Ogden MUD -- PublicGroveDevilsGate

0687: The Public Grove Hollow jeep trail begins at this...

4446: The Forest Service opened the gate later in 2002,...

3642: About a quarter mile in from the gate, we come to...

1099: The deep mud and widened travelway continue...

4454: The ugliness continues up to a fence, visible at...

DM_16: From the fence, the route into Public Grove...

4456: Most of this route segment is in better...

DM_28: As the route continues northward into Public...

2630: Dyer's woad, with a head of tiny yellow flowers,...

0696: Just beyond the abandoned Honey Bee Mine, the...

2696: In late July 2003, during a period of extreme...

4463: The route continues through the forest, over...

1532: About 3/4 mile west of the Honey Bee mine, the...

1536: As the main route heads west through the meadows,...

5598: The damage along this route increased...

1538: Here the route drops down a short slope. At the...

5596: This photo shows the pond that was visible in the...

5593: More puddles and pools are found in and along the...

5589: Here an ATV rider recently decided to create a...

5586: The route passes through another mud field as it...

5580: Here the route crosses onto private property. ...

4262: Dyer's woad also grows here, along the private...

5579: As the route descends a north-facing slope into...

5567: Here the route passes through a small isolated...

5565: This connecting route, still on the isolated...

5562: Back on private land, the route crosses this...

0543: At the western edge of Devil's Gate Valley, the...

Public Grove Hollow to Devil's Gate Valley Jeep Trail

The jeep trail into Public Grove Hollow is one of the major embarassments of the Ogden Ranger District. The eastern portion of the route is already open to motorized travel. The western continuation of the route has been closed on paper since 1988, but managed as open by the Forest Service. This continuation eventually crosses onto private land in Devil's Gate Valley and connects with the Willard Basin road. Now the Forest Service is proposing to legally open all of its portion of the route, while Box Elder County is claiming a public right-of-way across the private portion. Nearly the entire route crosses poorly drained clay soils that become saturated by moderate amounts of moisture. Despite recent attempts at seasonal closures, much of the route is deeply rutted, widened, and braided into multiple tracks.

All photos are by Dan Schroeder except those whose names begin with "DM", which have been provided courtesy of the Bear River Watershed Council. Please obtain permission before copying any photo or map.

Select map type: topographic or shaded-relief. Point at the blue dots to view thumbnails; click to view larger versions.

0687 6-Jul-02 429246 E 4584689 N facing NW

The Public Grove Hollow jeep trail begins at this gate along the Liberty Avon road. Because of the fragile soils and extensive ORV damage, an emergency closure was enacted in May 2001; the closure was still in effect the following summer.

4446 4-Sep-04 429246 E 4584689 N facing NW

The Forest Service opened the gate later in 2002, even though nothing was done to protect this route segment from further ORV damage. Two years later, however, a couple of "Use only when dry" signs were installed at the gate. As this photo shows, the signs were not enough to keep motorists out on a drizzly Labor Day weekend.

3642 22-May-04 428968 E 4584829 N facing W

About a quarter mile in from the gate, we come to the first of a long series of mud holes. To get around the mud, motorists have driven far around to the side, creating additional ruts through the meadow. At this point the full width of the travelway was 140 feet.

1099 21-Sep-02 428636 E 4584622 N facing SW

The deep mud and widened travelway continue through the meadows for about half a mile. This route was closed in the 1988 Travel Plan, but reopened in 1991 without any environmental analysis.

4454 4-Sep-04 428362 E 4584506 N facing W

The ugliness continues up to a fence, visible at left, that was built in 2001 to close the southern half of this looping road. Although the fence still isn't complete, the southern segment is now clearly signed as closed and has received little recent use.

DM_16 22-May-04 428279 E 4584633 N facing N

From the fence, the route into Public Grove Hollow heads north across this intermittent stream. This portion of the route was also reopened in the 1991 Travel Plan revision, but without any public notice at all.

