LeBaron and Iant Creek

September 9, 2016

I implore you to make time this next month to stroll through the autumn colors.  This week’s hike will satisfy your itch to take a “leaf drive” and will get your feet some mileage through a fun and scenic hike in the heart of the Tushars.  By the time you’re reading this article, the cold nights of September will really yellow-up those aspen tree’s in the mountains.  Those beautiful stands of aspen are the reason I’m calling this the Golden Ridge Hike, and it’s a limited time offer, so get the heck up here to bask in Nature’s glory!  This five mile long ridge begins near Betenson Flat and runs northwesterly, terminating at Strawberry Flat near the High Adventure Scout Camp.  It is actually called Iant Ridge because of the the creek below, Iant Creek, which it parallels in nearly a straight line towards mile marker 14 up Beaver Canyon.  LeBaron Creek and Iant Creeks converge just below the midpoint of this hike, and downstream from this confluence, some maps call this the East Fork of the Beaver River.  This hike is nice because any vehicle can drive to either end and most of this hike is fairly flat, especially the Peterson Flat end, and that is where I will start this trail description.  

Give yourself an hour and fifteen minutes to travel from Beaver to Peterson Flat. Drive up Beaver Canyon on Ut 153, passing Puffer Lake at mm 20, continuing on the dirt road section of Ut. 153 to mm 27.  Here you’ll be at Gun Sight Flat, elevation 9934, where you’ll turn right onto FR 145.  After 1.3 miles the road to stay on is FR 1075 which then becomes FR 2392, you’ll be driving southeast parallelling serene Peterson Flat on your right.  Park at the logworm fence and the trail begins on the south side of the meadow, 40 yards west of the fence.  The first mile of this hike is so darn flat and pleasant it is good for any age or hiking ability.  Some folks could do this first flat mile out and back in 30 minutes!  I would hike out the Golden Ridge for an hour to a fantastic overlook and then return.  At current time, the last half mile of trail 229, near Strawberry Flat, is not cleared and has dozens of large trees obstructing easy travel.  For that reason I would return to Peterson Flat after enjoying the view of Straight Creek and Lebaron Creek which are both across Iant Creek to the west.  The view to the south is Circleville Mountain above LeBaron Reservoir, and to the southwest Birch Creek Peak should be in it’s full autumn colors,  with the saddle in between indicating the approximate location of Anderson Meadow Reservoir.  Not only will the distant hillsides be lighting up with yellow, orange, and red,  but the golden aspen canopy above you should fill you with joy and amazement.  Don’t delay too long to check out this hike because one windy day can strip most of the “paint” right off the treetops.  By mid-October it can also be sketchy to get in and out safely of these high elevation roads if there’s any chance of snowfall or the roads boggin up.  Whether it’s for firewood, autumn leaf viewing, or old fashion exercise,  go follow the Golden Ridge “Into the Tushars”.