Wolf Creek Pass
If a cyclist could be picked up by a hand in the sky, and
set down unknowingly on Utah's Wolf Creek Pass, he could
easily conclude that he had landed somewhere in the
Appalachians. The rounded foothills of the Uinta Mountains
and their dense forest are in sharp contrast to the rocky
landscape that is often associated with Utah. The only
exceptions to this are the lower western approach, and the
lowest part of the eastern approach, where the Wasatch
Front becomes visible. The round about nature of this
summit helps keep traffic down and makes it a good cycling
route.
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01.(6450ft,mile00) START-END EAST:
jct Ut35-Ut208
02.(6490ft,mile03) Tabiona
03.(6770ft,mile08) START-END EAST ALTERNATE: Hanna
04.(6890ft,mile11) dirt road up Blind Stream leaves
on right
05.(7000ft,mile14) paved FR144 leaves on right
06.(7400ft,mile17) forest road up Rhoades Canyon
leaves on right
07.(9485ft,mile26) TOP: Wolf Creek Pass
08.(8290ft,mile29) paved road to Soapstone Pass
leaves on right
09.(6750ft,mile41) START-END WEST ALTERNATE:
Woodland
10.(6560ft,mile46) START-END WEST Francis; junction
Ut35-Ut32
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Approaches
From East. Beginning in Hanna, the initial
impression of this route is misleading. The road seems to head
for a deep cut in the Uintas. This turns out to be the north
fork of the Duchesne. But Wolf Creek Pass makes a sharp left
turn to climb past a scenic sheep farming operation into
increasingly forested country. By the time the top is reached
the Appalachian transition is complete. The summit is below
treeline as evidenced by the luxuriously forested national
forest campground. But there are open meadows on the west
side. There are no far views in either direction. The
top is marked by a generic summit sign with elevation.
From West. Leaving Francis on Ut35, the rugged Wasatch
Range disappears behind one's shoulder. The road follows the
pleasantly splashing North Fork of the Provo River, while road
signs advice to share the road, just in case anybody is under
the impression he owns it. A wide highway, usually with
wide shoulders finally picks up grade and climbs through dense
forest to the summit.
Tours
Dayrides. An out and back road ride between the
country store on the east side of Hanna and the main
intersection in Francis, covering Wolf Creek Pass twice,
measured 78 miles with 6200ft of climbing in 6:3 hours
(m3:06.09.16).
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Utah's summits and passes
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