Despite my declaration that I would use Flag Rock to train my legs, I looked up at the hills and couldn’t help but go explore something new.  The trails up to Flag Rock or Steed Creek are more heavily traveled than the smaller trails going up the much smaller Davis Creek Canyon.  I started up the Mtn. face north of the creek – trying to find the “Triumph Trail” I found on the Farmington Trails Map.  I did the first part with the kids before, up to the BST, but not further.  Needless to say, I didn’t quite find it after the BST.  Or, I found it, and then lost it.  And bushwhacked and got bloodied up in the process.  Dry sun-scorched scrub oak is very scratchy.  I climbed about 900 ft up over a mile of trail, then descended, crossed over the creek and went up into the trails south of Davis Creek.  I ran to Pretty Valley – a great trail – and then took a trail labeled “Davis Creek Trail” up quite a ways before turning back, coming down the traverse a bit, and then heading up a trail to Hell Hole and a couple hundred yards up what I thought was “Old North” on the map.  It turns out I was correct.  I didn’t follow any of the trails up as I high as I should have, but it was fun to explore.  I also got obsessed with the idea of following one of them all the way up to Bountiful Peak…but as I chatted with people on a couple facebook groups, most people said that the trails fade out and turn into bushwhacks the higher you get.

The moral of the story – just because a map shows a trail does not mean there is a trail.  In fact, I suspect that the Farmington Trails committee might just be drawing them to coax all of us up there to go run and blaze the trails for them. Ha!

In any case, it was a really great afternoon exploring.  5.9 miles, 24:13 min/mile pace, 2,753 ft. elevation.

3D rendering of the climbs – looking East by NE

Falls leaves in Davis Creek Canyon

“Pretty Valley” or Little Valley.  A few campsites here – really gorgeous.

On the Bonneville Shoreline Trail just north of Triumph Trail and Davis Creek, looking south across a field of flowers

Obligatory Selfie with Davis Creek waterfall in the background