Blackhawk Trail Mix

View of Loafer Mountain along trail

 The Trail

This trail is actually the conglomeration of different sections of a few trails. Two options are shown below. The first option comes out to be an easy to moderate 8.5 mile trail with an approximate 620 foot elevation change. Also shown on the maps below (in red) is an extra loop that is 1.4 miles long, or about .6 miles longer than doing just the first option, and take travelers through a very pleasant aspen grove.

The trails in this area are high up along the Nebo Loop and offer a number of beautiful views. This area is also covered with wildflowers in the summer. The trail leads through a variety of terrain from open meadows to aspen groves and pine forests.

This trail is open to hikers, horseback riders, bicyclists, and dogs. Some sections are also open to motor bikes, so watch out for them.

There are many different trails lacing through this area and intersecting with one another, so it is probably a good idea to bring a map with you if you are not familiar with the area. We started this trail from Blackhawk Loop E Campground heading east along the Blackhawk Trail. On the map below, trail intersections are marked with colored flags:

001:  If you turn west here, you will end up at Dipping Corral Spring
002:  Trail split: Turn west to head along the Rock Springs Trail (the sign here indicates that by going this way you will reach the ranger station). You will go up a hill and come to a dry camp and then cross the road. If you go north at the fork, the trail continues to the north origin of the Blackhawk Trail.
003:  The livestock corral. The trail splits just after it passes the corral. Go right to take the longer loop, or stay left for the shorter route.
004:  The trails meet up again. Head south east to turn back onto the Jones Ranch Trail and reach Dipping Corral Spring.
Dipping Corral Spring:  There is a missile shaped trough here. This is a good place to let your livestock drink. At this meadow you should meet up with the Blackhawk Loop Trail.
005:  Trail split. The trail dips down into a little open area here, and a couple signs label the four or five trails that intersect here.. Take a sharp left to head east and stay on the Blackhawk Loop Trail.
Water Trough:  This marks the beginning and the end of the trail for us. If you are riding, it is another good place to let your horses drink

Topographical Map of Entire Trail

Detail of the Lower Section of the Trail

 

Detail of the Upper Section of the Trail

Also note that a little ways before you reach Dipping Corral Spring, the trail crosses the road. The trail becomes a bit hard to follow right before you reach the road, and it can sometimes be a little difficult to find the pick up for the trail on the other side.

The land in this area is used by ranchers for their cattle to graze on during the summer. Make sure you close all gates along the trail so that cattle are contained to their grazing areas.

Trail in Google Earth

Graph of Trail Elevation (without longer loop)

Graph of Elevation for just the extra loop portion of the trail

 

Loafer Mountain during a thunderstorm

View heading back around to Blackhawk during the last segment of the trail

Directions

This trail is found along the Nebo Loop in Utah County. If you are coming from the north, take exit 250 for Payson off of I-15. Turn left onto 3200 West, which turns into Main Street. Follow Main Street to 800 South and turn left. Take the first right onto South Canyon Road. When the road ends, turn right again onto Nebo Loop Rd. Continue on this road up the canyon for about 13 or 14 miles until you see signs for Blackhawk. Turn left onto Blackhawk Campground Rd. and follow the signs to Loop E. This is where we started the trail from, but you could find where the trail intersects with the road at other places and start there as well. If you start from the campground, there are some parking areas for those who are not at a campsite, but be aware that there is a parking fee of $6.00.

If you are coming from the south, it is better to take exit 248 off of I-15, turn right onto 800 South, and continue straight until you reach South Canyon Road.  

Here is  the meadow where we started the trail.
Loafer mountain is in the background and the water
trough is a little to the right in the picture.

Adams Canyon Trail

The Trail
This well used 2.2 mile (one way) trail takes hikers up Adams Canyon to a beautiful 40 foot waterfall. It is of moderate difficulty with some more challenging section and has about a 1390 foot elevation change.

