PST 05 to Three Creeks Reservoir

The Trail

This easy trail is 1.4 miles long with a 313 foot elevation change. It is actually an ATV trail and can by used by motorized vehicles 60 inches wide or less. However, hikers are also welcome to use the trail. In fact, this trail is just so beautiful you may get much more out of walking up it instead of riding across it on an ATV. The trail's numeric title doesn't do it much justice.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

We started this trail from the west side and hiked up towards Three Creeks Reservoir. The trail starts out by crossing a bridge and then turning into the short canyon with a little creek running through it. It is a lush green area with mossy rocks, tiny waterfalls, and various wildflowers. You may also see small beaver dams and their residents. As you continue up the canyon, the rocky canyon wall will rise up immediately to the north of the trail.

Bridge at the west end of the trail

The ends near the dam for Three Creeks Reservoir. At this point the trail gradually widens into a dirt road as it goes up a switchback. We hiked to the fork in the road overlooking the reservoir, but the dirt road does continue to the main road (making it possible to hike from one end of this trail to the other if you have more than one vehicle available).

Directions

This trail is located near Beaver, Utah up Beaver Canyon in Beaver County (yeah, I know...that is a lot of beaver...). When coming from the north, to get there from I-15 take exit 112 for Beaver. Turn left onto Main Street, and then turn left onto 200 North/UT-153. If you are coming from the south, take exit 109 off I-15, turn right onto Main Street, and then right onto 200 North/UT-153. Continue up UT-153 for about 14.7 miles. This will take you up Beaver Canyon and into Fishlake National Forest. Park at the Jimmie Reed trail head, which will be on your left. Outhouse style restrooms are available here. Cross the street to find the trail head for PST 05.

Alternatively, to start from the other end of this trail, go up UT-153 for about 17 miles and then turn right onto the dirt road. There is a sign here for the Beaver High Adventure Base. Continue on this road until you reach the fork in the road at N38 17.883 W112 25.266. This is where we ended our trail, but if desired you can stay right and drive a regular vehicle further down to the base of the dam.

Upheaval Dome Trail - Canyonlands

The Trail

This easy trail is 0.8 mile one way and has an elevation change of about 107 feet. The trail leads to two different view points that look into Upheaval Dome. The first is roughly 0.3 mile up the trail and the second is at the end of the trail.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

Upheaval Dome itself is a mysterious crater type formation over two miles wide that has been eroded away at one side. While there are theories about the explanation behind it, no one knows for sure what created it.

Upheaval Dome from the first overlook

Looking down Upheaval Canyon from the second overlook

Upheaval Dome from the second overlook

Directions

This trail is located in the north most end of San Juan County in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park near Moab, Utah. To get there, turn west off of US-191 onto UT-313. This will be marked with signs for Canyonlands. You will have to pay a fee to enter the park either at the station along the road or at the Visitor's Center. From the Visitor's Center, continue about 6 miles to the fork in the road and turn right. Continue to the end of this road to reach Upheaval Dome.

Mesa Arch Trail - Canyonlands

The Trail

This easy loop trail is only 0.5 mile long with a minimal 80 foot elevation change. The short trail takes hikers to the low lying but long Mesa Arch.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation (very rough)

Trail in Google Earth

When looking through the arch, hikers will see the La Sal Mountains. This is a great place to watch the sunrise.

Directions

This trail is located in the north most end of San Juan County in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park near Moab, Utah. To get there, turn west off of US-191 onto UT-313. This will be marked with signs for Canyonlands. You will have to pay a fee to enter the park either at the station along the road or at the Visitor's Center. From the Visitor's Center, continue about 6 miles down the road. The turn off for Mesa Arch will be on the left a little before the road splits.

Grand View Point Trail - Canyonlands

The Trail

This easy trail is 0.8 mile long with only a 60 foot elevation change. The trail starts at Grand View Point Overlook in Canyonlands National Park and continues out along the ridge allowing hikers nice views of the surrounding landscape and the interesting geological features found in this area.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

The trail is at the very southern tip of the Island in the Sky Mesa. Hikers looking out from the view points along the trail will see Monument Basin, Junction Butte, and the La Sal Mountains off in the distance.

View from Grand View Overlook Point at Monument Basin

Junction Butte

The trail ends with some boulders and rock formations. These can be climbed for a stunning 360 view of the surrounding landscape.

Large boulders & rock formations at end of the trail

Mounument Basin from the end of the trail

Looking back at the overlook point from the trail

Directions

This trail is located in the north most end of San Juan County in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park near Moab, Utah. To get there, turn west off of US-191 onto UT-313. This will be marked with signs for Canyonlands. You will have to pay a fee to enter the park either at the station along the road or at the Visitor's Center. From the Visitor's Center, continue about 6 miles to the fork in the road and turn left. Grand View Point Overlook and the trail head are found at the end of this road.

