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Mount Elmer Trails MAP No. 1 Mt. Elmer Map: Mt. Elmer Trailhead: US 89 about 12 miles from Logan to Woodcamp Campground and across the bridge to the end of the gravel road. Distance: Five miles to the Jardine Juniper Tree. Grade: 8%. Parking lot is at 5400 ft, tree is 7000 ft.
This is a well-constructed trail to an old landmark of Logan Canyon.
The tree is more than 1500 years old and still shows a few green
branches. Please enjoy the tree from the viewing area. There is
a spring beside the trail as you begin the switchbacks but the
water is not drinkable without treatment. When you reach the elevation
giving you the first glimpse of Cottonwood Canyon, there is a
short trail going left, Cottonwood Cutoff Trail 008, that goes
down to the Cottonwood Canyon Trail 048. The last section of the
trail separates, each part going a different way around a hill.
One route runs parallel, and slightly above, Cottonwood Canyon.
The other gives a good view of the lower part of Logan Canyon.
The highway is visible from parts of the trail near the tree.
Map: Mount Elmer Trailhead: Five miles up Logan Canyon from the First Dam Bridge on US 89 to Spring Hollow Campground across the bridge at the upper end of the Third Dam or a mile farther to Guinavah Campground near the Amphitheater. Park in the free parking area near the entrance to the campground. Distance: 3 miles. Grade: 9% at each end, 1% in the middle. Elevation, 5100 ft at each end, 6000 ft in the middle. This trail climbs up steeply to a formation known as the China Wall, which can be seen from the highway, and follows along the top of the Wall to a point above the Guinavah Campground. This trail offers you an exhilarating experience as you look directly down on the campground from the top of the China Wall, but be careful! It then descends steeply to the campground. The Wind Caves can be seen on the same formation across the canyon. The trail can be traveled in either direction. The name of the trail comes from the crimson and gold school colors of the now defunct Brigham Young College. Logan High School now occupies the site of the old college.
The Riverside Trail 052 forms a loop trail with Trail 015 from
either Spring Hollow Campground or Guinavah Campground. Map: Mount Elmer Trailhead: Five miles up US 89 opposite the entrance to the Guinavah Campground. Distance: 1.7 miles to the Wind Caves. Grade: 8% from the Trailhead at 5100 ft, to the Caves at 6000 ft. This trail is on the north side of Logan Canyon on the same formation as the Crimson Trail 015, some parts of which can be seen from the higher parts of the Wind Caves Trail. Beginning in the early spring the trail can be followed whenever there is no snow on it. Much of it goes through maple groves, which are very colorful in the fall. Rattlesnakes have been seen on the trail, but they are rare. Do not disturb them--they like it there. Map: Mount Elmer, Logan Peak Trailhead: Spring Hollow Campground or Guinavah Campground (see above). Distance: 1.3 miles. Grade: 1%. Spring Hollow Campground 5030 ft; Guinavah Campground 5100 ft. This trail was constructed in 1976-77 by the Logan Ranger District Youth Conservation Corps. It follows the south bank of Logan River for most of the distance where spring flooding is occasionally a problem. A newer trail higher up on the bank bypasses a few low spots. The trail joins the Crimson Trail 015 shortly before descending to Guinavah Campground. A loop hike can be made from either end by taking trail 015 for the return trip. On occasion you can see American Dippers, a gray bird which feeds under water, Kingfishers, and even ducks. Map: Mount Elmer, Logan Peak Trailhead: Spring Hollow Campground. Follow the paved road south 0.25 miles past the large picnic tables to the trail. Distance: 3.5 miles from Spring Hollow Campground 5030 ft to FS{126} 7200 ft. Grade: 12%.
