{"id":7154,"date":"2019-08-14T17:50:00","date_gmt":"2019-08-14T17:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/shane-s-favorite-running-routes-1st-dam-to-switchbacks"},"modified":"2026-04-12T22:25:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T22:25:24","slug":"shanes-favorite-running-routes-1st-dam-to-switchbacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/2019\/08\/14\/shanes-favorite-running-routes-1st-dam-to-switchbacks\/","title":{"rendered":"Shane\u2019s Favorite Running Routes \u2013 1st Dam to Switchbacks"},"content":{"rendered":"

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1st Dam to Switchbacks \u2013 Logan Canyon, Utah<\/h3>\n

A lot of folks ask what and where I run. \u00a0To this end, I thought this would be a great way to demonstrate some of that information. \u00a0I will use Strava as a way to demonstrate the route and I will walk through the distance and route a little bit.<\/p>\n

Links to Strava:<\/p>\n

1st Dam to Switchbacks<\/a>
\n1st Dam to Switchbacks (another look)<\/a>
\nIncluded High Trail<\/a><\/p>\n

So the route details:<\/p>\n

Below is a map demonstrating where you can park at the First Dam Park area.\u00a0 \u00a0This route has other options for parking listed above.\u00a0 You can use the map below as a reference and follow it up to 2nd Dam to serve your parking needs.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. 1st Dam \u2013 See map below<\/li>\n
  2. Stokes parking areas (lower and upper)<\/li>\n
  3. 2nd Dam<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    This route is often included in the Bridger look off routes (Bridger Look OFf Route)<\/a>\u00a0but I wanted to call this out and describe it a bit differently as it is a shorter route.<\/p>\n

    Once you have located parking at First Dam, you will start by accessing the trail using the tunnel.\u00a0 Once through the tunnel its a hard right and ignore the daunting switchbacks that provide you access to High Trail and the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.\u00a0 Once you come to the left turn take that and wander through the little park, the house and make your way past the Water treatment facility. Once you pass the fenced off transformers, you will have your first ascent.\u00a0 This is adjacent to the High Line trail that is to your left and high above you.\u00a0 You will climb this steady hill and then be treated to a natural descent that leads you to cross under the road bridge and adjacent to the river.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Once you climb out from under the bridge the trail leads right tot he multi-use pathway bridge and it leads you out to a sign talking about cougars \u2013 not the BYU type looking for marital partners and eternal bliss, rather pesky mountain lions and bobcats.\u00a0 Yes, this is an active wildlife area and plenty of evidence of cougars, and there have been physical sightings in the last 2 calendar years.\u00a0 So be aware.<\/p>\n

    The trail continues by turning left and heading up the gentle grades.\u00a0 It is a mixed-use path shared by hikers, runners, bikers, strollers and sometimes by a car or two \u2013 it should be further up, but it\u2019s known to happen.\u00a0 You will meander with the river on your left, most of the trail is in great shape. you will pass the water testing facility.\u00a0 Then you come to the parking feature for upper stokes.\u00a0 A bit farther up the trail, you will come across the Stokes Nature Center<\/a> facility.\u00a0 Once you pass Stokes, the remainder of the trail is a mix of rolling inclines with moderate false flats.\u00a0 You will pass the water spill area on your left, the multiple options to stop around the water above 2nd Dam and then the bridge on your left.\u00a0 The last uphill along the river is a bit toilsome, but you are greeted with a last sweeping downhill into the relief area that I like to call Logan Canyon\u2019s Sleepy Hollow \u2013 Yes I have run in Sleepy Hollow New York also.\u00a0 Once you get through the hollow on your left just before the switchbacks you will be greeted with this sign:<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    That\u2019s it, folks.\u00a0 You know have the option of going on to Bridger look off, turning around for an out n back and many many more.\u00a0 This is a great 4 mile-ish out and back.\u00a0 It provides the adventurer with multiple options to trail diversions and water options.\u00a0 Many of these options are quite friendly to humans and animals of all ages \u2013 with correct supervision and training of course.\u00a0 Note, the river is an active waterway, and it is a swift-moving waterway.\u00a0 At any moment a serene and peaceful outing can turn tragic if you are not present and \u201cin\u201d the moment with your participants and those you may be stewarding on the outing.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    So be safe, enjoy the trail and have fun.\u00a0 Stop, embrace and be in the moment, it\u2019s ok to let life stop for a few minutes to indulge in the simple breath of life.\u00a0 Yes, I went there, b\/c this is one of the many reasons why I choose to adventure.\u00a0 Sometimes solo, ofttimes with family.\u00a0 And when possible with close friends and associates.\u00a0 Carry on!<\/p>\n

    #FaveRuns #Routes<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    1st Dam to Switchbacks \u2013 Logan Canyon, Utah A lot of folks ask what and where I run. \u00a0To this end, I thought this would be a great way to demonstrate some of that information. \u00a0I will use Strava as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19265,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"nf_dc_page":"","_eb_attr":"","pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","rs_blank_template":"","rs_page_bg_color":"","slide_template_v7":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[464,820],"tags":[837],"class_list":["post-7154","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fave-routes","category-emnth","tag-tag-routes"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7154","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7154"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7154\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24764,"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7154\/revisions\/24764"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19265"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7154"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7154"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7154"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}