4456 4-Sep-04 428363 E 4584746 N facing N

Most of this route segment is in better condition, thanks to the steeper terrain and better drainage. However, there are a few spots where puddles form and motorists have widened the route by going around them.

DM_28 22-May-04 427955 E 4586039 N facing SW

As the route continues northward into Public Grove Hollow, it enters a forest of aspen and fir. An ATV rider or two recently decided to have some fun in this small clearing.

2630 20-Jul-03 427589 E 4586510 N facing W

Dyer's woad, with a head of tiny yellow flowers, is now growing among the native plants in this meadow. It occurs in several spots along this portion of the route and elsewhere in the Public Grove area.

0696 6-Jul-02 427354 E 4586685 N facing W

Just beyond the abandoned Honey Bee Mine, the route bends westward and passes through this barbed-wire fence and gate. According to the current Travel Map, the route is closed to all motorized use beyond this point. (The route is primarily a stock trail.) However, Forest Service staff have confessed that no attempt was ever made to sign the route as closed (at least before late summer 2004, after repeated inquiries from the Sierra Club).

2696 20-Jul-03 427160 E 4586737 N facing

In late July 2003, during a period of extreme fire danger and a strict prohibition on campfires, I discovered two young men in a pickup at this illegal campsite just off the closed portion of the Public Grove route. After they left, the fire was still smoldering. Enforcing rules is extremely difficult in remote locations such as this.

4463 4-Sep-04 427127 E 4586611 N facing W

The route continues through the forest, over poorly drained soils. This area is important habitat for big game and other wildlife; frequent traffic here would cause further habitat fragmentation.

1532 14-May-03 426286 E 4586145 N facing NW

About 3/4 mile west of the Honey Bee mine, the route climbs to this wide meadow. Keeping motorists on the designated route in such an open area is practically impossible. This photo was taken from an ATV-widened horse trail that climbs southward from the main route for about a mile. Since this photo was taken, the trail has been widened to 4WD size and extended beyond where it formerly ended.

1536 14-May-03 425766 E 4586080 N facing SW

As the main route heads west through the meadows, it again passes through areas with very poor drainage. Mud holes dot the trail like beads on a necklace.

5598 17-Nov-04 425525 E 4585714 N facing W

The damage along this route increased significantly during the unusually wet summer and fall of 2004, despite the fact that the route remained legally closed to all motorized use.

1538 14-May-03 425458 E 4585671 N facing WSW

Here the route drops down a short slope. At the bottom, it passes directly through a pond and wetland area. This portion of the route passes through a section of land acquired in the Snow Basin land exchange. When the Forest Service touted the value of the acquired land at the time, there was no mention of any plan to manage the area for ORV recreation.

5596 17-Nov-04 425175 E 4585510 N facing NE

This photo shows the pond that was visible in the previous photo, a year and a half later. The jeep trail is hidden below the surface of the water.

5593 17-Nov-04 425056 E 4585482 N facing NW

More puddles and pools are found in and along the route for the next 300 yards.

5589 17-Nov-04 424272 E 4585285 N facing N

Here an ATV rider recently decided to create a new track, rather than riding on the muddy, already-braided main trail.

5586 17-Nov-04 424202 E 4585134 N facing SE

The route passes through another mud field as it turns a corner near this abandoned corral.

5580 17-Nov-04 424029 E 4585117 N facing E

Here the route crosses onto private property. Sometime in 2004, Box Elder County signed the private portion of the route as open to motorized use, despite objections from the land owners. Here, however, the county put one of its signs within (and pointing into) the National Forest--even though it is closed according to the current Travel Map. The Forest Service looked the other way, and refused to remove the county's signs even after repeated complaints from the Sierra Club.

4262 15-Aug-04 423525 E 4584912 N facing S

Dyer's woad also grows here, along the private portion of the route on the Weber-Box Elder county line.

5579 17-Nov-04 423175 E 4585669 N facing S

As the route descends a north-facing slope into Devil's Gate Valley, it passes through some more mud holes.

