Upper American Fork Canyon in the Wasatch range of northern Utah is rich in mining history from the latter part 1800’s. The mines played out in the early part of this century but what is left is a playground of trails that offer some of the best four wheeling that can be found anywhere. This is where the Utah 4-Wheel Drive Association held their 1998 Summer Convention on August 1st.

Registration at Dutchman Flats

I have been exploring these trails since the 1970’s and still have not seen all there is. One of my favorite trails is located here, the Mineral Basin Road. This is the trail I registered to do with my son Jeremy. I had never been on an organized run here before so I was looking forward to it.

Registration was at 8:00 AM so we left the house early to make it, knowing it would take over an hour to drive to the old Dutchman mine area, where we were to meet. This is a U.S. Forest Service Fee Area and the improvements since the inception of this small fee can be seen with new toilets and other campground improvements. There is a lot more to do here than just trail riding. In the canyon there is camping, fishing, hunting, hiking and Timpanogos Cave National Monument to be explored.

We arrived early and met with Ray and Daynene Snyder. Daynene was at the registration table and Ray was getting ready to lead the Mineral Basin trail. Not only did Daynene coordinate this event, the Snyders head up a great group called the Rock Hoppers 4X4 Club, one of the many great clubs that make up the Utah 4-Wheel Drive Association.

The other trails that were to be run were The Pittsburgh Lake Trail and the Forest Lake Trail. Pittsburgh Lake Trail is one of the most challenging trails anywhere, with a pucker factor that adds to the experience. Forest Lake Trail can challenge stock vehicles to the extreme. All the trails in the canyon offer magnificent views of the canyon and some get high enough for views of the entire Wasatch range.

Around 9:00 AM or so we headed out, after a drivers meeting lead by Matt Westrich, Vice President of U4WDA. He indicated how fragile this land was, to leave it better than we found it and to stay on the trail, but the most important thing was to have fun!

I chose to be in the middle of the pack in front of Wendy Karsch who was mid gunning in Jeff’s CJ5 with Jeff in the passenger seat. Jeff and Wendy gun for me on the Elephant Hill Trail during the Easter Safari. Our tail gunner was Gene Ferris with his wife Sudie. Daynene stayed at camp to prepare for the steak dinners that would be waiting for us at the end of the run.

Just past the sight of the old Pacific Mine, which is now an ATV playground, is the first obstacle. It is called the "Rock Garden". The "Rock Garden" changes every time I have been there. A different line has to be taken because the huge boulders get moved around a lot. The idea is to not move the rocks, if you do, you usually pay for it in damage to your rig. I speak from experience in this matter. The worst trail damage on my Amigo is from this very spot! With this group of hard core rock crawlers however, hardly a rock was moved and we all went right up in short order.

Across the canyon from the Mineral Basin Trail, the most difficult part of the Pittsburgh mine trail can be seen. It looked like there was trouble over there already. There was a yellow truck blocking the trail right at the switchback turn that holds the infamous "Wall". I later found out that the truck was not with the group and was glad to get some help out of the bad situation they had gotten in to.

The next part of our trail was narrow dugway on the side of the canyon with a few short tight and steep switchbacks for entertainment. On the last steep rocky climb one of the CJ’s was having a bit of carburetor problems and Gene called up to Ray that he might want to slow things down a bit. Ray’s response was " No problem we will be up here for a while anyway, I just turned my Jeep over." Ray was trying to straddle a deep washout when his right rear tire slipped letting the right side of his Jeep to fall to the bottom of the ditch. The only problem I could see when I walked up was getting him out before all the gas ran out of his tank. Once pulled out there was no apparent damage and we were once again on our way. He really didn’t roll over but did manage to wedge his Jeep in the washout to the point of needing help to get out.

The end of the trail is just below the Snowbird Ski Area’s tram house. Snowbird is planing to put two new ski lifts in Mineral Basin and there were surveyors near our lunch stop. Once the lifts are in we may lose the very top of this trail, but Snowbird has stated they will leave the rest of the road unchanged for the recreationalists.

At lunch, Ray said he though we would have time to do the Miller Hill Trail. I was excited because I thought the only way in was washed out, but there was another road in from the Pacific Mine that I didn’t know about. On the way down the trouble began. Not with our group but with some rigs that had come up behind us. A Scout had broken a front spring center pin on the right side. Ray and some others of our group helped him secure the front axle with come-alongs and straps and then helped nurse him back down the hill. The axle kept shifting and we were forced to make numerous stops to re-secure it.

By the time we got to the graded road it was almost 3 PM and since the steaks would be ready at 4 PM some of our group decided to return to Dutchman flats. The rest of us proceeded up the Miller Hill Road. For some reason I think returning to camp was other than hunger for some. No sooner did we get started up the Miller Hill Trail, than Daynene called Ray on the radio. "How is the Jeep?" Daynene asked "OK. Why?" Replied Ray. "How are you?" "Just fine. Why do you ask?" "I’m your wife I want to know!" "Who have you been talking to?".... Anyway the rest of us could hardly keep it on the trail.

It was almost 4 PM when we reached George Tyng’s grave. He owned the Yankee Mines and was killed in an avalanche in 1906 while doing book work in a small cabin. His wish was to be buried on Miller Hill where he had spent much of his time just sitting and admiring the views. Ray took us up to the sight of the old Mountain Dell Mine before heading back.

We got to Dutchman flats just in time for a great steak dinner and raffle. Six States Distributing, Teraflex, and Mepco Jeep were there with booths and had donated to the raffle. A wonderful time was had by all and with many stories to swap it was late before we headed home.

Utah 4-Wheel Drive Association can be reached at 11929 Ibis Way Draper, Utah 84020. Membership is open to all even if you do not live in Utah. They are dedicated to keeping our trails open.