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Beaver Creek (Logan
Canyon)
Beaver Creek is a smooth dirt road near the top of Logan Canyon. The
hard-core use it to access other rides, but it makes a scenic and pleasant
family outing. You can start from the trailer-parking area, drive part-way
up to start the ride, or drive the family vehicle way uphill for a gentle
and long downhill cruise. You decide how hard to work.
View of the Logan Canyon hillsides as
the aspens begin to turn. Photos September 27, 2008 by Bruce.
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| Aerobically, this uphill ride is fairly easy. The climb up
the Beaver Creek road is smooth and fast, with a steady gentle slope. In
some spots, there's a bit of crushed rock on the surface
that makes the climbing less pleasant for small wheels. This is a very
short portion of the total ride.
You're surrounded by pine, aspen, and fir, with willows along the creek. It's a very pretty ride,
especially in the fall. Yes, you'll share the dirt road with ATVs and SUVs.
Not a problem. There's plenty of passing room, and it was surprisingly
quiet and non-dusty as the motorheads rolled by. I ran across two
bicycling families
enjoying the fall splendor while I was heading uphill.
About a mile up from the parking area,
the road is hard-packed and smooth as it winds through aspen and fir. |
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The Beaver Creek road travels alongside the creek. Beaver
dams are everywhere. Absolutely stop and let the kids check out the
rodents' construction projects. For a couple of miles, constant beaver
dams. Early in the morning, expect to see moose and deer. Take a few
photos.
Primitive camping spots are sprinkled along the road. 4.1 miles up the
road, you'll pass the Beaver Creek Campground (with bathrooms). A bit past
the campground, pass the smaller road to Swan Flats on your right.
View over a beaver home and a couple
of dams.
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| At 5.8 miles, there's a major intersection. Fork left
(twice) and head up the draw along the creek. At mile 7.0, the ATV track
to Gibson Basin and Sink Hollow forks through
the creek on your left. This is an alternate return for the tough.
Keep heading uphill on the main road as far as you want before turning back on a
non-technical cruise back to the parking area. A good "we're there,
let's turn around" spot is Egan Basin, 9 miles from the parking lot.
Five miles, and the slope is gentler.
Meandering streams have beaver construction everywhere as the willows turn
to their fall colors. |
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Riding notes, uphill from main parking:
0.0 Trailhead on north end of parking
Join larger road
0.2 Pass Sink Hollow return, keep R
N41 58.563 W111 31.857
4.1 Pass Beaver Creek Campground
N42 01.226 W111 31.803
4.2 Keep straight (Swan Flats on R)
5.8 Fork L, keep L at 2nd road
N42 02.547 W111 32.248
7.0 Keep straight. L is Sink Hollow DH
N42 02.755 W111 33.492
9.0 Egan Basin. You've gone far enough.
Getting there: In Logan, turn east at 400 North on US-89
towards Logan Canyon (about 2 miles). After you enter the canyon, drive
24.5 miles, almost to the top. Turn left toward Beaver Mountain Ski Area
and park in the large trailer-parking area 1/2 mile later. The trailhead
(and a bathroom) are on the northern end N41 58.385 W111 31.896.
Other trails near this trailhead: Beaver
Mountain, Stump Hollow, Sink Hollow
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