A Winter Walk is great, but sometimes you want to really push it for a few miles with some moderate elevation gain on a decent trail. I recently explored further along a familiar route and found a nice loop that seems have been built for the heck of it. The trail is interesting for what it is, has nice views of the valley, and is accessible during much of the winter when the west slopes are not icy or covered in snow.
I have had a great time accessing this from the Rock Canyon parking lot, and all my context involves starting there and then crossing the nearby bridge to head north along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. Eventually you will hit a fork in the path. This first time the roads diverge in the yellow wood, they actually end up in the same place, but I usually take the high road going (passing the turn off to Winter Walk) and the low road on the return.
Nothing gold can stay...
Then you have to ascend a tough hill as seen above. It's only 75 feet or so, but it is the hardest part of the whole hike. (At the top, there is a small, steep trail heading east up the ridge to different caching adventures, but keep this first for another day!) You descend a short distance and have to choose a different uphill diverging road to where it bends in the undergrowth.
You will hit some steepish switchbacks and a trail wending along the contour of the mountain in and out of suspended barbed wire fences...
Something there is that doesn’t love barbed wire...
You eventually appear to dead end at one of the large power poles with a nice view of Timpanogos, Mahogany, and Big and Small Baldy behind it.
Just head east 50 yards--you have your choice of two paths/deer trails that are grassy and wanting wear--navigating another damaged fence, and you will pop out on another nice trail. At this point, two directions equally lie, likely in leaves no step have trodden black, but no need to sigh. Keep following and we may not have to be sorry we can not travel both.
Head north along the winding trail, and we hit our first nice little wall.
Some rocks are loaves and some nearly balls, but despite the frozen-ground-swell under it and sun spilling on the upper boulders, these walls appear well-made and sturdy. Continue on around the ridge until you are in sight of Little Rock Canyon, keeping an eye out for a sharp switchback back to the south. This is another uphill stretch, passing more walls as you climb.
Who built these walls? When did they build them? How many people helped? What was the purpose or at least intended destination? Before I built a wall, I’d ask to know what I was walling in or walling out. However, they are undeniably pleasant and add character to a number of spots as we wind through grass and Gambel's Oak. The GPS will lead you on a short side jaunt to a pleasant spot to rest and enjoy the views.
I first hiked here recently with no GPS, just a desire to explore new paths in nearby places. Don't turn around once you find the cache. Just continue along the trail, descending past further switchbacks and walls. At the southern most curve, there appears to be a distinct deer trail that would carry you near the Humming Bird Tree cache and a much steeper, direct route back. But paths that steep aren't good for keeping a good pace and stretching our legs for a Winter Workout, so I kept descending the mysterious walled trail (Perhaps elves construct walls in these parts?), eventually ending up at the same location we emerged through the fence from the power pole. The entire well-buttressed loop goes nowhere, but it's awesome for a hike that gets sun in the winter with nice views of the valley the entire time. Then return back the way you arrived.
I got a little disorganized, but I recorded somewhere around 3.75 miles round trip from Rock Canyon parking to the cache and back. Enjoy!