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Honeyville Trails MAP No. 8 Honeyville Wellsville Mountain Wilderness Area This relatively small mountain range, only about 5 miles wide, 14 miles long, and nearly a mile high, is a trademark of Cache Valley. It was designated a wilderness area, along with the Mount Naomi Wilderness, in 1985. The protection of the Wellsville area was due largely to the efforts of John Hughes and Robert Stewart. These rough dimensions reveal excessive steepness, almost 40%, and the evidence of many winter avalanches can be seen. The view, at the top, of both Cache and Salt Lake Valleys, is unforgettable. The two main trails are not 40% grades but closer to 15%, and the vegetation is much more dense than a view from Logan reveals. The flowers on top in June and July are magnificent and the fall coloration can be seen from all points in the valley. The range is a major flyway for raptors in the fall. Some of the additional regulations applying to wilderness areas are mentioned in the introduction. 037 Deep Canyon / Wellsville Ridge Map: Honeyville Trailhead: TH39 DEEP CANYON at 5300 ft. Drive west on Third North Street in Mendon as far as the straight road goes. The paved road jogs a little but the trend is west on to a graveled road. There is parking at the TH39 sign. Distance: 2.9 miles from TH39 at 5300 ft to the crest of the Wellsville Mountains at 8120 ft. 1.6 miles along the crest to Stewart Pass at 8376 ft. 1.5 miles from Stewart Pass to the Wellsville Cone at 9356 ft. Grade: 18% from TH 39 to the crest; 3% along the crest; 12% from Stewart Pass to the Cone. The trail rises gently through maples and aspen at the beginning but soon starts to switchback as the grade increases. The trend of the trail turns south as you go higher and you begin to see the saddle on the crest, but this is not the true top. The hawk-watch point is about a half mile north of the saddle. The trail goes abruptly up the ridge, so do not be lured into following an easier-looking deer trail that follows a constant elevation south. Mendon Peak is north of you when you get to the ridge. The trail goes south along the main ridge. After traveling about 1.6 miles along the crest to Stewart Pass, you arrive at a juncture of the Maple Bench Trail 038 coming in on the left. You can go down Trail 038 or continue on to the Wellsville Cone, known locally as Stewart Peak, or farther south past Box Elder Peak and down Rattlesnake Canyon. This route is very steep ending up at US 89-91. Yes rattlesnakes can live at 9000 feet. 038 Maple Bench Map: Honeyville Trailhead: 3 miles from UTAH 23 via FS[086] leaving the south side of Mendon to TH40 MAPLE BENCH at 6200 ft, a short distance from Coldwater Lake. Distance: 1.9 miles from TH40 to Stewart Pass at 8376 ft. 1.5 miles from Stewart Pass to Wellsville Cone at 9356 ft. Grade: 18% from TH40 to Stewart Pass; 12% to the Wellsville Cone at 9356 ft. The Maple Bench Trail 038 passes through an area of Cache Valley that apparently, has a higher-than-average rainfall. Many ferns grace the sides of the trail, and the maples color the slopes in the fall. The trail passes the very small Coldwater Lake near the beginning, and the switchbacks start soon after, making the climbing tolerable. Stewart Pass, named after Robert Stewart, who made many trips to the crest, is at the end of Trail 038 where it meets Trail 037 that comes up from Deep Canyon and runs along the ridge. The ridge is relatively narrow and there is no established trail down the west side. The route to the Wellsville Cone can be traversed by scrambling along the crest for about 200 feet, on the way to the Cone. On this short, narrow stretch you can sit on the ridge with a foot in each valley. A by-pass trail was constructed several years ago so horsemen could get to the Cone. back to contents