Ashley National Forest

Some of Utah's best kept cross-country skiing secrets can be found in the eastern Uintas!

Little Brush Creek Loop Trail
ACCESS: Route begins 22 miles north of Vernal, (43 miles south of Manila) on Highway 191. A parking area is at the trailhead. Look for the blue and white trailhead sign.

MILEAGE/RATING: Route is 2.5 miles in length with gradual to moderate ascent and moderate descent. This trail is best suited to novice and intermediate skiers.

OTHER INFORMATION: This trail is closed to snowmobiles and is marked with both blue signs and blue flagging. Elevation: 8200 - 8500 feet.

TRAIL DESCRIPTION: Trail begins at the junction of Highway 191 and the Little Brush Creek road located on the west side of the highway. The trail follows the Little Brush Creek road through a large rock quarry to the road's end. Along this first stretch, there are few trees along the edge of the narrow canyon. The trail then ascends out of the rock quarry into Grizzly Hollow. As you are leaving the quarry, you enter timber of Lodgepole Pine and Douglas Fir. The trail continues through the Hollow for approximately 1 mile, turns east for about 500 yards, then junctions with the Bassett Springs Cross-Country Ski Trail. To continue on the Little Brush Creek Trail, the skier must follow the flagging to the right. From this point, the skier will be able to see Highway 191. The trail parallels the highway from on top of a sagebrush plateau paralleling the trees. Here there are some aspen mixed in with the pines. The trail then drops off the plateau through the pines back onto the road that will take the skier back to the trailhead.

Bassett Springs Loop Trail
ACCESS: Route begins 24 miles north of Vernal (41 miles south of Manila) on Highway 191. A parking area is across from the trailhead. Route begins across the highway, to the west. Look for the blue and white trailhead sign.

MILEAGE/RATING: route is 4 miles in length with a moderate to steep ascent and steep descent. This trail is best suited to advanced skiers, although novice and intermediate skiers may want to try the easier, beginning stretches.

OTHER INFORMATION: This trail is closed to snowmobiles and is marked with both blue signs and blue flagging. Elevation: 8300 - 8800 feet.

TRAIL DESCRIPTION: Trail begins across the highway from the parking area, just south of the Diamond Mountain Road Junction. It follows an old jeep trail to the west. Here the terrain is aspen, Lodgepole Pine, Douglas Fir and some sagebrush openings. Then the trail circles around to the north, traversing the southern flank of Grizzly Ridge. Vegetation is aspen mixed in with the pines. From the top of the slope you will have a spectacular view of Diamond Mountain and the area south of Grizzly Ridge. As you descend, you leave the tree line. The trail then descends the open sage covered slopes to Bassett Springs. At the bottom of the slope, you will enter a large aspen grove. By following the trail south from the spring, you will return to the trailhead.

Grizzly Ridge Yurt Trail
ACCESS: Route begins 24 miles north of Vernal (41 miles south of Manila) on Highway 191. Trail leaves the Bassett Springs Loop Trail - 1 mile from its trailhead. (See map).

MILEAGE/RATING: Route is 1.86 miles in length from the point where it leaves the Bassett Springs Loop Trail (2.86 miles from Trailhead). Trail has a moderate to steep ascent and ends at the Grizzly Ridge Yurt (a ski hut available for rental - contact the Vernal District office for information). Trail is best suited to intermediate skiers.

OTHER INFORMATION: This trail is closed to snowmobiles and is marked with blue signs.Elevation: 8400 - 9200 feet.

TRAIL DESCRIPTION: Trail leaves the Bassett Springs Loop Trail - 1 mile from its trailhead then follows an old jeep trail to the NW. (See Bassett Springs Loop Trail). Here the vegetation is aspen, lodgepole pine, Douglas fir, and some small sagebrush openings. The trail extends along the southern flank of Grizzly Ridge. From the Grizzly Ridge Yurt (trail end), you will have a spectacular view of Ashley Valley. Follow same trail back to the trailhead.

