Rock Creek

August 12, 2016

If you find yourself near Anderson Meadow Reservoir for the great fishing, consider a hike out to Rock Lake, after the fish stop biting of course.  Rock Lake is one of several ponds out near the head of South Creek,  on the southern end of Birch Creek Peak.  A couple are naturally wet basins and others were created by damming a drainage to store water for livestock or agricultural use, such as Mumford Reservoir.  I’ve been told there used to be decent fishing in a few of these ponds, however, to me they all seem too shallow and silted in to not freeze solid in winter.  I’ve observed interesting waterfowl, aquatic insect activity, and salamanders in these environs, but never seen a fish, so I wouldn't bother packing in a fly rod.  There are however lots of little trout in South Creek itself if you enjoy fishing with ultra-light tackle.  Whenever I ride up the 068 ATV trail it’s hard to keep my eyes on the road because I enjoy scanning the deeper pools and runs to see said trout fleeing for cover.  Without a four-wheeler, this hiking route is the easiest way to get to Rock Lake, and you’ll be crossing from the Beaver River drainage over into the North fork of South Creek drainage just yards from your car (a very clever use of the Kent’s Lake Road). Forest Trail number 245 is 1.3 miles out to Rock Lake and is nearly all downhill, so consider that for returning up to your car.  Plan about one hour to the lake and 1.5 hours to hike up and out, for a round trip total of 3 miles, taking 2.5 hours.  About halfway to the lake there’s a 30 foot tall rock outcropping that you should carefully climb for incredible views out over all of South Creek’s fingers.  The parking spot to begin hiking the 245 is reached by going up Beaver Canyon, turning right at mm 10 onto FR 137, driving 8.6 miles(just past Anderson Meadow Campground), take another right on FR 575, then 2.0 miles to park on the righthand side, looking for the metal ATV barrier to begin hiking.  FR 575 is cobbley and bumpy, but doable in most cars.  The last half mile on 575 to trail head is rocky and you may scrape bottom if in a sedan, so consider parking after 1.5 miles on 575 and just walk up the road.  The Kent’s Lake Road is in the best shape I’ve ever seen,  but it’s narrow and steep,  so just use caution and make sure your spare tire is plump!  The application of Magnesium Chloride in the spring is why the Kent’s Lake Road is in such good shape.  It is a brine, or salt water, solution produced from the Great Salt Lake which binds dust particles together and absorbs humidity out of the air,  helping the dirt road be more durable and dust-free.  It was applied during the annual grading of FR 137 up to Upper Kents Lake.  You’ll definitely see and appreciate the smoother surface from there down and to help it stay smooth, try not to drive on dirt roads in early spring when deeply saturated, and not to churn your wheels when pulling heavy loads uphill,  use your 4-wheel drive.  I hope to see all of you out in the hills getting ready for the hunts and to get your bodies in tip-top shape.  Our backyard is full of wonder, beauty and amazement,  so get yourself up Into the Tushars!