This moderate trail is about 1.6 miles long one way with a 1408 foot elevation change. Going just to Patsy's Mine is about 1 mile up. You will notice a few different trails on the maps below. There are actually a number of trails that split and go off different directions. Most of them connect and still reach the mine. Just don't take the white one as explain further below.
 |
| Topographical Map |
 |
| Graph of Elevation |
 |
| Trail in Google Earth |
 |
| Trailhead |
The trail soon turns east to steeply ascend the hill to the Firebreak Road (which is a dirt road) above. After reaching the road in about 0.2 mile from the trailhead, make note of where the trail is so you can find your way back down it when you come back. Then turn south and walk along the road for about 0.17 mile (as shown in dark blue/yellow on the maps above). A wooden sign here may mark trail here to Patsy's Mine and Flag Rock, but it also may be missing. The trail turns off from the road at this point and heads southeast as it switchbacks up the slope.
 |
| Sign marking turn-off from the dirt road |
 |
| Turn off (unmarked) to head up the trail from Firebreak Rd. |
Notice that the light blue path in the maps above also comes out right across from the trail continuing up to Patsy's Mine and Flag Rock. Also, there is another path that also seems to connect that goes up further south, which we ended up taking accidentally on our way back once. There are quite a few paths weaving in an out here, but I believe most of them connect. Just pay attention to where you are.
One exception we found that should be avoided comes at the split shown below. This is about 0.5 to 0.6 mile up the trail, depending on which way you take up. Do not go left here (shown in light gray in the maps above)! The trail continues up for a ways, but then starts to get very overgrown, rough, and faint. I don't know if you could continue to follow it up, but it is definitely not the path you want to take. Go straight/right here instead.
In 0.4 mile from Firebreak Road, hikers will arrive at a bench sitting at an intersection in the trail. Turning right to go south here will take you to Steed Creek, whereas turning left to the north will take you up to the mine and to Flag Rock. At this point there a number of interesting rocks are also visible jutting up from the mountainside.
 |
| Bench at the trail intersection |
Not to far past the bench the trail runs across the bottom of a large rock field. It is worth paying attention to the rocks along this trail as there are an abundance of beautifully figured metamorphic specimens.
In another 0.3 mile, hikers will come to a turn off leading down to Patsy's Mine. This old mine runs back into the rock about 150 feet. It was created by a man named Patsy Morley in the early 1900s. He who was a former boxer who started by digging by hand, but switched to using steam power to dig it out. He dug unsuccessfully for about twenty years hoping to find some precious metals before he mysteriously disappeared one day.
 |
| Patsy's Mine |
If you wish to explore the mine, be sure to bring a flashlight and be careful. The mine can be pretty wet inside, but you can go down a good ways if desired before hitting pools of water. Toward the end it branches off briefly in a few directions.
 |
| Inside Patsy's Mine |
After leaving Patsy's Mine, those who still have time and energy can continue up the mountain another 0.6 mile to Flag Rock. Just before the top the trail intersects with the Centennial Trail.
 |
| Intersection with Centennial Trail |
The views from Flag Rock are beautiful! There is also a bench here to rest on, if desired.
 |
| View from Flag Rock |
 |
| Looking South from Flag Rock |
This trail is open to pets, but please clean up after them. There are no restroom facilities at the trailhead or along the trail.
Directions
This trail is located in Davis County, Utah in Farmington. To get there from north of Farmington, take exit 325 off of I-15 and turn left onto Park Lane. Next, turn right onto Main Street and continue on this road as it curves around. When you reach 100 North, turn left and follow this road to where it curves left. There is a sort of cul-de-sac area here you can park. The trail starts north of this spot next to the subdivision sign.
If you are coming from the south, take exit 222 off of I-15 and continue along 200 West to State Street. Turn right onto State Street, and then turn left onto 100 East. From there, turn right onto 100 North and continue as outlined above. GPS Coordinates: N40 58.921 W111 52.769
No comments:
Post a Comment