Pine Creek

June 17, 2016

“My horse is give out. I lost my cows. Not enjoying.  July 1, 2006.  Wyatt B.”  This is one of the funniest and longest winded statements I ever did see carved on an aspen tree.  This could be this cowpuncher’s style of prayer and he offered it in Pine Creek Canyon on the southeast slope of Circleville Mountain.  I suspect some of his frustration was because Pine Creek trail (USFS Tr. 285) can have hundreds of huge downed trees on it and it is often neglected by users and trails maintenance crew’s.  Remedied in 2013, and cleaned again two weeks ago,  so it is ready for YOU!   Forest trail 285 begins off a well graded county road 3 miles south of Birch Creek Campground and is a lovely trail up a gentle grade and intersects with trail 066 after 2 miles.  What?, you’ve never heard of Birch Creek Campground?  Well it’s such a shame not many people have because it is beautiful and has four pit toilets, two huge group firepits, a 1200 square foot pavilion with lights and power outlets, and a dozen picnic tables scattered through the riparian habitat of pretty little Birch Creek.  It’s also FREE!!!  To find this campground, just south of the Town of Circleville on US 89 look for a dirt road heading west between mm 157 and 156, near the Paiute\Garfield County line.  There are signs and you’ll be driving for 4.5 miles on Forest Road 121 which is dirt, but just recently graded and suitable for any car.  For this hike though, proceed through the campground and hang a left at the Group Pavilion sign, then drive 3.1 more miles southwest and you’ll know you’ve arrived because Pine Creek has substantial flow and goes right across the dirt road, keeping it wet year round.  Also there is a metal barrier to allow only horses and foot traffic through with “285” signage.  Keep in mind these last 3.1 miles are rougher than just up to the campground, so use caution and don’t hurt your vehicle.  There’s  only enough parking for 2 trucks or 3 cars and with a horse trailer, your best to unload half a mile north, or ⅓ mile south of trailhead up on the sage flats.

This trail is very enjoyable because it’s heavily shaded and runs right next to a babbling brook most of the way.  You’ll gain 1000 feet by the time you intersect with trail 066, but the grade is nice and consistent with tread smooth enough to jog on.  It’s easy to get lost at stream crossing number 5 (about 1.5 miles up), because the trail strays a few hundred feet west of the stream to zig-zag up to the Mabel Payne ditch, which it follows for 500 feet to the Pine Creek Dam.  No, there’s not a reservoir here, but this was an irrigation diversion to take water 3 miles south out to Little Dog Valley to water cattle.  The ditch is easy to spot because it’s flat and has old sand bags shoring up its banks.  This ditch is actually labeled as trail 165 on USFS maps, but I have not seen it in full.  At the downstream end of the diversion dam, trail 285 heads up canyon for another half mile then T’s into trail 066, which contours the south end of the Tushar’s for 26 miles.  066 begins in Beaver Canyon at mm 6 and ends in Wade’s Canyon, 2 miles north of Birch Creek C.G. Yes! 26 miles I said and you can look forward to a future article on this journey-sized trail. I hope this trail makes you smile,  I sure did!  Go Into the Tushar’s!