Bench Creek Loop (Includes Camp Hollow, Little South Fork)
The Bench Creek Loop is a pretty ride on the southwest corner of the Uintah Mountains. The loop climbs Bench Creek, descends a combination of Camp Hollow and Little South Fork, then catches Highway 35 back to complete the loop of 17.5 miles. Most of the ride is intermediate in technical requirement, but the trail is narrow with some tricky spots. The length, remoteness, and altitude limit this ride to well-prepared advanced mountain bikers. Lowest altitude is 6800 feet; peak altitude 8950; total climbing 2500 vertical. The season for this trail is July through September. You'll be riding in mixed fir and aspen forest. There will be a few creek-crossings.
Ride notes, counterclockwise loop:
0.0   ST on R side of DT @ metal gate
N40 32.309 W111 11.322 (6900 ft)
3.1   Fork L and cross creek
N40 30.092 W111 12.438
Rough sandstone hike
4.0   Fork L uphill (straight = old trail)
N40 29.432 W111 12.460
4.8   Cross DT
N40 29.000 W111 12.271
5.1   Fork L downhill (R = up to road)
N40 28.720 W111 12.085
On Camp Hollow Trail
8.6   L on DT, climb 100 yards
N40 30.793 W111 09.969
8.7   R on Little South Fork ST
N40 30.869 W111 09.917
12.0 L on DT
N40 32.663 W111 07.561
13.0 L on Highway 35
N40 33.480 W111 07.870
15.0 L on Bench Creek Road
N40 33.346 W111 09.760
16.3 L uphill between two houses
N40 33.346 W111 09.760
17.5 Back at TH
Getting there: From I-80, take the US 40 exit south (toward Heber). A couple of miles later, exit and turn left (east) toward Kamas on US-189. In Kamas, turn right (south) at the stop sign, towards Francis. One mile later at the stop sign in Francis, turn left (east) and drive 4 miles to Woodland. In Woodland, watch for the Bench Creek Road on your right. Go 3.3 miles on Bench Creek Road, then turn right on a small broken-up semi-paved road between two houses. 0.9 miles later, there's a fence and cattleguard, which is the forest boundary. (If the road is muddy, park here.) Proceed another 0.3 miles on rougher dirt road to a meadow in a dip. Park here. As the road heads uphill at the meadow's end, there's a metal gate. Just past the gate, the singletrack forks off on your right (N40 32.309 W111 11.322).

Copyright 2008 Mad Scientist Software Inc
Trail conditions change. Use this trail guide at your own risk.