NAME: Spruce, #3043.
LENGTH: 8.0 Miles
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
HIKING TIME: 5 Hours
TRAILHEAD LOCATION:
From Cedar, take State Road U-14, 18 miles east to junction of State Road #148. Travel north through Cedar Breaks on # 148 to junction of State road # 143, Panguitch Lake Road. Travel east on #143 about 4 miles to Sidney Valley FR #048. Travel north on #048 about 5 miles to Sidney Valley Summit, then continue on road approximately 400 yards to trailhead. Trailhead is at 10,440 feet.
DESCRIPTION:
This trail winds through aspen and small conifers approximately I mile before going through a small saddle and into a forest of large spruce trees. Trail winds along, staying close to the massive rim that divides Parowan and Panguitch drainages. Beautiful scenic views can be seen from rim, but hikers have to leave trail and walk east to the rim. The trail starts to descend through the head of a drainage filled with aspen and fir and them climbs out to FR #050 and the end of Yankee Trail #034. Beautiful views of Yankee Reservoir and Panguitch Lake can be seen. From here the trail follows FR #050 d -own hill approximately .5 miles and heads north from road. The trail goes through more large spruce and fir stands with views into an aspen surrounded lake. The trail goes around the spring at the head of Clear Creek and through aspen and clearings to the top of Horse Valley Peak. Beautiful views in all directions can be seen from the Peak. Trail drops sharply from Horse Valley Peak going through mixed conifer and aspen stands ending at Forks Valley, a large open valley.
PERTINENT USGS MAP(S): Brian Head, Panguitch Lake