 | Willow Creek 025 South
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French Hollow and optional Buffalo Canyon This ride is located in the high ridge country between Strawberry Reservoir and Spanish Fork Canyon. It is NOT the cushy Willow Creek 001 found north of Strawberry near Daniel's Canyon summit. This Willow Creek trail is best classified as an "adventure ride" -- definitely reserved for very experienced riders who come well-prepared. The trail is hard to find, hard to follow, and in spots can be hard to ride. Use this information below to plan an appropriate ride for your ability. |
| Road riding notes for Climbers Epic: 0.0 Park at pullout on R side of road, 1/3 mile past the marina N40 07.851 W111 02.316 Ride uphill (R) on pavement, which becomes gravel 2.0 Keep straight (R) N40 06.492 W111 02.698 2.5 Forest border 3.8 DT on R, trail on L, keep on road N40 05.818 W111 04.034 5.0 Temporary reprieve from climbing, Alt 9200 6.3 Trail 360 forks off on L, keep straight N40 04.763 W111 06.032 6.5 Keep straight and L, DT on R N40 04.789 W111 06.152 7.4 Straight. DT 109 on R, top of French Hollow on L N40 04.628 W111 06.935 Alt 9000 8.3 Keep L, R = FR 679) N40 04.003 W111 07.018 9.1 Viewpoint Alt 9500 | 9.4 Keep straight, R = Center
Canyon N40 03.637 W111 07.875 11.5 L on FR 131 N40 03.065 W111 09.500 12.3 L toward White River on 131 N40 02.643 W111 09.390 12.8 Keep straight, R = Buffalo Canyon N40 02.426 W111 09.112 13.9 Straight. R = Guard Station and Racetrack Creek N40 01.579 W111 09.202 14.8 Fork L toward Soldier Summit (continue 131) N40 01.277 W111 10.023 16.0 Keep on road (DT to Willow Creek on L) N40 00.389 W111 10.155 18.5 Fork of 131 (Soldier Summit and Left Fork) and Reservation Ridge road. Find trail in meadow on L. N39 59.196 W111 09.232 |
| Riding notes, Willow Creek from top
downhill: 0.0 Fork of 131 (Soldier Summit and Left Fork) and Reservation Ridge road. Find trail in meadow on L. N39 59.196 W111 09.232 2.0 Cross to west (L) side of creek, cross feeder creek N40 00.422 W111 07.894 Faint trail joins from canyon on L 3.3 On L side of creek, cross Racetrack creek Trail joins, keep R, N40 01.148 W111 07.190 | 4.0 Confusing area, find your
way. Suggest L side. 4.7 Turn into Buffalo Canyon, cross creek Trail joins, keep R, N40 01.907 W111 06.577 6.8 On R side of creek, cross Center Canyon trail N40 03.087 W111 05.049 7.9 French Hollow crosses at angle, N40 03.849 W111 04.496 Hard L to climb French Hollow 10.4 Top of French Hollow at FR 090 |
 | Getting there, FR 090 (Soldier Creek) for Epic Ride or
driving to French Hollow:
On
US 40, go eastbound up Daniel's Canyon and cross the summit. Continue on
US 40 past Strawberry Reservoir. Pass the Soldier Creek campground, then
1/2 mile later turn right toward Soldier Creek Dam (road fork is N40 10.960 W111
01.690). After 3.3 miles, keep R at the fork and continue toward the dam
and marina. At 4 miles from US 40, turn R and go across the dam. At 5.2
miles, you reach the intersection for the Aspen Grove campground (left)
and the marina (right). Continue on another 8 miles if you're headed for
French Hollow (ignore the big no-trespassing sign; you're on a public
road). To do the epic ride, drive 0.3 miles past the marina. Just after the road turns to the left, exit on dirt
doubletrack N40 07.851 W111 02.316. Park there. Start your ride by heading
up the hill on the paved road. Getting there, FR 131 (from Strawberry): On US 40, go eastbound up Daniel's Canyon and cross the summit. 4.7 miles after the summit, turn R on the main Strawberry road. Continue south toward Indian Creek at the far southeast corner of the reservoir. Drive past the Renegade Point marina and and continue southeast on FR 131 and begin climbing. About 6 miles past Renegade Point, FR 090 comes in on your left at N40 03.065 W111 09.500. Park here for the big loop ride, or turn left on 090 if you're headed to the top of French Hollow. For Buffalo Canyon, keep straight. Note the directions and coordinates above to navigate your way to the Buffalo Canyon trailhead. |