Juxta-positioned between Daniels Summit, Strawberry Reservoir, and Wallsburg, are some of Heber City’s favorite “get up and go” trail networks. A bit further southeast on US 40 from Daniels Summit sits Strawberry Reservoir, and east from there, the road to Hanna, Utah, leads you back up into the higher Uinta mountains for a virtual smorgasbord of additional trails. I love the autumn season in the Wasatch!
Fall may be the most glorious time of all for exploring Daniels and Strawberry. Autumn leaves of red, orange, and yellow cover all trails and fill the streams with floating masterpieces. The rich colors highlight tall green pines and white-barked Aspens dropping golden petals. This may be the best time of year for the longer mountain biking and hiking adventures from the summit down to Wallsburg and Strawberry Creek / Reservoir. Late summer temperatures are cooler up at Daniels Summit and Strawberry than down in the valley, making it the perfect time for hiking and biking. Many of us know that Dutch Canyon, WOW, and Bonanza Flats multi-use trails are amazing in their own right, but I want to share with you some of our less-known and certainly our less-crowded trails.
From Daniels Summit, expect a great pedal or hike from either side of US 40. Access points are easy to find, with parking more limited for non-four-wheel drive vehicles on the east side. West of the Summit, and north of the Snowmobile Center, a large, free parking lot accommodates vehicles hauling hikers, horseback riders, and bikers. What I like is the ability to “make your own path without getting too lost” — it’s a relatively easy uphill trek to Strawberry Ridge / Peak. If you can leave a car in Wallsburg before driving up to Daniels Summit Lodge parking, a whole new route down from Big Glade / Strawberry Ridge awaits you! It’s an enjoyable ride along the expansive forest service road on mountain bikes. For adventurous mountain bikers or hikers willing to do the two-car shuffle, a marvelous journey awaits, starting from the east side of Hwy 40 along excellent trails leading up and southeastward along a narrow forest road and then down to Strawberry Creek and Reservoir. Year-round bonus: these routes are also fun on skis or snowshoes in the winter. There are many trails to explore in the area. I’ve marked a few to get you started!
Finally, if hiking or mountain biking is not your thing, but horseback riding is, you can arrange horseback trail riding at Daniels Summit through the Lodge. Whatever trail-negotiating method you choose, there is something for everyone in the Daniels Summit / Strawberry wilderness area. So get out there and explore! And don’t forget your camera!
Strawberry Narrows Trail
Mountain Bike | E-Bike | Hike | Trail Running
A must-ride trail! This is a high-voltage scenic ride. To experience the whole thing as an out-and-back is 24 miles. I suggest starting at the eastern end, riding what you want, then turning back. The trail rolls up and down, for about 2,400 total elevation.
trailforks.com #804
Circle-Main Canyon
Mountain Bike | E-Bike | Hike | Trail Running | OHV | Horse | Snowmobile
A moderate and steady climb for most of the journey, you will gain 1,069 ft in total elevation. At 5 miles in each direction, you will clock a 10 mile trek out and back. The terrain is dirt/gravel road.
trailforks.com #046
Foreman Trail
Mountain Bike | E-Bike | Hike | Trail Running
A shorter option is a northward traverse from Daniels Summit parking area to the Boy Scout Camp slightly down-valley toward Heber Valley, then looping back southeast along US 40 and cutting south, up and through fields and trees back to the parking lot — about 4 miles round-trip.
trailforks.com #3090
