Manti-LaSal

National Forest Photos

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The Josephite Point Trail extends 7 miles across high mountain meadows (about 9000 feet above sea level) and through dense forested areas between Pete's Hole Reservoir and Mary's Lake, 2 popular fishing lakes located in a semi-primitive recreation area (no motorized vehicles allowed.) The trail is part of a 28 mile mountain bike loop rated as intermediate difficulty.

 

 

 

 

 

Joe's Valley Reservoir is magnificent as viewed from Josephite Point, a thousand plus feet above it. The trail has been reconstructed by volunteers from the American Hiking Society in 1998 and 1999. The trail has been raised in wet areas, water bars have been installed, and 3 bridges have been constructed across troublesome streams. Photos of our bridge building project are available.

 

 

 

 

 

High meadows, dense stands of trees, and numerous vistas like this characterize this magnificent area. The trail, like most mountain trails, has its share of ups and downs, but is mainly flat for its length. The profusion of wildflowers evident will amaze hikers and bikers alike.

 

 

 

 

Numerous small lakes are along the trail. This photo is of Slide Lake, the one lake not created by beaver activity. We even saw a beaver at one of the other lakes. One unusual structure was encountered on the trail -- a fence of logs which had to be climbed over. We later learned that sheep graze on the western section of the trail and cattle on the eastern section and the fence is to keep them apart. In the woods near our basecamp, which was located by Academy Mill Reservoir, we found the skeleton (still with partial skin covering) of a sheep.