Fishin's Good, So's the Cycling

By Señor Rojo

After picking up supplies in Richfield or Salina, mountain bikers, road riders and hikers will be ready to tackle all the great trails in Sevier County.  Fishlake National Forest covers about two-thirds of the county and it’s little wonder that outstanding hiking and bike trails are found here.  Road riders will see stunning alpine scenery on the 13-mile Fishlake Scenic Byway that runs past Fish Lake to Johnson Valley Reservoir.

Backcountry trails around Fish Lake allow mountain bikers and hikers plenty of opportunity to discover the area’s scenic beauty and abundant wildlife.  The north side of the lake has a wonderful singletrack cruising right at water’s edge with picnic areas and overlooks along the way. Waterfowl and bald eagles frequent the lake’s shores, while the surrounding meadows and woodlands support deer, elk, moose and mountain lions.  Rainbow and Mackinaw trout ply the waters of the lake.  The entire area shows its true colors in autumn when golden aspen groves drape the hillsides.

Fish Lake offers a fine off-the-beaten-path resort with all necessities.   Bowery Haven Resort has a full-service marina, cabins, motel, RV Park and restaurant.  A popular destination throughout the season, call for reservations. 

A classic Fish Lake ride/hike is the 25-mile Mytoge Mountain Loop.  Mostly on exciting dirt roads and single-track, the route is geared to strong intermediate riders and includes an 800-foot push to the top of Mytoge Mountain at 9,900 feet.  Lofty viewpoints along the way take in the sweeping panoramas of the high plateau region and the shimmering lake below. 

Just south of Salina lies a super mountain bike route-the Gooseberry/Fremont Road.  This Scenic Backway runs 40 miles through Fishlake National Forest where highlights include wildflower meadows, trout streams, aspen groves and fir forests.  Crowning this spectacular ride are Mounts Terrell (11,531 ft.) and Marvine (11,600 ft.).

In the same area is the intermediate 19-mile UM Pass Loop.  The ride starts on the north side of Johnson Valley Reservoir and circumnavigates Mount Marvine.  The highlight of the ride is the descent down from the pass on the jeep road turned singletrack over a series of berms that keep motorized vehicles off the trail.

 Native American history and pleasant scenery highlight the 46-mile, out-and-back road ride from Richfield to the Fremont Indian State Park.  The route follows Hwy. 89 past canyon walls adorned with petroglyphs before arriving at the park’s archaeological museum, which displays Fremont Indian artifacts dating from A.D. 300-1300.

For information on lodging, restaurants, services and facilities in Fish Lake, log on to outdoorutah.com. 

Bowery Haven Resort, Info-now! code BOWH.