Corona Arch Trail

The Trail

This moderate trail is about 1.4 miles long one way with a 415 foot elevation change. The trail starts out up a few short switchbacks and then crosses a railroad. This railroad is used to transport potash from the nearby potash mines. As the trail continues on, much of it is on slickrock. There is a section that requires climbing up footholds in the slickrock, with chains to hold onto for additional support, and after that there is a ladder to ascend.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

This trail actually leads to two arches. The first is the Bowtie arch. This arch is found high up on the cliffs. Hikers can up under this arch if desired.

Bowtie Arch

The second arch is Corona Arch, also known and Little Rainbow Arch. This impressive arch marks the picturesque end of the the trail.

This arch is also great for repelling down. There are bolts at the top for this purpose. Those interested in repelling down can climb up the steep buttress rock projecting from the cliff. There are some steps carved into the rock here, but the climb is steep and exposed, so use caution. Going down is more difficult than going up this way. There are some pitons in the rocks here for those wanting to use ropes for the climb. After climbing up the buttress, it is not hard to follow the cliff ledges over to the arch. The descent is 140 feet, with 120 feet in which adventurers will be free hanging.

Others have chosen use ropes to create a giant swing off this arch, but this can be particularly risky.

Between the arch and the buttress the formations in the rock make it look as if there is a face on the cliff wall.

Directions

This trail is located in Grand County very near Moab, Utah. To get to the trail head from US-191, turn off at UT-279. Continue for about 10 miles on this road until you reach the trail head, which will be on the right. This road will also pass by a stretch of popular climbing spots on the way.

Cave Spring Trail- Canyonlands

The Trail

This easy trail is a 0.6 mile long loop with a mild 70 foot elevation change. However, beware that there are a couple ladders to climb along the trail.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

When starting the trail by turning left at the split to go in a southward direction, hikers will soon pass a historic cowboy camp site. From there the trail and winds under overhanging rocks where further evidence of the camp site can be seen. Under one of these rocks is Cave Spring. The overhanging rocks also offer some welcome shade from the desert sun. Some pictographs are also visible along these rocks.

Historic Cowboy Camp

From there, hikers must climb up a couple ladders to get to the top of the rocks. At this point, hikers must follow the rock cairns placed along the slickrock. There are plenty of nice views along this portion of the trail.

View from the upper slickrock section of the trail

Directions

This trail is located is in San Juan County and is found in The Needles district of Canyonlands National Park nearby Monticello, UT. To get there, turn west off of US-191 onto Scenic Hwy UT-211. This will be marked with signs for Canyonlands. You will have to pay a fee to enter the park either at the station along the road or at the Visitor's Center. Turn right at the fork after the Visitor's Center and then turn right again at the maintained dirt road leading to Cave Spring.

Donut Falls

The Trail

When starting from the trail head, this easy trail is only about 3/4 a mile long (one way) with a 310 foot elevation change. (Some people start from the lower parking area closer to the main road and walk up the road to the trail head. This is what we did since we went on Memorial Day when the trail was very busy. If you end up walking up the road too, your hike will be about 1.4 miles (one way) with a 552 foot elevation change.)


This popular trail is wide, well used, and easy to follow. However, it is hard to see the donut at the end unless you cross the stream to view the fall from the other side. The water is icy cold in the spring and will rise well above your ankles when you cross, so prepare accordingly.

Topographical Map (red = road; blue = main trail; green = alternative trail)

The red flag in the topographical map marks the trail head and the blue flag marks Donut Falls.

Graph of Elevation (main trail only)

Trail in Google Earth

 

View of Fall before crossing the stream

Point where you must cross the stream for a better view. Prepare to get wet.

There are lots of boulders to the side of the waterfall. Many people climb up these in attempt to get a better view, however this is not highly recommended. If you decide to try this, use extreme caution and proceed at your own risk since these rocks are prone to slides.

Close up of the water falling through the "donut"

Big Cottonwood Canyon is a watershed area, and thus no pets are permitted on the trails and in other areas of the canyon. Don't bring your dog with you on this hike.

Directions

This trail is located in Salt Lake County. To get there, from I-15 take Exit 298 for I-215/Belt Route and head East along I-215. Take Exit 6 for 3000 East. Keep right and turn onto 6200 South. Continue to Big Cottonwood Canyon Rd. and turn left. The Donut Falls turn off is on the left around mile 10 up the canyon. There is a parking area by the main road. You can park here and walk up the road to the trail, or you can drive up the side road that will take you the the actual trail head.