The trail then descends into Kingston Canyon along a dry wash
that is also a utility right-of-way. This segment of the trail
is one of the roughest, and combined with some short, steep
pitches is moderately difficult. However the trail does cross
Rocky Ford Creek and the East Fork of the Sevier River on
bridges before reaching Utah Highway 62. The crossing of Highway
62 provides a potential trail head for those wishing to ride the
higher elevations of the Sevier Plateau.
The trail follows Forest access Road 068 out of Kingston
Canyon and onto the south end of the Sevier Plateau. This is a
good road that allows fast travel, but it also is the main
access to the south end of the Sevier Plateau so there probably
will be other traffic. Caution is required. The trail passes
through woodlands of pinyon and juniper Rock outcrops are
volcanic conglomerates deposited by violent floods, which
resulted from thunderstorms caused by the eruptions of the
volcanoes.
After about five miles of climbing, the trail enters the
Fishlake Forest on a sage flat. East of the trail is the rim of
Forshea Mountain where the rocks have been eroded into pinnacles
and spires. To the west are views of the Tushars, third highest
mountain range in Utah. Northward is the town of Marysvale in
its valley. Near the turn of the century this town was sustained
by gold and silver mining in the Tushars. In the forties,
fifties, and sixties uranium mining in the hills north and east
of the town was the primary employment.
From about the head of Pole Canyon the trail crosses the
Sevier Plateau, a rolling upland. Views to the west are of the
Tushars while those to the east are of Grass Valley, Parker
Mountain, the Aquarius Plateau, Thousand Lake Mountain, and
Boulder Mountain. The trail follows a dirt road, Forest Road
068, that permits easy travel, except for a few bumps and ruts.
The south end of the plateau is covered with sage that gives way
to aspen and spruce fir stands to the north. In the 1950s
patches of sage were killed by chemical spraying and the area
was replanted with grasses. In the 1980s fire was used to remove
the sage and restore the grasses. Fire was also used in some
stands of subalpine fir to rejuvenate the aspen that was being
crowded out. Aspen will sprout from the roots after a fire, but
the fir is killed. Aspen shoots provide browse for wildlife;
later the trees provide cover.
Near the head of Langdon Creek the trail turns west on to
Forest Road 070. At the head of Dry Creek, the main trail meets
the east leg of the Marysvale Loop. This loop is described in a
following chapter. The area around Dry Creek Guard Station
provides several areas for camping. The guard station was once
heavily used by rangers patrolling the mountain. The trail then
continues on a good road which provides easy travel through
grassy meadows and through aspen and conifer stands until it
winds past Manning Meadow Reservoir. On a hot summer's day this
reservoir looks very inviting for a swim to cool off. But at
this elevation, close to 10,000 feet, the water never is really
warm enough for swimming.
The trail soon enters the Box Creek drainage on Forest Road
078. At Lower Box Creek Reservoir the trail comes out onto sage
flats and starts down the mountain. Lower Box Creek Reservoir is
marked by a prominent yellow clay pit. Material from this pit is
transported to the Salt Lake City area and used in making
refractory, or heat resistant bricks. Before starting down the
mountain, you might find it worthwhile to stop and fish the Box
Creek Reservoirs.
North of Box Creek Reservoirs the trail continues across sage
flats with scattered stands of aspen. Mountain meadows,
surrounded by spruce, fir and aspen forests, provide forage for
elk and deer At dusk or dawn riders often can see these
magnificent animals grazing in the meadows or ambling across
openings. There are views of the mountains to the east; they are
Boobe Hole Mountain, Fish Lake Hightop, and Mytoge Mountain.
From the junction of Forest Roads 068 and 076 the main trail
follows 076 to the east. However it is only about a two-mile
side trip northwesterly on 068 to the Koosharem Guard Station.
This is the oldest Forest Service guard station in Utah. It was
built in 1911, four years after the Forest Reserve, predecessor
to the National Forest, was proclaimed. It is now being restored
and will serve as an interpretive site to show what things were
like when horses were the main means of travel in the western
mountains.
Milos Kitchen, located just below a low cliff, is an
excellent place for camping. Here the trail leaves the road to
follow an old horse trail down the side of the mountain, before
returning to the main road and on into Koosharem. While fun and
easy to ride, roads and trails on this side of the Sevier
Plateau are extremely slippery when wet. When dry they can
provide fast going.
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