Upper Upper Mud Springs Loop - 10/10/22

Four Hikers Hanging out with the Ancient Junipers in Upper Upper Mud Springs Wash

Well Manicured Trail - West side of Mud Springs Loop

Wide and Welcoming Upper Upper Mud Springs Wash

Climbing to the Ridge on the Yellow Trail

Mud Springs Loop, in its entirety, is approximately 18 miles starting at the Sawmill Trailhead. Several years ago, I divided this loop into two loops, the Upper Mud Springs Loop and the Lower Mud Springs Loop. There is a convenient wide gravel wash at the loop's mid-point that allows this to happen. The two sides of the loop are around 1.5 miles apart at their widest and a half mile apart at the narrowest. Each half loop is 8 to 9 miles long; still a long day hike. So, I pored over Google Earth with sweat coming out of my brow (😁) and found a really nice wash that connects both sides of the Upper Mud Springs Loop at the 2.5 mile marker on the west side trail if you follow the route indicated in the maps below. This wash creates a 6 mile loop in the upper portion of the Upper Mud Spring Loop. The wash turned out to be wide and beautiful with a few gorgeous ancient juniper trees that somehow survived over hundreds (thousands?) of years. Anyway, they're old!

Sun rises on Mummy's Head with Beautiful Skies

The Shelter on the Red Trail

Nice Scenery

Trail Junction (Yellow to Red)

Four club hikers began at the Sawmill Trailhead and turned quickly onto the Yellow Trail, the first right after the fence. BTW, the beautiful wooden fence that surrounds the trailhead seems to have been knocked down a bit just to the left of the trail. (What gives? An angry wild horse?) We lifted up one of the wooden poles back into place but it was unclear where the other poles should be arranged. By turning right, we shortened the climb to the Sawmill Ridge by about 0.15 miles. The Ridge/Red Trail junction, found just as you summit the ridge, is unmarked. One week ago, Mike and I replaced the sign that we found on the ground but now it is gone. The Red Trail turns down to the left here. This is the west side of the Mud Springs Loop.

View down to Three Lakes Valley

ZigZagging on the west side Trail

Macks Peak from west side Trail

Starting down the Upper Upper Mud Springs Wash

This is an excellent trail that is easy to follow. As you hike, you will see cairns that indicate old trail routes. We checked out one of them and found it was not worn well and there was no need to follow it. At ~2.54 miles, the trail is at an apex turning to the west. This is where our new route leaves the trail turning east and makes its way down to the wash below. (The best way to do this is to follow the ridge a ways and drop to the left.) We routed off the trail to the right too soon but were still able to get into the correct wash quickly. The Upper Upper Mud Springs Loop wash is around 0.8 miles long and very easy to follow until you reach mile marker 3.2. Here, it is necessary to continue your trajectory toward the northeast by bushwhacking since the wash, itself, makes a turn to the north. Either way, you will junction with the east side of the Mud Spring Loop perpendicularly. This is a very well worn trail ... a lot different from the first time I hiked this trail. At that time (2015), it was difficult finding the vague path.

Ancient Junipers dot the Wide Wash

Taking a Break 2/3 down the wash to the east side Trail

The east side Trail

The Final Climb to the Ridge

Turning right, the next mile and a half is a 600' climb up to the Sawmill Ridge; coming out on the opposite end where we left the ridge in the beginning. During this climb, we observed dark clouds gathering over the higher elevations of Lee Canyon. They appeared quite menacing. We heard several thunders and saw lightning in the canyon once. Knowing the rain had begun, we had faith that our lower elevation would fend off any bad weather for another hour. Indeed, we sped up our descent and even bushwhacked a little to make our way down to the cars before a single drop alit our skin. What a great morning. And, a fantastic group of camera shy hikers!

Stats: 6.25 miles; 1125' gain; 3.25 hours; average pace at 1.8 mph

Thunderstorms roll In

Was that thunder?

Down old rocky road to Yellow/Blue Trail Junction