This was a day ride loop from where I keep my horses in Salem, UT. My starting point was at the Salem City Water tank, east of town. I rode up a service ATV trail that leads to a cellular tower installation on a peak just north of Santaquin Peak (I don't think it has a name) which stands at 9,000 feet. This route is well-traveled by ATVs, hikers, hunters, and horses. I left that trail about a half-mile short of the tower on at the trailhead of an unnamed trail following southerly over to Loafer Ridge. There is a USFS guzzler in the saddle below Loafer Ridge. As you can see from the photos, there are some pretty spectacular views from Loafer Ridge. After the guzzler, there is no marked trail. We followed a game trail up to Loafer Ridge which leads up to another old ATV trail that comes up from the east side of Loafer Mountain, near Birdseye, Utah. We followed that on to the top of the ridge where the pair of large reflector panels is located on Loafer Ridge itself. Near the reflectors was my peak elevation at 9,669 feet. From there I followed the ridge south to a saddle, where I descended an old overgrown switchback trail down into the bowl below Loafer Peak on the NW side. The switchback trail petered out about 2/3 of the way down into the bowl, requiring a very steep and treacherous descent the rest of the way into the bowl. Footing was poor, with a lot of undergrowth and a very steep hillside. Copper is an exceptionally sure-footed trail horse and brought us through it safely. However, this is not a trail I would recommend to anyone else. I believe this was the top of Maple Canyon, sometimes called Water Canyon, due the spring and tank that provides water for the municipality of Woodland hills, located at the mouth of the canyon. From this bowl, we headed down the canyon toward the confluence with the Left Fork of Maple Canyon. I was told there was a trail, but if there is one, it is not distinguishable from the hundreds of game trails in the canyon. We bushwhacked our way through some pretty tough terrain, choked with young aspen, spruce, and a variety of willows and undergrowth, deadfalls, and a steeply descending canyon. We found our best going was right in the narrow dry stream bed. Luckily, it was fairly clear of deadfalls until after it joined with Left Fork canyon. Once we actually made it into Maple Canyon, we found the remains of the old trail, which was so badly overgrown as to be impassable in places. I was able to follow much of the old trail only by watching for logs and branches that had been cut with a saw. This trail uses the stream bed much of the way and eventually we came upon a deadfalls blocking the way in a place where getting around it was extremely dangerous, if not impossible. After much effort, I was able to cut away and move a smaller tree and clear a way for Copper to pass under the large log. It was a close fit and I had to remove the saddle for him to clear. It took me nearly two hours to get the way cleared and to convince Copper it was ok to pass under the tree. While all that was going on, a thunderstorm passed overhead, but we only got a sprinkle. Cooled things off nicely, though. About 200 yards below that deadfall, the trail became much better and there was evidence of hiker and ATV use. We made it back to our departure point from there in about 30 minutes. This was a ride I had been wanting to try for a long time. I’m glad I got that out of my system. I will not attempt it again. It was an extremely difficult ride and would not be possible for most riders and horses. Copper really came through for me, getting me safely through some very precarious situations I put him in. Do not let anyone convince you there is a trail from Loafer Ridge down Maple Canyon. There is not.

Horseback Riding

The ride up the tower service trail is a tough ascent, but a very good trail. The horse must be in very good condition and shoes are required. This trail ascends more than 4500 feet in about 8 miles, topping out at near 9,000 feet. Going past that up to the relay reflectors, the trail is easy to follow, but very steep. There is a guzzler where horses can be watered in the saddle below the reflectors. This may be dry in late fall. Turn around at the reflectors. There is no trail suitable for horses down Maple Canyon from there. Don't let anyone tell you there is.

Utah Horse Trails, Loafer Mountain

Salem, Utah, United States

time : May 30, 2020 8:17 AM

duration : 9h 31m 50s

distance : 15.3 mi

total_ascent : 4728 ft

highest_point : 9670 ft

avg_speed : 2.0 mi/h

user_id : Westerntrailrider

user_firstname : Tony

user_lastname : Henrie

This was a day ride loop from where I keep my horses in Salem, UT. My starting point was at the Salem City Water tank, east of town. I rode up a service ATV trail that leads to a cellular tower installation on a peak just north of Santaquin Peak (I don't think it has a name) which stands at 9,000 feet. This route is well-traveled by ATVs, hikers, hunters, and horses. I left that trail about a half-mile short of the tower on at the trailhead of an unnamed trail following southerly over to Loafer Ridge. There is a USFS guzzler in the saddle below Loafer Ridge. As you can see from the photos, there are some pretty spectacular views from Loafer Ridge. After the guzzler, there is no marked trail. We followed a game trail up to Loafer Ridge which leads up to another old ATV trail that comes up from the east side of Loafer Mountain, near Birdseye, Utah. We followed that on to the top of the ridge where the pair of large reflector panels is located on Loafer Ridge itself. Near the reflectors was my peak elevation at 9,669 feet. From there I followed the ridge south to a saddle, where I descended an old overgrown switchback trail down into the bowl below Loafer Peak on the NW side. The switchback trail petered out about 2/3 of the way down into the bowl, requiring a very steep and treacherous descent the rest of the way into the bowl. Footing was poor, with a lot of undergrowth and a very steep hillside. Copper is an exceptionally sure-footed trail horse and brought us through it safely. However, this is not a trail I would recommend to anyone else. I believe this was the top of Maple Canyon, sometimes called Water Canyon, due the spring and tank that provides water for the municipality of Woodland hills, located at the mouth of the canyon. From this bowl, we headed down the canyon toward the confluence with the Left Fork of Maple Canyon. I was told there was a trail, but if there is one, it is not distinguishable from the hundreds of game trails in the canyon. We bushwhacked our way through some pretty tough terrain, choked with young aspen, spruce, and a variety of willows and undergrowth, deadfalls, and a steeply descending canyon. We found our best going was right in the narrow dry stream bed. Luckily, it was fairly clear of deadfalls until after it joined with Left Fork canyon. Once we actually made it into Maple Canyon, we found the remains of the old trail, which was so badly overgrown as to be impassable in places. I was able to follow much of the old trail only by watching for logs and branches that had been cut with a saw. This trail uses the stream bed much of the way and eventually we came upon a deadfalls blocking the way in a place where getting around it was extremely dangerous, if not impossible. After much effort, I was able to cut away and move a smaller tree and clear a way for Copper to pass under the large log. It was a close fit and I had to remove the saddle for him to clear. It took me nearly two hours to get the way cleared and to convince Copper it was ok to pass under the tree. While all that was going on, a thunderstorm passed overhead, but we only got a sprinkle. Cooled things off nicely, though. About 200 yards below that deadfall, the trail became much better and there was evidence of hiker and ATV use. We made it back to our departure point from there in about 30 minutes. This was a ride I had been wanting to try for a long time. I’m glad I got that out of my system. I will not attempt it again. It was an extremely difficult ride and would not be possible for most riders and horses. Copper really came through for me, getting me safely through some very precarious situations I put him in. Do not let anyone convince you there is a trail from Loafer Ridge down Maple Canyon. There is not.