Grizzly Ridge Loop Trail
ACCESS: Route begins 26 miles north of Vernal (39 miles south of Manila) on Highway 191. A parking area is at the trailhead. Look for the blue and white trailhead sign.

MILEAGE/RATING: Route is 2.5 miles in length with gradual to moderate ascent and moderate to steep descent, This trail is best suited to intermediate skiers.

OTHER INFORMATION: This trail is closed to snowmobiles and is marked with blue signs and blue flagging. Elevation: 8400-8800 feet.

TRAIL DESCRIPTION: Trail begins at the junction of the county line road with Highway 191. The ascending portion of the trail leaves the county line road, winding through the forest of Lodgepole Pine and aspen prior to Its junction with an old logging road, It follows this road to a point near the top of the old Grizzly Ridge ski run. From this vantage point, you can see across the meadow below the old ski run. From here the trail drops down the ski hill through lodgepole pine and then parallels the county line road back to the trailhead.

Swett Ranch Loop
ACCESS: Route begins at Greendale Rest Area, .5 miles west of highway junction 44/191 (on 44 toward Manila) 28 miles north of Vernal (37 miles south of Manila).

MILEAGE/RATING: Route is 7 miles round trip and is best suited for intermediate skiers. Trail follows a Forest Service Road. Terrain is relatively flat with change in slopes. There is one steep section on the northwest corner of the trail. Elk, deer and moose can sometimes be seen in the area.

OTHER INFORMATION: This trail is closed to snowmobiles. This trail is marked by blue diamonds. Elevation: 6720 - 7400 feet.

TRAIL DESCRIPTION: View from the trailhead includes Swett Ranch meadows, to the northeast a view of Little and Richards Mountains and Allen Creek. From the east end of the rest area, ski north on the road approximately .5 mile to the three-way road intersection. At this junction, the loop portion of the trail travels either straight north or to the right. If skiing north, the trail follows the roadbed high above Swett Ranch. After passing through a gate, the trail will begin to descend, ending with a short but steep section. At this point, take a hard right turn. As the trail then curves to the southeast, it makes a gradual climb up the Allen Creek Drainage. After passing through a section of Aspens and Ponderosa Pines, the trail takes a hard right and follows a log fence near private homes before passing through another gate. The route travels past a road intersecting from the south and continues west past the turnoff to Swett Ranch. The trail ascends a slope and continues to the west past an old log cabin and a long section of log fence. The skier will then wind through open country to the three-way intersection and the parking lot. The easiest direction of travel on this trail is counter clockwise. A side trail leads to the Flaming Gorge Lodge.

Canyon Rim Trail
ACCESS: There are two trail heads. One is located at Greendale Rest Area, 28 miles north of Vernal (37 miles south of Manila) on Highway 44. The second is located at Red Canyon Lodge, 33 miles north of Vernal off Highway 44 and Red Canyon Road (34 miles south of Manila) [Turn at Red Canyon Overlook junction, then 1 mile to Lodge]

MILEAGE/RATING: Route is 6.25 miles one way (including loop on west end) and is best suited for novice to intermediate skiers. Trail travels along the relatively flat Canyon Rim Trail and Red Canyon Road with a short, steep drop into Skull Creek at mid-trail. Elk and moose may be seen in the area.

OTHER INFORMATION: This trail is closed to snowmobiles, except for the Red Canyon Road section. Parking is available at Red Canyon Lodge and Greendale Rest Area. This trail is marked by blue diamonds. Elevation: 7200 -7450 feet.

TRAIL DESCRIPTION: Leaving from the Greendale Rest Area, the trail travels west through mixed stands of Ponderosa Pine and Aspen trees and meadows before crossing the Skull Creek drainage. After reaching Canyon Rim Campground, the skier can decide to travel the 2.4 mile loop of this trail by skiing right or left. To the left the route follows along the Red Canyon Road and to the right, travels along the canyon rim. This loop offers spectacular views of Red Canyon and the Uinta Mountains to the west. While the trail follows the curve of the Red Canyon Visitor Center parking lot, a spectacular view can be enjoyed by skiing past the visitor center and towards the canyon rim overlook. A side trail leads to Red Canyon Lodge, (a longer trip can be made by connecting this trail with the Swett Ranch Loop) Parking available at Red Canyon Lodge and Greendale Rest Area.