5567 17-Nov-04 423001 E 4586531 N facing S

Here the route passes through a small isolated parcel of National Forest land (also acquired in the Snow Basin land exchange). It is legally closed, but again the county has signed it as open and the Forest Service has refused to remove the signs.

5565 17-Nov-04 422916 E 4586730 N facing S

This connecting route, still on the isolated National Forest parcel, is clearly signed as closed but the sign has been ignored. Several other junctions occur on nearby private land, and the land owners have had recurring problems with illegal ORV trespass.

5562 17-Nov-04 422934 E 4586845 N facing S

Back on private land, the route crosses this creek. For its elevation, this area seems to have an unusual amount of surface water--probably due to the impermeable soils and northeastern exposure.

0543 12-May-02 422122 E 4588346 N facing W

At the western edge of Devil's Gate Valley, the route passes this popular mud hole before crossing back onto National Forest land and climbing up to the Willard Basin road. We saw two mud-covered pickups parked here when we first passed by, but decided not to provoke the drivers by taking their photo. They were gone when we returned several minutes later.

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Last modified on 31 Dec 2004

0687	6-Jul-02	429246 E	4584689 N	facing NW
The Public Grove Hollow jeep trail begins at this gate along the Liberty Avon road. Because of the fragile soils and extensive ORV damage, an emergency closure was enacted in May 2001; the closure was still in effect the following summer.
4446	4-Sep-04	429246 E	4584689 N	facing NW
The Forest Service opened the gate later in 2002, even though nothing was done to protect this route segment from further ORV damage. Two years later, however, a couple of "Use only when dry" signs were installed at the gate. As this photo shows, the signs were not enough to keep motorists out on a drizzly Labor Day weekend.
3642	22-May-04	428968 E	4584829 N	facing W
About a quarter mile in from the gate, we come to the first of a long series of mud holes. To get around the mud, motorists have driven far around to the side, creating additional ruts through the meadow. At this point the full width of the travelway was 140 feet.
1099	21-Sep-02	428636 E	4584622 N	facing SW
The deep mud and widened travelway continue through the meadows for about half a mile. This route was closed in the 1988 Travel Plan, but reopened in 1991 without any environmental analysis.
4454	4-Sep-04	428362 E	4584506 N	facing W
The ugliness continues up to a fence, visible at left, that was built in 2001 to close the southern half of this looping road. Although the fence still isn't complete, the southern segment is now clearly signed as closed and has received little recent use.
DM_16	22-May-04	428279 E	4584633 N	facing N
From the fence, the route into Public Grove Hollow heads north across this intermittent stream. This portion of the route was also reopened in the 1991 Travel Plan revision, but without any public notice at all.
4456	4-Sep-04	428363 E	4584746 N	facing N
Most of this route segment is in better condition, thanks to the steeper terrain and better drainage. However, there are a few spots where puddles form and motorists have widened the route by going around them.
DM_28	22-May-04	427955 E	4586039 N	facing SW
As the route continues northward into Public Grove Hollow, it enters a forest of aspen and fir. An ATV rider or two recently decided to have some fun in this small clearing.
2630	20-Jul-03	427589 E	4586510 N	facing W
Dyer's woad, with a head of tiny yellow flowers, is now growing among the native plants in this meadow. It occurs in several spots along this portion of the route and elsewhere in the Public Grove area.
0696	6-Jul-02	427354 E	4586685 N	facing W
Just beyond the abandoned Honey Bee Mine, the route bends westward and passes through this barbed-wire fence and gate. According to the current Travel Map, the route is closed to all motorized use beyond this point. (The route is primarily a stock trail.) However, Forest Service staff have confessed that no attempt was ever made to sign the route as closed (at least before late summer 2004, after repeated inquiries from the Sierra Club).
2696	20-Jul-03	427160 E	4586737 N	facing
