Little Horse Canyon to Range Creek

[Udink]

After seeing the south end of Range Creek (http://www.bogley.com/forum/showthread.php?40167-Little-Park-Road-to-Range-Creek) last weekend, I wanted to see the north end this week.


http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=http:%2F%2Fcastlecountry.org%2Fgeo%2FLittleHorse CanyontoRangeCreek.kmz&sll=39.59941,-110.810715&sspn=0.064679,0.169086&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=13
http://castlecountry.org/geo/LittleHorseCanyontoRangeCreek.kmz


I left Price yesterday after work and staged at the same place in Horse Canyon as last weekend, but this time took the left fork in the road which climbs up above the South Fork of Horse Canyon, over the mountains and down Little Horse Canyon to Range Creek. The road is steep and winding, but nothing a high-clearance 2WD vehicle couldn't handle. There were some great views along the way, and as I climbed higher, the mountains became more heavily forested with pine trees.


At the start of the ride
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TFuMmthjLBI/AAAAAAAAN3I/o36-siUbyS0/s800/IMG_6159.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/yaA4rotD3UA9ugFKIEyAaw)

The fork in the road
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TFuMn5SAxfI/AAAAAAAAN3M/g14-GVxT1Ig/s800/IMG_6160.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/nV3QEV7Nr3ndlx8pViO70w)

Climbing high above the South Fork of Horse Canyon
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TFuMrb40WmI/AAAAAAAAN3Y/o3Vo-06DEG8/s800/IMG_6165.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gwzt7Pw5p0J_qe7JXh_oCw)

Getting into the pine forest
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TFuMsZSYF3I/AAAAAAAAN3c/1lNRSkHo1E0/s800/IMG_6177.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/FHLgi-yHikKowKlVvGrS3w)

One of the many switchbacks
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TFuMteWpvrI/AAAAAAAAN3g/s51nFQclKLw/s800/IMG_6179.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Xa1oUCXDLJcbuoybB2dWLw)

The last switchback before reaching the top
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TFuMwAgmwNI/AAAAAAAAN3s/mzM0LoUmENE/s800/IMG_6192.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/daVILvQRBkfWosytBo_IDQ)

View of the Little Park Road that I took last weekend
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TFuMx7SLU4I/AAAAAAAAN30/o7aRWBpEjOE/s800/IMG_6196.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/JIcRQnGMyZG5syeRNBX8xw)

Rock formations
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TFuMy__t1pI/AAAAAAAAN34/y8bGe_vbVs0/s800/IMG_6199.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/j-BHOJFg9FsZN6c-XCw_5g)

Rock formations
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TFuMzVeasLI/AAAAAAAAN38/-gQViJJs9lo/s800/IMG_6200.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/TmiVOEPOGkBXE4siETpOTg)


Upon reaching the 8,500' divide between Horse Canyon and Little Horse Canyon, there was a distinct change in vegetation. There were many more aspen and other deciduous trees on the Little Horse Canyon side of the mountain, and the air was much cooler. I was hoping to see more wildlife in the area, but I saw very little, except squirrels, lizards, and a gopher snake (unfortunately no deer or bighorn sheep). I could feel it warm up as I descended 1,700' from the divide toward Range Creek. I expected to see the officer who patrols Range Creek, but I didn't see a soul the entire time I was in the area. I reached the gated area, beyond which you need a permit to travel, took a few photos, then reversed course and headed back to where the truck was parked.


The divide, looking toward Horse Canyon and the Price River drainage
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TFuM1FFH8sI/AAAAAAAAN4E/YQdA7JYGZSs/s800/IMG_6205.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/aKP1MUPyUGpqolTuvsnWBw)

The divide, looking toward Little Horse Canyon and the Range Creek drainage
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TFuM2XFMGEI/AAAAAAAAN4M/-vO3d2SrEqQ/s800/IMG_6207.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_HibCTSn8r4hV4-wpvbgNg)

Almost to the bottom of Little Horse Canyon
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TFuM6OctcqI/AAAAAAAAN4Y/c7--YXaI_Y8/s800/IMG_6219.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/mKzLyGtCz9y9t8ILSo8z0A)

Little Horse Canyon
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TFuM8b7runI/AAAAAAAAN4g/-SkvxWfEgK0/s800/IMG_6224.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/DxVdbvZotHZDmEfWe0TiGA)

Little Horse Canyon
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TFuM-t8qW6I/AAAAAAAAN4o/o6xesgstJDo/s800/IMG_6226.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6UGUyW0TFpgwBKwDN2sadg)

At the Range Creek gate
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TFuNAr1ktCI/AAAAAAAAN4w/4zzGba6VyKo/s800/IMG_6231.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/dQno5LEcxYJ2d1LfOHJ8xw)

View beyond the gate
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TFuNBaX3DXI/AAAAAAAAN40/xpqOZo9VQpU/s800/IMG_6233.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/py6FTMRkKVv0GKzx0nvxAg)

The Range Creek camping area, just outside the fenced area
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TFuNEhCETaI/AAAAAAAAN5A/cXlfJBJQL6A/s800/IMG_6244.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9yk69e3QIwk20mJYkIQXUQ)

Looking back up Little Horse Canyon
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TFuNG1o2wVI/AAAAAAAAN5Q/IbUjddecs94/s800/IMG_6256.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/nCaBzd3fjeZmDszmcqJcag)

A gopher snake on the road
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TFuNHwf77kI/AAAAAAAAN5U/eHkTwuc2Ma4/s800/IMG_6262.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/A97Z_Gik5G5NXfpXAXwiAQ)

Patmos Head in the distance
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JpEWXOITrzw/TFuNJQ66k1I/AAAAAAAAN5c/ODiX983y3CI/s800/IMG_6271.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/I5v1vdK_W5GH-LsUAQZv1g)


LittleHorseCanyonToRangeCreek
http://picasaweb.google.com/Dennis.Udink/LittleHorseCanyonToRangeCreek#

[ibenick]

Great pics! I love how your dog seems to ride so well up on the front of your wheeler. Do you have to secure him in or is he just good at handling the bumps?

[Udink]

Great pics! I love how your dog seems to ride so well up on the front of your wheeler. Do you have to secure him in or is he just good at handling the bumps?
Thanks. :) She's just good at handling the ride, but when it gets rough and I have to slow down for extended periods, she runs alongside. She's had to bail a few times when it got too rough. :haha:

[accadacca]

Cool area! That snake picture is sick. :hail2thechief:

[jiffers]

I agree, great tr, but the snake photo is da bomb!