There I was, sitting in my Jeep Rubicon deep in a dense forest somewhere between Daniel’s Pass on U.S. 40 and Wallsburg. I hadn’t seen a soul in hours. Ahead of me lay a mud bog of undeterminable depth. It was fresh and very wet — a bit unusual for a Jeep outing in Utah.
It took me back to my four-wheeling days in Wisconsin, when countless times my bumper-mounted winch got me out of trouble. Today I didn’t have a winch. But I did have a fresh set of B.F. Goodrich KO3 tires.
So I slammed it into 4WD low and powered the KO3s through the muck like a hot knife through butter with nary a little tail slide.
This was the test drive I was seeking on my new tires. Over the course of four hours, I had mud bogs, stream crossings, trail washouts, perilous steep climbs, and trails that were wall-to-wall rocks.
As you can already tell, this Jeep outing may not be for everyone.
Less than an hour from Park City, the vast Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest offers over 3,000 square miles of backcountry with hundreds of marked trails. I headed out. It’s an off-road playground providing anyone with an appropriate vehicle an opportunity for family fun.
Today, fancy side-by-sides are all the rage. I still love my Jeep Wranglers.
Driving out of Daniel’s Summit, southeast of Heber City on U.S. 40, the trail up Main Canyon was smooth gravel as I turned onto Murdock Bench Road. Along the roadway, brilliant yellow mule’s ears brightened the drive. Suddenly up ahead, a baby sheep was nursing on its mother. I paused. They paused. Soon, they scrambled cautiously off the road as I continued my way up to Strawberry Ridge Road.
It was decision time: left down to Strawberry Reservoir, or right up to Strawberry Peak. I took the high road. As the tree line opened up, I was treated to spectacular views to the north. Approaching the peak, I could see the narrow, rocky road that headed up the face to the top.
It was purely optional. But I dropped the Rubicon down into low gear and said a little prayer. The tires rumbled over the rocks effortlessly, scaling the 30% grade with ease. I breathed a sigh of relief as I reached the summit. The enthusiasm I felt about my accomplishment was tempered when I saw the three Ford pickups and a crew servicing the communications towers.
I decided to exit via Wallsburg, taking the rocky Wing Flat Road. The trail opened up to stunning views of Wardsworth Peak and Rattlesnake Mountain. A dusty haze added a surreal dimension to the distant ranges.
Nearing four hours in the saddle, I was longing for the pavement I would find a few miles ahead in Wallsburg. Heading down Little Valley Road, the trail became makeshift. Suddenly I was staring a two-hump washout, with the humps just wide enough for the Jeep. I carefully placed the tires and gently rode down. Around the next corner, the trail became a stream. Suddenly, the dirt track reappeared in the form of a 10-foot sheer climb. Shifting down into four low, I scaled it with ease.
Before hitting pavement, I pulled off the dusty trail to spend a few minutes alongside a rapidly rushing creek while I aired up the tires — just in time to watch a young bobcat scurry across the road.
There’s nothing like hitting pavement after a Jeep adventure!
DETAILS
Getting There: Head east on U.S. 40 from Heber City to Daniel’s Summit. The trailhead is a tenth of a mile past the resort.
Trails: For a leisurely afternoon, take the Main Canyon (FR046) road off U.S. 40 to Murdock Bench Road (FR503) to Strawberry Ridge Road (FR135). Turn right for the skyline route offering stunning views en route to Strawberry Peak, or left for a more forested drive down to Strawberry Reservoir. This is a straightforward route suitable for any family with a 4WD vehicle.
For the more adventurous, consider climbing Strawberry Peak if you have a good rig and experience. Then, take Wing Flat Road (FR719) down to Little Valley Road and into Wallsburg. It’s rocky and has some very tricky washout sections towards the end. This is not an easy route!
GPS: Your smartphone with maps downloaded to GaiaGPS is all you need. There is cell coverage for most of the route.