Paper Airplane Trail
Powder Mountain
Welcome to the trail!
Paper Airplane Trail is probably one of the best loved tyke hikes around. And why not? You wander down a gentle hill through firs and aspens and end up at a giant metal paper airplane sculpture next to the trail with spectacular views of the valley and mountains beyond. It’s practically perfect in every way and sure to be a delight!
How to get there
Drive 7.2 miles north past Valley Market in Eden on Highway 158 towards Powder Mountain. At the top of the hill, turn right on Summit Pass and drive another 1.2 miles. Turn right on Horizon Run Road and park here, on the side of the street. (There are not many road-side parking spaces here, so if it is full, turn around and drive up to the Hidden Lake Lodge parking area, park, and walk down the dirt road to the trailhead.) No restrooms are available at the trailhead.
Trail at a glance
Total distance: 0.7 miles one way (1.4 miles round trip out and back)
Elevation gain (loss): ~300 feet (it’s downhill all the way to the airplane, so the return trip gains all the elevation back)
Destination: a huge metal paper airplane sculpture; also a large “treehouse” deck with views of the airplane and landscape beyond at the quarter mile mark
Tyke perks: giant metal airplane (so fun to climb on, run up, hide under), large deck in the trees (we call it the treehouse) with views, downhill start (coming back up can be hard for tired legs, though)
Notable flora: dyer’s woad (especially at the start near the road - pull it out!), daisy, mountain dandelion, penstemon, bluebell, scarlet gilia, forget-me-not, paintbrush, lupine, sage brush, aspen, Douglas fir
Fascinating fauna: chimunks, birds, ants
Watch out for:
bikes (especially when you’re playing near the airplane - they come around the corner quick and often want to bank up the side of a wing, so keep your eyes and ears peeled!)
mosquitoes
sun (there is quite a bit of shade for the first stretch, especially if you’re hiking in the morning, but by the time you head back up to your car it will likely be sunny and warm, so don’t forget the sunscreen and water)
trail closures (be sure to check PowMow’s twitter feed or trail status page to make sure the trails are open for use - since they are at such a high elevation, they are usually not open till July to give the dirt time to dry and the crews to prepare the paths after winter)
While you’re hiking
Start hiking on the trail off the west side of Horizon Run Road. In a few feet, follow the trail as it curves to the right below the road. In about 0.1 mile you’ll come up level with the road again (you’re behind the guardrail) and should see a trail marker pointing down the hill to the Paper Airplane trail. (This short downhill is the steepest section of the trail.)
At about the quarter mile mark you’ll see a big wooden platform in the trees with steps leading up to it. This “treehouse” is a favorite exploration/rest spot for many a tyke. See if you can spot the paper airplane down the trail below you to the west.
When you’re back on the trail, you’ll curve around to walk under the treehouse and into a cool, forested stretch. At about mile 0.4, turn left at the trail marker to stay on the Paper Airplane trail (from this angle, you’ll likely only see the label for Woody’s World Trail pointing straight ahead until you make the turn and then the arrows for Paper Airplane Trail are visible).
In another 0.2-ish miles you’ll see the trail split. You can take either trail and end up at the airplane (we usually take the lower/right one). Only 0.1 miles further and you have arrived at the plane!
While the sculpture is loads of fun to explore, don’t forget to take in the 365 degree views while you’re here! You can see Snowbasin, the North Ogden Divide, the Great Salt Lake waaaay out there, and the Sundown and Timberline lifts at Powder Mountain. After you have enjoyed the airplane as a jungle gym or playhouse or photo-op, head back up the trail toward your car. (If you took the lower trail at mile 0.6, try taking the upper one back - it starts just past the nose of the plane and to the left.)
Happy hikers
We’ve been loving the Paper Airplane Trail for nearly 5 years now. I hope you have a great time hiking it, too! Let me know by leaving a comment or hitting reply (and if you send me a pic of your happy hikers on this (or any) trail, I’ll include it in the next newsletter!). Happy trails!
