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It is a treat to see the valley lit up on a night ride on the Farmington Canyon Trails.

Courtesy Lynn R. Blamires

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Riding the Farmington Canyon Road like I have done so many times.

Courtesy Lynn R. Blamires

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A snowfield blocks the road to the towers, like the one I just about swallowed me whole.

Courtesy Lynn R. Blamires

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It was one of the first trails I took as the owner of a new Suzuki King Quad 300 ATV back in 1993. It was exciting for me to have a trail so close to my home that would take me to altitudes exceeding 9,000 feet. I am referring to the Francis Peak trails.

I have written several articles about these trails that hold so many memories for me. The story of building the radar towers. The peak was lowered by 32 feet to make a level place to build the radar domes. Workers disturbed the nests of rattlesnakes in the process, forcing them to wear high-top leather boots and to arm themselves for protection. Over 100 snakes were killed during construction.

Stories about getting out of a tight spot on the Tuttle Loop. The trail is marked #606 and is a deceptively easy trail down to an old mining operation, but it comes out at another point on the road that is not possible to negotiate. We didn’t find that out until we were wedged into a trench. Only the winch I had on the machine saved the day.

Another story about playing on a snowfield that presents itself every year, when the snow is heavy. There is a wall of snow that forms on the left side of the road on the way to the towers that can be over 10 feet high. We found a way to get on top of that snowfield.

It was fun to ride around on the packed snow until I noticed that I was suddenly astraddle a deep crack in the snowfield. Trying to back out of it was futile because I was already at a downward slant. My friends pulled me out, and I was grateful that I had followed the rule never to ride alone.

I remember when we had access to the base of the radar station. We had an amazing view of the valley below. Now the road from the saddle to the station is blocked with a locked gate. The saddle still has wonderful views of the valley to the west, and into Morgan Valley on the east.

Continuing north from the saddle, the trail goes to the three Smith Creek Lakes. The trail becomes more challenging once you leave the saddle. The trail gives options to the first lake. You can ride down to the east shore of the lake and take a break in the shade there or ride around the lake and come down on the west side.

Leaving the first lake, the trail climbs out of the basin, around the shoulder of the mountain. Then the second lake comes into view. It is smaller and not as inviting, but the trail is cut out of the mountain on the west side.

The trail continues to the third and last lake. There is easy access to the south side of the lake where we have camped before. Large boulders line the west side of this lake from which you can dive into the water. The lake is deepest of the three, and it is refreshing to swim there on a hot summer’s day.

Before the development of the Farmington Pond Park, staging was not as convenient. Sunset Campground is just a trailhead now. When it was a campground, my wife and I took a tent trailer there to spend a weekend. I backed it into a pretty campsite to begin setting up camp. When I took it off the hitch, it started rolling down the mountain into the canyon. It was stopped by a tree, or it would have been a goner.

At the top of the canyon, the trail goes up to the towers, or over to the Bountiful Peak Campground – another junction goes by some restrooms, by the Farmington Ponds, to the Parrish Loop Trails, and to the Bountiful B staging area.

Continuing past the Bountiful Peak Campground, you can enjoy the Farmington Flats Loop. It goes around Farmington Flats and joins the road to the towers. We saw the north end of a beaver going south on this trail, and the wildflowers are worth the ride.

I have done a lot of riding on these trails, but I keep finding new trails to explore. I love finding new trails. When you go, take plenty of water, keep the rubber side down, and take time to make your own memories on these nearby trails.

Lynn R. Blamires can be reached at quadmanone@gmail.com.