Trails Before Dawn

Sean was at scout camp and asked Brian and me if we'd like to join him for a 5 AM run. I suppose scout masters don't sleep anyway. I love Payson Canyon. This was a fun, and scenic loop.  This run starts below the Maple Dell Scout Camp and follows the pipeline trail to Red Lake Red Lake is a remote lake, a two-mile hike from Maple Lake for a nice wilderness scout camp The trail ends at Red Lake, so we back-tracked to the Maple Lake turn-off This trail is very nice in most places.  A great run!

The sign doesn't lie. This is a tough, rugged and overgrown trail. Next time I'll cover my legs - I'm completely broken out in hives. My socks were so full of stickers that I just threw them away. Mile 7 is purely for your entertainment. Do not follow! Envision thick scrub oak on a steep hillside - the wrong side of the hill.  All that said, it was beautiful and I didn't want to turn around. Had I known I was that close to a road, I would have looped back for an easier run on a private dirt road. The trail starts at the west end of the Spanish Fork River Park. Cross the bridge and follow the dirt road 1/2 mile until you come to the trail. The sign doesn't lie.  This truly is a "very difficult trail". From this point on, the trail is overgrown and can be hard to follow, although there are fence posts marking the way for the first three miles. The trail cuts just below "Lone Rock Peak" (probably not an off...