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Green Canyon, 14 January 2024

Originally scheduled for the Swan Flat Road, we changed plans and went to Green Canyon. Two back-to-back storms beginning Thursday afternoon through Sunday morning brought 2-3 feet of snow to the mountains resulting in extreme avalanche danger at all elevations. There was also the unpleasant possibility of breaking trail in deep snow.

Logan Canyon (entire route) and therefore, Beaver Mountain Ski Resort were closed all day from early Friday morning into Saturday morning due to an avalanche at the dugway and other locations in Logan Canyon. The canyon was also closed for part of Saturday evening.

Six intrepid Cache Hikers, Chris, Jane, Dave, Teresa, Susan (leader) and Brent, met at Smith’s Marketplace at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning. Roads in town were covered with heavy slush. After some discussion at Smith’s parking lot, the group of six decided to drive to King Nature Park in Green Canyon as a safer alternative to the mountains. We headed out on the single track from King Nature Park trailhead at about 10:40 a.m. Fresh snow on the trees and lightly falling snow made for a lovely scene.

Skiers, snowshoers, and plenty of dogs greeted us along the way. After 0.7 miles we arrived at the Green Canyon trailhead, where two of the group skied on the single track while the rest headed up the groomed road. The group rejoined at the second gate where we had a light lunch and plenty of conversation. Dave was able to locate the potentially invasive buckthorn shrub along the single track (see Jan 1 report). After lunch, the group returned via the groomed road and back through King Nature Park to the trailhead, arriving about 2 p.m.

Trip Summary:
  • Drove 4 miles to King Nature Park parking lot and started from the trailhead around 10:40 a.m.
  • Lunch at the second gate around 12:30 p.m.
  • About 3.5 miles and 400 feet of elevation change
  • A peek of sun at the start of the outing but mainly cloudy with light snow later
  • Fresh snow from the preceding storms
  • Temp around 20º Fand calm winds
  • Arrived back at trailhead about 2 p.m.

Thanks to Susan for the narrative and photos, Jane for photos, and Dave W. for photos and GPS data.




EXTREME avalanche conditions and a Winter Storm Warning encouraged us to avoid the Logan Canyon area
King Nature Park at the mouth of Green Canyon - and the closest we got to seeing sunshine all day


Skiing through the trees in King Nature Park
 Snowshoeing on the groomed trail
Our lunch spot near the "second gate", where the single track again diverges from the groomed trail
Traveling on the goomed trail in lower Green Canyon, almost back to the "first gate"

The Green Canyon trailhead at the "first gate", 0.4 miles east of the Forest Boundary

Our GPS track shows about 3.5 miles and 400 feet of ascent.
You can look at our route using Google Earth or download our GPS file.