The trail starts out up a series of switchbacks. During most parts of the day it is pretty sunny along this first section. However, as the trail goes further up the canyon it becomes mostly shady and follows the stream the rest of the way up to the waterfall. Make sure you turn left to follow the trail up the canyon at the fork; if you go straight, you will be continuing to follow the Bonneville Shoreline Trail heading south. If you come to the bridge soon after the fork, you will know you are on the wrong trail. The correct trail is well marked with a sign.

Sign marking Adams Canyon off the Bonneville Shoreline Trail

This trail is open to hikers and dogs. Be aware that the trail can be very wet in the spring. The heavy runoff makes it impossible to cross the stream at the end without getting your feet wet.

Topographical Map

Trail in Google Earth

Graph of Elevation

 As you go up the canyon, the trail gradually becomes more rocky and a bit more difficult. Soon before the waterfall you will reach a few sections where you probably will have to scramble a bit over rocks and tree roots. The trail will cross the creek twice. At the first crossing there is a bridge. The second crossing comes right at the end where you must cross the stream to see the waterfall on the other side. There is no bridge here; to cross you just walk through the stream or step on the rocks.

Bridge Crossing the Creek

In the spring, the stream can be white and noisy
from the heavy runoff

By the end of the summer, the stream is much calmer

Waterfall in the spring

Waterfall in Summer

Waterfall in the Fall

Directions
This trail is located in Davis County, Utah. To reach the trail head, follow Hwy 89 to Layton. At some point you will be running parellel to Eastside Road. Take one of the turn offs that connects to Eastside road. These turn offs aren't really labeled as roads, so it is difficult to say exactly where to turn. Please look at the map for clarification. If you are traveling north along Hwy 89 and reach Grounds for Coffee, you have gone too far. If you are traveling south along 89 and reach 200 North, you have gone much too far. After turning off Hwy 89, turn right onto Eastside Road, and continue until you are almost at the end of that road. You will find a dirt parking lot here, and at the north east corner of the lot you will find the trail. GPS Coordinates: N41 03.984 W111 54.576

Waterfall Canyon Trail

The Waterfall

The Trail

The trail up Waterfall Canyon is a moderate 1.5 miles long trip (one way) with an approximate 1150 foot elevation change. The first part of the trail crosses a few forks. At the first you should stay to the left so as to not go up the foothill bicycle trail or the trail labeled "To 36th Street," which is the Mt. Ogden Exercise Trail shown in green below. The next fork you reach will be after you have gone about 0.3 mile, where the trail intersects with a wide dirt path (marked by the red flag in the topographical map. Turn right here and head south. This section of the trail only is shaded first thing in the morning.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

Soon after this point, you will reach a gate that says "TR Guest Ranch," and probably has some signs on it about the zip line at the waterfall. This trail is on private property, so please show respect by staying on the trail and not disturbing the surroundings. The way to go is well labeled, so you shouldn't have a problem finding where to go. Soon after the first bridge, you will turn left to leave the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and go up the canyon.

TR Guest Ranch Gate

As you head up the canyon, the trail follows a little stream created by the runoff from the waterfall. This part of the trail is rather rocky, but pretty well shaded. The trail ends with a pleasant 200 foot waterfall trickling down the rock face at the end of the canyon.  Sometimes you can even see little rainbows in the waterfall mist. The water flow is heavier in spring, and sometimes the water shallowly covers parts of the trail during high runoff.

View of valley from waterfall area

This trail is open to dogs, as long as they are on a leash and you clean up after them. In fact, dog owners heading up waterfall canyon are required to carry a bag to clean up after their dog. This is a popular trail among all age groups, and many people do it as a family hike.

Note: This information was updated June 2016.

Stream and wildflowers along the trail

Directions

This trail is located in Weber County, Utah. To get to the trail head, take exit  341 off I-15 for 31st Street in Odgen, UT. Head east along 31st Street until you reach Washington Blvd. Turn left onto Washington, then continue to 30th Street and turn right. Continue straight to 1300 East/Tyler Avenue and turn left. From 1300 East, take the second right onto 29th Street. Continue straight until the road ends, then turn right into the parking area. The trail head is at the end of the parking lot.