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Providence Canyon Trail
This trail climbs a narrow canyon east of Providence (a few miles south
of Logan). The Providence Canyon singletrack trail is a nice
climbing route for mountain bikes, and it really shines as a downhill. Out-and-back, the ride
is 6.0 miles with 1200 vertical feet of climbing.
Gene Poncelet heads up a section of
buff singletrack early in the ride. Thimble berry and maple surround the
trail. Photos and description May 24, 2012.
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| The trail is easier-intermediate technical. (At the top,
there's an "outlaw trail" loop at the end that's advanced tech.
We blundered our way around it without knowing it's not a sanctioned part
of the Providence Canyon trail. I recommend that riders turn around
at the bridge near that final loop.) It's a pretty short ride for advanced
cyclists, who may want to combine it with Deer Fence, or even connect via the
Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST) to Green Canyon for a monster ride. (Some subdivision navigation
is required between Deer Fence and the BST. Do your homework before you
go.)
View from parking. Ignore the Deer
Fence Singletrack at the northeast corner of the parking lot. Instead, aim
for this ugly gravel road and head east uphill.
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The trail starts at the mouth of Providence Canyon at 5100
feet elevation. Just
after Spring Creek Road turns to gravel, there's a parking spot on your
left. The trail heading northwest is the Deer Fence Trail which contours
the hillside northbound. Your Providence Canyon ride starts by heading up
the gravel road.
Joel Quinn on the first bridge, 0.15
miles from the parking area. This is your entry to the singletrack, and
it's easy to just ride past it. There are no trail signs (as of May 2012). |
| Just 800 feet (0.15 miles) up the dirt road, watch for a path
leading to a wooden
bridge on your right. It's hidden by the roadside maples, so it's easy to
miss if you're hammering or talking. Go across the creek to the
singletrack on the other side.
View of the limestone cliffs on the
north side of Providence Canyon. This limestone dates from ancient times
before there were land animals and all of Utah lay under the ocean.
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The trail climbs at an average 8% grade (400 vertical per
mile of climbing). There are some flat or downhill sections as you head
east in the canyon. While the trail usually parallels the creek, it will
occasionally grab extra altitude by climbing up the hill through
climbing turns or switchbacks.
Joel leads Gene along the trail, with
the creek to their left (right side of photo). |
| Most of the trail is in dense maple forest. There will be
some rare breakout views of the hillsides in the narrow canyon. At mile 1.8,
the trail crosses to the left side of the creek, and will cross the canyon
road at mile 2.0.
View up the creek from the second
bridge.
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At mile 3.0, you'll come to another wooden bridge near a log
fence. You'll note several trails. As of 2012, a washout gully lies
between the bridge and the canyon road. You can cross the road to ATV
track to continue uphill, but it's relatively pointless, as the route gets
steep and rocky as you approach the quarry.
Bruce rolls onto a bridge about two
miles into the climb. |
| [Edit: The
singletrack in this paragraph is not a legal route. Because it's an
obvious, well-worn route, I've kept the description here so you'll know
what it is when you see it.] There's some outlaw singletrack on
your left, which splits after 20 feet. The route to the left
(over the log) is an easier climbing route, but both arms are advanced
tech. The trails will rejoin in about 1/10
mile. As you reach mile 3.2, the trail ends at a washout along the canyon
road.
From the bridge, you can continue 0.3 miles uphill on ATV track to the quarry, or
turn around. Beyond the quarry a primitive steep trail climbs the
mountainside at a ridiculous pitch.
Joel continues uphill through maple
forest at mile two, just before the trail crosses to the north side of the
canyon road.
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The downhill will be fast and fun. You'll drop 1100 vertical
feet in 3 miles. Turns are bermed for
speed. Be cautious! This trail is a favorite for locals out walking their
dogs. Keep your speed in control so you can stop within your sight line.
Getting closer to the top. Gene rides
through maple mixed with choke cherry and elderberry. |
Riding notes:
0.0 Uphill on DT from parking
N41 41.557 W111 47.600
0.1 R across creek N41 41.527 W111 47.489
1.8 Cross creek
2.0 Cross road N41 41.525 W111 45.867
3.0 Bridge N41 41.453 W111 44.884
Option cross gully to continue uphill
Note:
singletrack on left is NOT an authorized route!
6.0 Back at parking
Confusing spot at the top of the ride,
mile 3.0. Straight ahead
(through log fence) is washed out. Across washout is option of further
uphill on DT. To L after bridge is more technical short ST loop described
above. Or you can turn around here. Either way, you're about finished.
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Getting there:
Northbound, exit I-15 at the first Brigham City off-ramp to Logan and US
89. Take US 89 up the canyon and descend into Cache Valley. As you enter
Logan heading northeast on 89, take a sharp right to go south on SR 65 (Nibley
Road, a continuation of Logan's Main Street). There are now multiple
options to get through the street grid of Providence to the canyon. Turn
east (left) on 1200 South, which will become 100 North in Providence. In
town, turn right (south) on 100 East, which will turn east to become
Canyon Road (600 South). Turn right when 600 South ends on Spring Creek
Road. Just after the road turns to gravel, turn left into the parking
area. |
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