Four principal trails take hikers into northern Utah's Wellsville Mountains, all moderately strenuous day trips or longer. Late spring and fall are considered the best hiking times. Trails are generally snow free from late June to early October in most years. A general lack of trailhead signs in the Wellsvilles can, however, make finding trailheads a challenge.
- STEWART PASS TRAIL. The most direct route to the Wellsvilles' highest peaks is the Stewart Pass trail up Hell Canyon off Maple Bench. The trailhead is reached off U-23 in Mendon, on the west side of the Cache Valley. Turn east at the intersection of U-23, 1800 South and Main Street at the south end of Mendon and take a dirt road west about four miles to the trailhead. (In dry weather the road is generally OK for most vehicles - but in wet weather even four-wheel-drive vehicles can have problems on slick meadow mud.) The trail passes by tiny Coldwater Lake, less than a mile out. It continues with many switchbacks, reaching the saddle in just over 11/2 miles at Stewart Pass. Skyline and side trails lead to the newly named Bob Stewart Peak (8,626 feet), Box Elder Peak (9,372 feet) and the Wellsville Cone (9,356 feet).- DEEP CANYON. This popular trailhead is reached on another dirt road, about 2 miles long, heading west from 300 North on the north end of Mendon. The Deep Canyon trail, beginning at an elevation of 5,400 feet, offers early morning shade, but foliage has overgrown the trail in many places. A 4-mile walk takes hikers to the saddle (at 8,100 feet), where hikers directly overlook Crystal Springs and the serpentine Bear River to the west. The main skyline trail and side trails take hikers to Mendon Peak (8,766 feet), Scout Peak (8,687 feet) and aptly named Pleasant View Point. The skyline trail continues along the ridgeline to Stewart Pass and points south.
It is possible to take a loop hike using the Deep Canyon and Stewart Pass trails, with vehicles parked at each trailhead.
- RATTLESNAKE CANYON. At the bend in Wellsville/Sardine Canyon on U.S. 89 northeast of Sherwood Hills begins a trailhead into Rattlesnake Canyon. It would be a very long day hike - 9 miles - (and again require two vehicles) to hike from here to the Deep Canyon trailhead.
- HONEYVILLE/COLDWATER CANYON. Another trail begins on the west side of the mountain range in Honeyville, north of Brigham City along U-30. The trailhead begins in foothills northwest of Crystal Springs, heading into Coldwater Canyon. Sources indicate the trail is seldom used and is faint in some places. It intersects the mountain skyline between Stewart Pass and the Wellsville Cone.
For more information, contact the U.S. Forest Service's Logan Ranger District at 435-755-3620.