Sheep Shelter Trail

The Trail

This super short trail is only about 0.15 miles round trip with about a 50 foot elevation change. It goes a short way up the hillside to a small cave across from the parking area.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

Across the road from the parking area one can also see the Indian Blanket pictograph up on the rocky hillside.

 

After crossing the wide dirt path, continue up the hillside to the cave. A sign labels the trail.

Because the images here are facing the back of the cave, a mirror has been placed so they are visible.

Directions

This trail is located in Fremont Indian State Park in Sevier County, Utah. To get there, take Exit 17 off of I-70. Turn west and then turn right at the next two T-intersections. The trailhead here will be on the left about 1.5 miles past the Visitor's Center. Because this trail is in a state park, there is a fee for visiting and using the trails.

GPS Coordinates: N38° 34.782' W112° 18.566'

Cave of 100 Hands

The Trail

This easy trail is pretty flat with about a 20 ft elevation change in 0.3 miles (one way), making it an doable stroll nearly everyone.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

This trail starts from a little pull-off parking area. It follows the creek for a short time and heads down under the highway. 

 

After that, the trail turns more east and heads along the base of the hillside until it arrives at the cave. It does look like there is a trail heading the opposite direction here, so don't turn that way. The cave itself is protected by metal bars to prevent damage to the images. Despite its name, the cave only has 31 hand prints in it.

Trail heading wrong way

Directions

This trail is located in Fremont Indian State Park in Sevier County, Utah. To get there, take Exit 17 off of I-70. Turn west and then turn right at the next two T-intersections. The trailhead here will be on the right about 0.3 miles past the Visitor's Center. Because this trail is in a state park, there is a fee for visiting and using the trails.

GPS Coordinates: N38° 34.722' W112° 19.830'

Bald Mountain Trail to Viewpoint

The Trail

This moderate trail is about 1.6 miles one way with about a 930 foot elevation change. It goes to a nice viewpoint of the Sun Valley area.

Topographical Map (red = to viewpoint)

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

This trail starts out nicely shaded. It is easy to follow and well maintained by the ski resort.

Trailhead

The trail opens up as hikers climb toward the viewing platform.

Approaching viewing platform

 

From the platform, you can see fantastic view of the surrounding valley and mountains.

Looking up toward Bald Mountain

If you wish to go further, the trail does continue to the top of Bald Mountain. If you go during the summer season, then you can ride the lift down after reaching the top, which is my favorite way to do this trail. However, the lift was closed for the season when we went on this trip, and we did not have time to hike all the way up and down.

The trail is opened to leashed dogs, and there are even some dog drinking fountains along the trail to the top. Bathrooms are available at the resort when it's open.

Directions

This trail is located near Sun Valley and Ketchum, Idaho. To get here, take ID-75 north to Second Ave/Serenade Ln. and turn left. Then turn left onto Third Ave. and continue to follow the road as it curves around and becomes Pennay's Way/Seattle Ridge Ln. There is parking here, and you can walk up to the ski resort/lift area. The trail is to the north of the lift and lodge.

GPS Coordinates: N43° 40.279' W114° 22.132'

Norton Lakes

 The Trail

This moderate trail is roughly 2.6 miles one way with about a 1500 ft elevation change. It follows the stream in a climb up to two picturesque mountain lakes.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

This trail starts crossing a bridge before ascending through pine forest nestled between the walls of jagged  cliffs and mountain slopes, leaving hikers with satisfying scenery throughout the trail.

Very near the beginning of the trail, there is a split between the Norton Lakes Trail (7135) and the Norton-Prairie Trail (7134). To just do the Norton Lakes Trail, head left. If you are up for a longer trail, you could continue past Norton Lakes to Miner Lake and Prairie Lake and then loop back along the Norton-Prairie Trail, creating a 10 mile long loop hike. For a more complete map of these trails, see the topographical map here.

Split between the Norton Lakes Trail (7135)
and the Norton-Prairie Trail (7134)

The trail runs near the stream for a fair amount of the hike, and there is a crossing over some logs that is probably extremely wet earlier in the year.

After hiking about 2.2 miles up the trial, you will arrive at the first lake.

 

Upper Norton Lake is only 0.3 miles further up the trail.

 

A trail skirts the south end of this lake, so we walked along it for a ways to enjoy the lake from some different angles.

From here you can head further up the mountainside trail toward Norton Peak and then descend to Miner Lake, or you can head back down the way you came.

This trail is open to dogs, but they must be kept on leash. No toilets were available at the trailhead at the time we did this trail, but vault toilets are scheduled to be install during the summer of 2024. 

Directions

This trail is located in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area near Sun Valley, Idaho. To get here, take ID-75 north until you reach Baker Creek Rd. on your left. Continue to Norton Creek Rd., which will be on your right, and turn up here. Continue to the end of the road, where you will find the trailhead.

GPS Coordinates: N43° 43.853' W114° 37.985'

Baker Lake

The Trail

This easy trail is about 1.9 miles long one way with a 840 foot elevation change. The trail meanders through forested area, much of which was burned by forest fire, climbing gently as it takes hikers to a picturesque mountain lake.

Topographical Map (red = Baker Lake Trail)

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

The trail starts from a gravel lot and soon crosses a bridge. It heads through areas thick with burned lodgepole pines that were devastated in the 2013 Beaver Creek fire. We did this trail most recently during the fall, which made for some pretty fall colors in the brush foliage along the way.

Trailhead

The trail also passes close to the stream in many spots.

There is a trail that appears to turn off and head up the side of a mountain away from the lake about 1.4 miles up from the trailhead (shown in green on the maps above). This trail connects to other trails that run between the lakes in the area and is the trail I used many years ago to hike from Prairie Lakes to Baker Lake. This trail was quite difficult and tricky to follow when I did it previously, as it completely disappeared in places and frequently went straight up and down mountainsides without switchbacks. However, you can still see it on the Forest Service map as trail 7138 Baker Ck - Norton Ck and 7134 Norton Creek -Prairie Creek.

Shortly after passing this trail hikers will arrive at the lake. There are trails that follow the shoreline some along the side of the lake. I also hiked up a bit farther for a different view from above.

Baker Lake

Baker Lake from further up the mountainside

This lake is popular for fishing, but there are restrictions of fishing for native trout. This lake is also popular for picnics and also works well for a short backpacking trip.

This trail is open to dogs, but they must be kept on leash. Vault toilets are available at the trailhead.

Directions

This trail is located in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area near Sun Valley, Idaho. To get here, take ID-75 north until you reach Baker Creek Rd. on your left. Turn left onto this road and continue to its end to reach the parking area for the trail.

GPS Coordinates: N43° 41.447' W114° 39.277'