Birch Creek (066)

May 19, 2018

I am obsessed with finding segments of old historic trails that have had little to no use in the past 50 years.  I’d like to compare myself to Liam Neeson from the movie “Taken”, except the line I use is,”I have a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over eight years of trails crew, I will look for you, I will flag you, and I WILL CUT YOU!!!”  Remember last fall when I introduced you to the longest trail on the Tushars, Trail 066, that circumnavigates the southern end of our district for 26 miles. Well this week’s hike is the last 3.1 miles on the far end above the town of Circleville. One of the biggest challenges for me clearing this hike for you was that there is a sister trail (066A) which parallels the 066 northbound from Birch Creek campground and until you’re out there,  it is hard to tell which is which. By comparing the shapes of the trails shown on maps, the shape files my GPS collected, and to aerial photos from Google Earth, I have confirmed the trail I want you to hike, following pink flagging is the 066. The 066A is further east at lower elevation and four wheelers have been using it from Wade’s Canyon near the junction with PST 34. This section of the 066 was much neater than I anticipated because of little surprises like neat cliff bands above you, a pair of screaming Red-tailed Hawks,  vigorous new flora post-wildfire, shady forested north facing slopes, and a refreshing cold spring to quench your thirst at the end. Many of the plants at this elevation, 7500’-8500’, are blossoming and add color and sweet smell to this adventure. Cliffrose, which smells like honey and cinnamon, Oregon grape, Gooseberry, Mtn. Mahogany, Indian Paintbrush, and dandelions were all showing off for me.

If you go do this hike you should really consider making an overnighter of it and camp at Birch Creek campground, which is free, beautiful, and has a babbling brook flowing down the middle, which will sing you to sleep in seconds.  Drive over to U.S. 89 and just south of Circleville town you’ll see a forest access road called Birch Creek Rd at m.m. 156.3, which is basically the Paiute\Garfield county line. Four miles on this very well maintained dirt road will put you right at the campground.  To find the 066 trail, follow the campground’s north fenceline uphill, west, and you can’t miss it. Immediately outside the fence you hop over Birch Creek, following an old road uphill through a 40 year old fire scar. Cross Birch Creek one more time and you’ll keep chugging uphill with unburned forest on your left and a large sagebrush covered hill on your right.  Just underneath a patch of burnt\dead Mtn. Mahogany you will cut back hard to the right onto this sage covered slope and carefully look for the old road cut heading East\Northeast. This is your Trail! Take plenty of water, 3 quarts per person, but know that in 3.1 miles, you will intersect with the Wades Canyon road near the Paiute 01 trail which heads up to Betenson Flat.  If you are out of water here, head up Wades cyn. road for 400 yards to the developed spring for Circleville town. Just in front of a green gate is a 2” white pipe discharging the spring’s overflow. This ice-cold, pure mountain spring water will rejuvenate your whole being for the return trip back to camp. If we all had a passion for adventure and exercise like Liam had for getting his daughter back, I think we would be a happier and healthier Nation.  Go getcha some, Into the Tushars!