Trail 124 follows Spring Hollow generally south to an elevation
of about 7200 feet where it meets FS{126} when the terrain begins
to level off somewhat. The upper part of the trail goes through
an area logged about 1900 and is very indistinct. A little bushwhacking
will find FS{126}. It is unlikely that a sign for FS{126} or FS{168}
will be seen. FS{126] meets FS{168} and continues southward past
Providence Lake (Salamander Lake, a sort of pond) and on to Logan
Peak. There are a number of ORV roads, making it imperative to
consult the Logan Peak map. Map: Mt. Elmer Trailhead: US 89 at Spring Hollow Campground. A paved trail on the west side of the campground and on the south side of the river impoundment leads to the Mill Hollow Road. The road starts south and goes up the Hollow about 100 feet down from the Third Dam. Distance: 1.8 miles. Grade: 12%. Spring Hollow Campground at 5030 ft, end of trail at 6200 ft. This is one of two old logging roads used about 100 years ago to bring logs down by wagon to the sawmill, which was probably about where the dam is located. One road leads south and is relatively steep. Near the top the fir trees become more evident. Some years ago an avalanche hit the upper area, and you can see stumps from the earlier cuttings that were ripped out of the ground, as well as many downed trees. The maple, aspen, and fir trees make a spectacular combination of colors in the fall. The second, rather indistinct road, goes east over a slight ridge and into Spring Hollow. Logs were brought over this road to the sawmill. Map: Mt. Elmer Trailhead: US 89. There are three: 1. A gate on the south side of the road 200 feet beyond the Wasatch/Cache National Forest entrance sign, which is on the river side. Park at the sign or at the gate if it doesn't block the road. 2. US 89(TH 8) RED BRIDGE. The bridge was red before it was rebuilt. It is about a mile farther upriver from the gate and has a small parking lot across the bridge. 3. US 89 at Spring Hollow Campground. A paved walkway is on the south side of the Third Dam water impoundment. Distance: 4 miles from the Wasatch/Cache National Forest sign on US 89 at4740 ft to Spring Hollow at 5100 ft. Grade: Average is 2%, maximum, 8% for short distances. This very pleasant trail along the south side of Logan River follows the course of the river. It is the route of the Logan City water supply from DeWitt Springs adjacent to the west end of Guinavah-Malibu Campground except for a few detours around private property. It is cool in the summer since it is in the shade most of the time. It is possible to use the River Trail 603 and the Riverside Nature Trail 052 for a total of 6 miles of walking. The map does not show all of the River Trail, but it is so well-defined that it seemed unnecessary to show the entire route. This trail is a very popular mountain-bike route. 048 COTTONWOOD CANYON Map: Mount Elmer, Naomi Peak Trailhead: US 89 about 500 feet beyond Logan Cave or TH25 TONY GROVE LAKE. Distance: 1.9 miles from US 89 at 5515 ft, more or less bushwhacking to the Cottonwood Cutoff Trail 008 at 6720 ft. 3.2 miles from the junction with Trail 008 to Cottonwood Spring at 7800 ft. 2.9 miles from Cottonwood Spring, on Trail 005, to the highest point at 8800 ft. This point is the junction with the Smithfield Canyon Trail 007. 2 miles from the highest point to TH25 at 8100 ft. Grade: 12% US 89 to the Trail 005 junction. 6% from the junction with Trail 005 to Cottonwood Spring. 6.5% from Cottonwood Spring to the highest point. 6.6% from the highest point to TH25. The lower part of Cottonwood Canyon is not a maintained trail. The route is a real challenge, not because of its length but because it is not well-defined. In spite of this, it is virtually impossible to get lost, however it is possible to get bogged down trying to find the best way through the waist-high vegetation. The vestige of the trail crosses and re-crosses the creek several times in the first mile and a half, finally turning sharply left, along with the stream, and passing through a rock portal that is impassable at times of high water. Once through the portal you come to the Trail 008, which is a trail from the Old Juniper Trail 014. The canyon is quite narrow with steep, almost vertical rocks on each side. If you travel quietly, you may surprise some wildlife. As you near Cottonwood Spring, the canyon widens and the trail is easier to find. You will follow Trail 005 from the spring to TH25, passing a junction with the Blind Hollow Trail 009 and farther on, a junction with the Smithfield Canyon Trail 007. Most of the trail is in the Naomi Wilderness area.
Since both ends of this trail are at trailheads, it can be traveled
either way. 049 PRESTON VALLEY Map: Mount Elmer Trailhead: 4 miles up Green Canyon Road FS[050]. Distance: 2.0 miles from FS[050] at 5600 ft to the ridge at 7320 ft. Grade: 16%.
Although this trail has been in existence for almost 100 years,
it is incomplete as a hiking trail and is under consideration
for future development. The trail from the Green Canyon Road to
the ridge is in good shape; the remainder, from the ridge to Preston
Valley, has yet to be improved. Some background explanation is
in order. The Preston Valley is not in Idaho as many suppose;
it is in Logan Canyon on US 89 about a mile above the Card Canyon
Guard Station. The Preston Valley Campground is between the highway
and Logan River. Sheep were driven from Green Canyon to Logan
Canyon, over the Preston Valley Trail to a corral at Preston Valley.
The open area across the highway from the campground was the location
of the corral. The old trail, on the Logan side, stays at an elevation
of about 6700 feet to avoid the cliffs that can be seen clearly
from the highway as you drive up from the Third Dam. The route
is traveled mostly by deer and elk, but it is there. It provides
a beautiful view of the canyon and awaits time and money for its
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