South Fork Canyon

A ride up South Fork Canyon is a rugged backcountry experience just a few miles east of Oakley. You'll be crawling in 4-wheel low through a river, up steep rocky slopes, through a rock quarry, and amidst narrow forest roads. The trail follows a canyon up into the mountains near the headwaters of the South Fork of the Weber River. Head up there in late June or early July, and the river will be running fast. This trail will test your skills, providing adventure at every turn. The trail begins off Weber Canyon Road about five miles east of Oakley. The first two miles are a public road through private residences. Please respect the private property with no stopping along this stretch. After crossing the creek about a mile in, follow the signs to the left for South Fork Canyon. The entrance to national forest property is not marked, but you'll know once you leave private property, going through a dense grove of trees and on into the river bed. You'll want to be 4WD-low the entire route once you're into the national forest. Watch for ATV traffic since the trail is narrow. You'll actually be running in the river in the spring and early summer. Be cautious on uphills as the rocks require good tire placement. Nearing the end, you'll break out of the forest into a massive rock quarry. The trail eventually ends at a heavily-eroded section of the South Fork. You'll find an old mine if you hike up another mile via South Fork to Maxwell's Creek. Inside are names inscribed on the walls with dates back to 1930. There is a geocache hidden nearby called Rowe Mine Cache, which will get you the approximate coordinates of the mine. South Fork Canyon is a dangerous trail in the spring with river flow. It is closed from May 1-June 15. It's best accessed from late June up through mid-October. Most of the trail is located in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, with dispersed camping permitted. There are several sites lower down, not far from the river crossing. As pictured, there are also possible sites along the trail and at its terminus.