Jackie crosses Willow Creek. Photos and ride description August 17, 2009 by Bruc...
Jackie crosses Willow Creek. Photos and ride description August 17, 2009 by Bruce.
Willow Creek Trail (#001)

The Willow Creek trail is a fun singletrack trail in the area just east of Daniel's Summit (northwest of Strawberry Reservoir). This trail is suitable for beginners but satisfying for skilled riders. Slopes are gentle and non-technical. The ride can be done as a simple 4-mile (round trip) out-and-back, or as part of a longer ride.

The route I describe here is 14 miles. It loops through scenic Bjorkman Hollow on doubletrack and does a singletrack "victory lap" around a side canyon so you get a lot more of the fun stuff. The longer ride has 900 feet of elevation gain; out-and-back has only 300. Peak altitude is about 8400 feet.
View north in Bjorkman Hollow, heading gently uphill.
View north in Bjorkman Hollow, heading gently uphill.
Typical beaver pond along the ATV trail in Bjorkman Hollow.
Typical beaver pond along the ATV trail in Bjorkman Hollow.
For those riding the trail out-and-back, there's parking right at the start of the singletrack, with room for about 4 vehicles. On weekends, you may have to look for roadside parking downhill from the trailhead.
The out-and-back climb up Willow Creek is gentle with multiple creek crossings. Plan to get your feet wet. Navigation for the out-and-back is easy -- just stay with the creek, keeping left on the uphill at the two trail forks. An option on the out-and-back is to use the side-canyon alternate trail for some variety (see map). There are no creek crossings on the more-technical alternate route, so if you're water-phobic you can eliminate all but three crossings.
At the top of Bjorkman Hollow, we leave the creek and climb over a low rise in a...
At the top of Bjorkman Hollow, we leave the creek and climb over a low rise in aspen forest.
Weve reached the top of the Willow Creek Trail. This is the trailhead.
We've reached the top of the Willow Creek Trail. This is the trailhead.
The longer (but still easy) ride starts at the main parking area at the beginning of the gravel Strawberry River Road, just off US-40. This loop has 3.6 miles on Strawberry road, a broad dirt/gravel road with occasional vehicle traffic. Then there's about three miles on the Bjorkman ATV route, which is actually a smooth but narrow road suitable for passenger cars. The pretty scenery prevents boredom here.
Once you hit the Willow Creek singletrack, you can crank at warp speed along smooth trail with an almost imperceptible downhill slope (150 feet per mile). Sight lines are long, so you can easily spot horse riders in the distance and arrange safe passing.
The trail crashes through the creek quite a few times. Most crossings are rocky slippery fun, easily done by an intermediate rider. Attempts to keep your feet dry are pointless, as the crossings get deeper. Two crossings had a bit of mud on one side, but not deep enough to bog down.
After 7 miles, its time for Jackies drink at the first creek crossing.
After 7 miles, it's time for Jackie's drink at the first creek crossing.
Beaver pond. Were looking east. You can make out a trail on the sidehill at the ...
Beaver pond. We're looking east. You can make out a trail on the sidehill at the left of the photo -- this is the return trail for the "victory lap," which allows us to hit the fun stuff twice.
At the second creek crossing (heading downhill), you'll notice a trail fork. The Willow Creek trail is to the right, across the creek. Remember this spot. We'll use that left fork as a return route when we come up the alternate trail for another go at the Willow Creek trail downhill.
The trail rips through willows and grass in a small valley between two forested ridges. There are many little ponds, courtesy of the local beavers.
View down the canyon as we approach an upended rock layer.
View down the canyon as we approach an upended rock layer.
The rock fence as we pass.
The rock "fence" as we pass.
1.2 miles downhill from that 2nd creek crossing (remember?), you'll see another trail fork, also just before a creek crossing. If you're "done," right goes down to the trailhead. We'll fork left and climb the side canyon to do a "victory lap".
The alternate trail is narrower, winding and undulating, so I don't recommend this side-route for beginners. This section is intermediate in tech requirement. The trail climbs up a parallel canyon then over a rise to rejoin the Willow Creek trail at the second creek crossing. Doing this lap adds 3 miles of singletrack to your ride. There aren't any creek crossings on the side canyon trail.
Beaver house.
Beaver house.
A horizontal rainbow, or more accurately, a sun bow.
A horizontal rainbow, or more accurately, a sun bow.

Yes, there are fish in the creek. Check regulations, as fishing is prohibited during the spawning run.

Bottom Line:
The Willow Creek trail is scenic, fun, and non-threatening. Kids will love it. If you have children or beginners in tow, I suggest you go a little later in the year (August) when the stream flow is lower and the trail is more worked-in. If you're starting from the bottom, the first creek crossing is the deepest and widest. If you can ride that one, you're good for the rest.

Map of a loop with Willow Creek
Map of a loop with Willow Creek
Riding notes, 14-mile loop ride with "lap" via side canyon:
0.0   From parking, north (left) on gravel road
        N40 16.791 W111 13.132
1.1   Keep straight on main road (R = return)
        N40 17.756 W111 13.243
3.6   R to Bjorkman Hollow ATV route
        N40 19.837 W111 13.718
6.2   Highest point of ride (8400 ft)
6.6   R (south) off DT to ST at log fence
        N40 20.028 W111 12.032
7.2   2nd creek crossing N40 19.514 W111 11.935
        R for Willow Creek (L=alternate return)
8.4   L on alternate (R=continue down canyon)
        N40 19.514 W111 11.935
        Slow climb up and around to rejoin trail
10.1 L across creek and rejoin Willow Crk downhill
11.4 At fork, go R across creek this time
11.8 Trailhead, downhill on DT N40 18.329 W111 12.609
12.7 Strawberry Road, go L
13.8 Back at parking

Getting there:  Take US-40 southbound from Heber and drive up Daniel's Canyon 17 miles from the US40-US189 junction. After passing the summit, continue another 2.5 miles to the Strawberry River. Shortly after crossing the river, turn left on the Strawberry River Road, about mile 2.8 after the summit. Immediately turn left into the parking area.
To reach the Willow Creek trailhead, drive 1.1 miles up the Strawberry road then fork right at the Willow Creek sign and drive up dirt road 0.6 miles.

Facilities: Toilets at the main parking area along Strawberry road.
Singletrack closed to ATVs and motorcycles. Trail is popular with horse riders.

Riding Resources:
One-page riding guide:  Click here.
GPS Track File  (Right-click and "Save as...")
    GPX
Large-format topo map (0.8 MB): View map
Lodging, camping, shops: Links to Strawberry area resources