Middle Fork Puddle Loop
Middle Fork Powerline Access Trail
Welcome to the trail!
Today’s hike is a short and sweet little loop to a large puddle formed by a stream crossing a wide point in the trail. It has long been a favorite little jaunt for our family to fill that small window of after-dinner-but-before-bed time by burning off little-leg energy and spending a moment in the mountains. We love it for its nearness to home, the beautiful views, and (always, always) plenty of rock (or feet) splashing. I think you’ll find this trail is perfect for the tiniest tykes who insist on hiking “by themselves”, but can’t yet muster the longer mileage of other hikes. Welcome to the Middle Fork Puddle Loop!
How to get there
From Eden, drive east on 1900 N till it meets 7900 E (at the end of the dirt road). Turn left and pass through the gate into a large dirt parking area/campground. Continue to the far east end of the lot and park. The trail begins through the fence with the gate. A vault toilet restroom is available in the parking area. (Also note: this is a wildlife management area that is closed to public access from January 1st through the 2nd Saturday in April each year.)
Trail at a glance
Total distance: 0.7 miles round trip (loop)
Elevation gain: 67 feet (it’s pretty much flat overall, but you do have a few short spurts of up- or downhill hiking)
Destination: a large puddle created by a stream crossing a wide trail
Tyke perks: pond, stream, puddle, rocks, views
Notable flora: snakegrass, salsify, dyer’s woad, sagebrush, aspens, lupine, chokecherries, arrowleaf balsamroot, teasel, Indian paintbrush, cactus, evening primrose
Fascinating fauna: gopher snakes, birds, butterflies, caterpillars
Watch out for:
snakes (we saw a good-sized gopher snake on our most recent visit here, and while its size and coloring was quite startling, it is harmless; but the area is also rattlesnake territory, so keep your eyes on the trail and your kiddos close)
riders on horses (and their droppings)
cows (in the summer they are roaming free so you may see and/or hear them in the area)
sun (there is virtually zero shade on this hike, so it’s best done in the morning or on cooler/cloudy days or in early spring/fall)
While you’re hiking
Start by climbing the fence or passing through the gate at the east end of the parking lot. (Be sure to close the gate behind you so the cows don’t get out!) You’ll see three trails in front of you. We always take the one to the left that goes straight up the hill. It’s a good way to get your blood pumping quickly, and once you’re at the top, it’s downhill the rest of the way! (Note: If you don’t want such a steep start, you can walk along the wide path in the middle and you’ll end up in the same place eventually.)
In 0.2 miles, the left trail and the middle trail will meet up again. From here, take a slight left downward toward the pond you see below. This is a fun place to explore for a minute, but it’s not the puddle destination, so when you’re done peeking at the pond, continue on eastward through the grass and sage brush.
After another 0.15 miles your trail will meet up once more with the broad middle path. A stream crosses the trail here and makes a large shallow puddle (note: spring runoff makes it bigger in the early season than later in the fall, but it’s always there). Since water is the destination, this could be a fun spot to cool off on a hot summer day. On our recent hike here, my kids spent 20 minutes sloshing back and forth in galoshes while collecting rifle shells they found in the water. There are plenty of rocks around for splashing. Sometimes when the stream is not flowing too high, the tykes can practice their stream crossing skills on the rocks that stick up along one edge of the puddle. (Long story short: if you mentally prepare yourself for the inevitable wetness of the kids, you’ll all have a great time, and it’s only a short walk back to the car!)
After you’ve had your fill of the puddle, make your return trip on the middle path. When you come to the top of the hill you’ll be greeted with fantastic views of Snowbasin, Pineview Reservoir and the Ogden Valley (and your car in the parking lot - I Spy, anyone?). About 0.15 miles from the puddle (0.5 miles round trip so far), you’ll be back at the spot where the trails converged earlier (and you took the down-to-the-pond route). Stay on the main track for the last 0.15 miles back to the parking lot (and don’t forget to close the gate behind you!). See? I told you it was short and sweet!
Happy hikers
Thanks so much for your excitement about my newsletter and for sharing it with your friends! Subscriber Leslie sent me some photos of her family enjoying the North Arm Trail recently. I love to see these “in the wild” sightings!
Let me know if you’ve loved any of these hikes with your tykes (just hit reply to this email) and I’ll share your pics next time! Happy trails!