FR022 summit: Ferron Canyon
Ferron Canyon is one of many amazing climbs into the
Wasatch Plateau. It is even more amazing when compared to
these other climbs in that it leads through a transition
of landscapes that is extraordinary even for Utah
standards. The climbs from the east side of the plateau
generally start at a lower altitude and from a more arid
valley, Castle Valley and San Rafael Swell country. Where
Ferron Creek exits, the plateau ends in a series of large
badland blocks. By the time the summit is reached you are
surrounded by aspen trees and lakes.
FR022 from Ferron to Skyline Drive is very much a one
sided summit. However, an old Touraide map marks the
summit with a pass symbol. Therefore it gets its own page
in addition to being included as an approach to summit
points along Skyline Drive. Only a small drop exists on
the west side before the road climbs again, this time even
higher to Skyline Drive.
click on profile for more detail
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1.(5930ft,mile00) START-END EAST:
START-END EAST: Ferron
2.(6210ft,mile06) START-END EAST ALTERNATE: Millsite
Reservoir
3.(8210ft,mile14) turnoff to Ferron Canyon overlook,
followed shortly by turnoff to Wrigley Springs
Reservoir.
4.(9650ft,mile23) TOP at Willow Lake
5.(9280ft,mile25) START-END WEST: low point on road
crossing Horse Creek |
 Approaches
From West. Looking west from Ferron, the Wasatch
Plateau is much closer than from other towns to the north. The
plateau appears as a series of table tops, draped in a
fashionable dessert light grey. The first 4+1/2 miles past
Millsite State Park and its incongruous dessert lake are
paved. The approach follows Forest route 022. This number is
marked on Manti La Sal National Forest maps. But signs along
the way refer to it as Route 7 of the Arapeen OHV trail
system. After a few miles of ever changing Ferron Canyon
scenery the route leaves the canyon and climbs in a large S
curve to a signed view point above it. There is the
possibility for a loop ride, starting at point 3. That ride
goes over a higher altitude than this summit. But that summit
is also just a shoulder to higher points on Skyline Drive.
A long traverse to little Willow Lake leads along an open
slope between two landscapes. Rocks fall away in sheer blocks
to Castle Valley, with more isolated blocks in the distant San
Rafael Swell. Heading west, distant cliffs constructed with a
ruler may be lined in September-yellow Aspen or
September-white snow. Or they may recede into clouds that
dissolve the light into gray with a hundred shades of other
colors. The point of highest altitude is a small campground
near Willow Lake, where the views north continue
uninterrupted.
From East. The climb on the east side is so small it
hardly shows up on the profile. But when descending from
Skyline Drive near the end of the day, this small climb can
come as quite a surprise. The low point is near Little Horse
Creek, which is signed. Form there a short climb flattens out
once in a fairly straight traverse along a ridge extending
east to Willow Lake..
Tours
Dayrides. An out and back ride form Ferron over the
summit to the low point before Skyline Drive measured 52 miles
with 5300 feet of climbing in 5.0 hours (m3:06.09.20).
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Utah's summits and passes
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