ATV riding in Bullion Canyon of Gold

Bullion Canyon of Gold Trail area -

This is Paiute Trail 77 out of Marysvale. There are many historical sites on this trail including the old toll road, the mill site, the Will Tate mine site, the Spanish arrastra (mill stone), Bullion city, the outdoor museum, the Gibbs cabin, the Bully Boy mill, and Bullion Falls. A detailed brochure describing these sites is usually available at the trailhead to describe in detail each of these sites for the avid historical buff. The average trail rider can just use our following description to see the most interesting sites.

To access this trail area proceed out of the Bullion Creekside Retreat Gate and turn left (west) up the Bullion Canyon Road or head west on Bullion Canyon Road (Paiute Trail 77) out of Marysvale. You enter the Fishlake National Forest about a mile up the road; It is about another mile up the road through Ponderosa and Oak forests that you come to the narrow mouth of the canyon. On the left, is beautiful Pine Creek. It is small but fishable along this stretch for native cutthroat and rainbow trout. You may see the fish by pausing on the roadside and watching one of the deeper well-formed pools. the south side of the canyon is forested with thick Douglas Fir and the north side has beautiful aspen and oak stands mingled with steep talus slopes. As you wind up the stream-side road you will see various old mining sites and cabins along the way. At sign #5, there is an old Spanish Trail era 'arrastra' or mill stone. It is creekside and may be hard to find as the spring floods may move it or cover it from one year to the next.

Proceed up the trail until you come to the bridge that crosses Pine Creek (approximately 4 miles from Bullion Creekside Retreat). From here, take the ATV trail that goes right just in front of the bridge. This trail continues up through beautiful mountain and forest terrain. There is one narrow place where a streambed cuts accross the trail, but average riders should have no problem. It is about a mile on this trail from the Pine Creek bridge to the end of the ATV trail. You may see Cascade Falls on the top of the south side of the canyon to your left. This is a spring that falls of the steep mountain; it is not the Bullion Falls. Once you reach the ATV trail end, you can park and hike another steep several hundred yards to see beautiful Bullion Falls. Pine Creek falls some 40 feet or so off the steep Tushar fault escarpment. If you are aventurous, you can bushwhack down a steep and somewhat dangerous path to the foot of Bullion Falls.

Go back to the Pine Creek bridge and cross it. Immediately to you left, a road switches back and heads up the mountain. This is the start of the Cottonwood loop trail/road which is described in another article. Do not take this left turn to continue on to the Old Bullion City site which is straight ahead on the main road. You will soon past the old Bully Boy mill on your left. Continue on until you come to a small parking area with some picnic tables. To the left is a foot trail that winds through an interesting outdoor museum which features a lof of the old mining equipment and tools used in the old mines in this canyon.

From here one can explore further up some of the trails until you reach closed gates which indicate private mining company property. To end this part of the tour you can head back down the main road to Bullion Creekside Retreat toward Marysvale or you can go back to the Pine Creek bridge and take the Cottonwood Loop trail.