since the trail first descends to St. Mary and then climbs to Virginia Falls. For a shorter hike, stop at St. Mary Falls after just 1.1 miles (one way).

Topographical Map

 

Graph of Elevation

 

Trail in Google Earth

There are actually two trailheads for this trail: one where the shuttle stops and one at the parking lot for private vehicles. Since we were driving ourselves, we started at the parking lot.
 

Trailhead

The trail starts out at a downhill drop toward the river, winding around the hills as it goes.

St. Mary Falls

If you have time and energy to continue for another 0.8 miles and climb about 300 feet, you can continue along the trail to reach Virginia Falls.

After enjoying the falls, return back the way you came.

Directions

This trail is located in Glacier National Park in Montana. To get there, follow Going to the Sun Road within the park and park at the St. Mary Falls Trailhead. Alternatively, ride a shuttle to the stop for this trail. The trail starts directly from the parking area. GPS Coordinates: N48° 40.508' W113° 36.260'