Lake Creek Loop Trail
ACCESS: Trailhead is 3.5 miles west of Highway junction 44/191, opposite the Red Canyon Road (32 miles north of Vernal/33 miles south of Manila). Parking for 6 vehicles is located on the south side of Red Canyon Road, 50 feet past the junction with Highway 44.

MILEAGE/RATING: Loop is 33/4 miles, round trip and is best suited for novice skiers. Terrain is relatively flat with open timber and meadows and a slight increase in slope. Elk, deer and moose may be seen.

OTHER INFORMATION: This trail is closed to snowmobiles and is marked by blue diamonds. Elevation: 7600 - 7840 feet.

TRAIL DESCRIPTION: Lake Creek Trail is composed of 2 loops. Loop"A" has a total round trip distance of 2 1/4 miles. Loop "B" adds 1 1/2 miles to the trail for a combined total distance of 3 3/4 miles. The trail begins off the highway and then turns right onto a roadbed. At .4 mile the trail passes through a wire fence; at this point the skier can travel left or right. If the left side of the loop is taken, continue another .2 mile and turn right off the road. Travel another .4 mile and cross over a bridge at Lake Creek. The trail makes a wide curve back to the east for .3 mile where the creek is crossed again. Follow the route for .5 mile to return to the top of the loop and fence. It is .4 mile to the trailhead and Highway 44.

Elk Park Trail
ACCESS: Trailhead is located 10.5 miles west of highway junction 44/191, 26.5 miles south of Manila/38.5 miles north of Vernal, on Highway 44. Parking is available for 2 vehicles at the junction of Deep Creek Road and Highway 44.

MILEAGE/RATING: 5.5 miles round trip to Elk Park and is best suited to novice skiers. Trail is mostly level and travels on a roadbed through open timber stands. Elk Park is a large flat meadow. Elk or moose may be seen in the area.

OTHER INFORMATION: CAUTION! This road is also used by snowmobilers. Skiers and snowmobilers may be on the road at the same time, however Elk Park itself is closed to snowmobiles. Elevation: 7820- 8020 feet.

TRAIL DESCRIPTION: From the trailhead at Highway 44, the route travels west on the Deep Creek Road to Elk Park. The ski route winds in and out of open stands of Ponderosa Pine and Aspen trees. Elk Park is a large, open meadow offering views of the forested north slope of the Uinta Mountains. The meadow is excellent for flat track skiing. The skier may circle around the outer edge of the meadow and return to the road.

Dowd Mountain Trail
ACCESS: Trailhead is located at the base of Dowd Mountain Road, just off Highway 44, opposite Dowd Springs Picnic Area (14.5 miles south of Maiffla, 50,5 miles north of Vernal on Highway 44). Parking for 10 vehicles.

MILEAGE/RATING: The route consists of a 10-mile loop and is varied, moderately difficult in places and should be considered strenuous. Terrain varies from flat and open to steep and possibly rocky with inadequate snow, so trail is considered intermediate to advanced. It is recommended that the trail be skied in a counterclockwise direction in order to avoid steep uphill sections.

OTHER INFORMATION: CAUTION! If there is inadequate snow depth, it is highly recommended that skiers use the main Dowd Mountain Road for the return portion of route rather than attempt to ski down the final northwest section of the trail. Otherwise, route is not on the Dowd Mountain Road. Route is marked with blue diamonds. Elevation: 7560- 7980 feet.

TRAIL DESCRIPTION: This loop covers a long route which leads to Dowd Mountain Overlook with outstanding views of Flaming Gorge, Red Canyon and the High Uintas