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Little Bear Trail, 3 August, 2025

Six hikers turned out for the Little Bear Hike:  Dave W, Jane, Kamren, Brent L,  Deanna,  and Dan (leader).  Two hikers, Dave and Jane, stopped at the West Hodges Trailhead for an alternative hike. The other hikers intended to begin at West Hodges, but they went to Burnt Fork to hike the reverse of their planned route to simplify transportation.

Kamren, Brent, Deanna and Dan arrived at a parking area in South Sink near Burnt Fork, about 2 miles south of US-89 on the Sinks Road.  The route up Burnt Fork is an unofficial trail that follows an old jeep road and is mostly used by mountain bikers.  Starting about 9:20 a.m. under clear skies and warming temperatures, the hikers crossed the sagebrush meadow of South Sink and entered the forest for a moderate ascent to the ridge overlooking Peter Sinks. From here, they turned south to ascend the Peter Sinks Road as it skirted the east side of Peter Sinks before turning east and descending, with views to Bear Lake in the distance. They all stopped at the junction with the non-motorized Rex Reservoir/Little Bear Trail.  Dan and Brent had lunch at the junction, while Deanna and Kamren descended toward Rex Reservoir and down the Little Bear Trail and West Hodges GWT.  Brent and Dan went back up the Peter Sinks Road, returned to their car via Burnt Fork, and drove to West Hodges Trailhead to pick up Kamren and Deanna.

While much of this was going on, Dave and Jane hiked from the West Hodges Trailhead, east up the West Hodges GWT, then south on the Worm Fence GWT.  They passed Worm Fence Spring and continued to a point looking south over Temple Fork before returning to the trailhead. 

Late summer wildflowers were in bloom, hawks soared overhead, and juncos, bluebirds, chickadees, and other birds were seen and heard.

Note:  Trails designated GWT are part of the Great Western Trail system (also Facebook)

Trip Summary:
  • Drove 35 miles to South Sink (Dan, Kamren, Deanna and Brent) or 22 miles to West Hodges Trailhead (Dave and Jane)
  • Started hiking about 9:20 from South Sink and 9:00 from West Hodges
  • Ended at South Sink 2:45 (Dan and Brent), West Hodges 2:30 (Kamren and Deanna) and 12:15 (Dave and Jane)
  • Hiked 6.6 mi. and +/-1200 ft. (Dan and Brent), 9 mi. and +850-2400 ft. (Kamren and Deanna) and 4.4 mil.+/- 800 ft. (Dave and Jane)
  • Cloudless skies, calm winds, with dry and dusty trails and temperatures in the 80s.

Thanks to Dan for the narrative, and Brent L, Dave W, and Kamren for photos and GPS data.



The Burnt Fork trail, mostly used by mountain bikers
 Peter Sinks, looking west from the rim

Hiking west down the Peter Sinks Road, with Bear Lake visible in the distance


Rex Reservoir
 The "non-motorized" Rex Reservoir/Little Bear Trail


Hiking down the Little Bear ATV trail
 The Little Bear Trail - Turkey Trail junction

As seen from the Little Bear Trail: Mt. Elmer and the "7 Sisters" ridge (left), and Naomi Peak and Mount Magog (right)

The West Hodges and Worm Fence trails are part of the Great Western Trail (GWT) system

The trail section down West Hodges Creek was closed due to beaver activity and trail damage (the old trail is fenced here, at the junction with the Worm Fence Trail)
 From a new junction, the more sustainable trail goes to the left, down a dry ridge in a series of switchbacks (the topo map, below, shows both the old and new trail sections)

The West Hodges Trail was re-aligned in 2020 and a new trailhead was built to avoid beaver-affected areas (right)

Buckwheat Tent caterpillars


Yellow rabbitbrush
 Fleabane daisy

Goldenrod

Our GPS track shows about 9 mi. and 850 ft. of ascent and 2400 ft. descending. (Dave and Jane's 4.4 mile hike with 800 ft. of ascent/descent is shown in blue), You can look at our route using Google Earth or download our GPS file.