In late July 2003, during a period of extreme fire danger and a strict prohibition on campfires, I discovered two young men in a pickup at this illegal campsite just off the closed portion of the Public Grove route. After they left, the fire was still smoldering. Enforcing rules is extremely difficult in remote locations such as this.
4463	4-Sep-04	427127 E	4586611 N	facing W
The route continues through the forest, over poorly drained soils. This area is important habitat for big game and other wildlife; frequent traffic here would cause further habitat fragmentation.
1532	14-May-03	426286 E	4586145 N	facing NW
About 3/4 mile west of the Honey Bee mine, the route climbs to this wide meadow. Keeping motorists on the designated route in such an open area is practically impossible. This photo was taken from an ATV-widened horse trail that climbs southward from the main route for about a mile. Since this photo was taken, the trail has been widened to 4WD size and extended beyond where it formerly ended.
1536	14-May-03	425766 E	4586080 N	facing SW
As the main route heads west through the meadows, it again passes through areas with very poor drainage. Mud holes dot the trail like beads on a necklace.
5598	17-Nov-04	425525 E	4585714 N	facing W
The damage along this route increased significantly during the unusually wet summer and fall of 2004, despite the fact that the route remained legally closed to all motorized use.
1538	14-May-03	425458 E	4585671 N	facing WSW
Here the route drops down a short slope. At the bottom, it passes directly through a pond and wetland area. This portion of the route passes through a section of land acquired in the Snow Basin land exchange. When the Forest Service touted the value of the acquired land at the time, there was no mention of any plan to manage the area for ORV recreation.
5596	17-Nov-04	425175 E	4585510 N	facing NE
This photo shows the pond that was visible in the previous photo, a year and a half later. The jeep trail is hidden below the surface of the water.
5593	17-Nov-04	425056 E	4585482 N	facing NW
More puddles and pools are found in and along the route for the next 300 yards.
5589	17-Nov-04	424272 E	4585285 N	facing N
Here an ATV rider recently decided to create a new track, rather than riding on the muddy, already-braided main trail.
5586	17-Nov-04	424202 E	4585134 N	facing SE
The route passes through another mud field as it turns a corner near this abandoned corral.
5580	17-Nov-04	424029 E	4585117 N	facing E
Here the route crosses onto private property. Sometime in 2004, Box Elder County signed the private portion of the route as open to motorized use, despite objections from the land owners. Here, however, the county put one of its signs within (and pointing into) the National Forest--even though it is closed according to the current Travel Map. The Forest Service looked the other way, and refused to remove the county's signs even after repeated complaints from the Sierra Club.
4262	15-Aug-04	423525 E	4584912 N	facing S
Dyer's woad also grows here, along the private portion of the route on the Weber-Box Elder county line.
5579	17-Nov-04	423175 E	4585669 N	facing S
As the route descends a north-facing slope into Devil's Gate Valley, it passes through some more mud holes.
5567	17-Nov-04	423001 E	4586531 N	facing S
Here the route passes through a small isolated parcel of National Forest land (also acquired in the Snow Basin land exchange). It is legally closed, but again the county has signed it as open and the Forest Service has refused to remove the signs.
5565	17-Nov-04	422916 E	4586730 N	facing S
This connecting route, still on the isolated National Forest parcel, is clearly signed as closed but the sign has been ignored. Several other junctions occur on nearby private land, and the land owners have had recurring problems with illegal ORV trespass.
5562	17-Nov-04	422934 E	4586845 N	facing S
Back on private land, the route crosses this creek. For its elevation, this area seems to have an unusual amount of surface water--probably due to the impermeable soils and northeastern exposure.
0543	12-May-02	422122 E	4588346 N	facing W
At the western edge of Devil's Gate Valley, the route passes this popular mud hole before crossing back onto National Forest land and climbing up to the Willard Basin road. We saw two mud-covered pickups parked here when we first passed by, but decided not to provoke the drivers by taking their photo. They were gone when we returned several minutes later.