AF canyon, hobble creek, and wallsburg

[01XJ]

6/6/2011 We have been dying to get in the mountains so we thought we would take a ride up AF and see what was going on there. The main gate is open but the road to mineral basin and silver lake are still closed and we were informed it would be several weeks still before either would be open:-\

So after being up there and everything being closed we headed for Hobble Creek. We went up right fork first only to find you cant get very far before the road is closed so we turned around and went up left fork of Hobble Creek and we got to where the road turns to gravel and the gate was closed and most of the road is a goner up there it has been washed out pretty good and the water is coming down like crazy! They have heavy equipment up there just trying to keep everything clear of debris.

So after doing all that we decided to head home for the night and that we would grab the side x side in the morning and try some roads up wallsburg. Today: 6/7/2011 We first tried main canyon ( i believe thats what it is called?) and we unloaded the bike and headed up only to make it less than a mile before we ran in to this

So we turned around and loaded up the bike and we found a different road just a few miles east of main canyon so we unloaded the bike and headed up there. We went about 5 miles and ran in to FEET of snow!

On the way up we noticed the water was getting pretty muddy and and moving alot faster than it was down lower but just we figured it was the run off for the day coming down. After being stopped by snow we turned around and headed for the jeep on the way down we come around the corner to find this coming down the road we had just come up 10 minutes ago that was dry as a bone!

The water was going under the road like is was supposed to when we went thru but the water had come down so fast in that 10 minute time period the pipe under the road couldnt handle all the water. if we would have not ran in to snow and had to turn around and would have been 30-40 min longer before we turned around we probably wouldnt have made it out im sure the road would have been washed out.

So if your looking to try any of these places you might want to wait a few weeks you wont get far and from the condition of all the roads due to runoff im sure it will be weeks after the runoff is done before they get fixed and are passable

 

[1\4elliptic toy]

Wow, crazy snow in Utah this year, Zion has been closing canyoneering routes because of water issues, the subway has been closed for weeks since that group rescued that other group. I read a report stating that the water during this last winters big flood got higher than it had ever been recorded in the narrows. They still don't know if some of the campsites were washed away. They were built above the highest water level ever recorded. I just read a trip report from some guys that kayaked the narrows this year and it looked epic!

Anyway, has anyone been up mirror lake highway? my BIL in kamas said as of a few weeks ago the gate was closed at soapstone still? the highway in always open by memorial day. Crazy.

 

[jmaxj]

Anyway, has anyone been up mirror lake highway? my BIL in kamas said as of a few weeks ago the gate was closed at soapstone still? the highway in always open by memorial day. Crazy.

when i talked to the forest service a couple weeks ago, they said they are not planning on opening any of that area until the 4th of july roughly. there was till something like 84" of snow in the higher country

 

[Corban_White]

Wolf creek pass (hwy 35) is open but mirror lake is closed. The gate at soapstone is open but you can only go 3-5 miles past there before the snow gets too deep.

 

[rdneckride]

I had run up hobble creeks right fork and into Diamond fork Last Tuesday. The road was open and passable with a number of damaged trees that were removed from the road surface. The water was high on the diamond Fork side and if it got worse I suspect the road would be in danger in a few spots. There were some of the trails up there that had seen some action and are much worse than they have ever been. Was a nice ride for me and the kids wish i had pictures but this was just a quick run to scout for camp spots. Sucks that we did not make it camping but maybe the weather will be better in two weeks.

 

[kohai]

Diamond Fork -> Hobble Creek (right fork)

I came over this road today and it was open as Rdneckride mentioned. I have never been over this road even though I live in Springville. I thought the road was more a motorcycle/atv type trail (duh, there were cars up there). As mentioned the Diamond Fork creek was running pretty strong and one low area near the road flooded a tad, but nothing was really threatening the road. We didn't see any snow near us.

I came from the Diamond Fork side to Hobble Creek. About half way there is a turn off that says Hobble Creek LEFT fork, that road was closed. I wasn't aware you could get to left fork from up there.

I've wondered if it is possible to get from Hobble Creek canyon up to Wallsburg with a 4runner. I know there are roads, but I'm not sure if they are passable for a stock 4runner. I'd be curious on people's comments about Hobble Creek to Squaw Peak as well.

 

[Corban_White]

Yes to both of those routes. I have personally done them. 2wd is all that is needed.

 

[rdneckride]

I have hunted the hobble creek area the last number of years and am not sure of the Whallsburg route but I do know you can and have at times been able to make it from the right fork to the left on that trail. The last time I attempted it was about 3 years ago and the road was washed out part way through and could not pass unless you were on a quad. Even a few of those guys had issues. Most of the road is passable in a stock SUV or Truck. It is not till you go off on the side trails that you need something more aggressive.

If some one wants to go let me know. I live in Spanish and have some weekdays free. My two oldest woudl love to get out and be on a trail. Plus I'd like to see how my new tires work with the added inch of clearance and more aggressive tread. I tend to be way to hesitant when out by myself and the kids and not wanting to be stuck..