Mansard Trail North (BLM 104)

Total Miles
3.9

Elevation

1,892.06 ft

Duration

0.5 Hours

Technical Rating

2

Easy

Best Time

Spring, Summer, Fall

Trail Overview

The Mansard Trail North connects Johnson Canyon Rd Access to the Mosdell Trail and the Hog Canyon Trail System. It's a north-south trail, mostly sand, that drops down in elevation toward Johnson Canyon. In late April we encountered one section of the trail that was really deep muddy ruts, but there was a bypass that allowed us to go around. You travel along some of the fence lines that separate Utah State Trust Lands from BLM, but there are cattle guards instead of gates. The views are amazing, the scenery is stunning. The area is covered with Pinion Pine Trees and sagebrush. You're likely to see deer in this area. And it's a popular area for off-roaders, so watch for oncoming traffic. From Johnson Canyon Road, you can take the Johnson Canyon Rd Access Trail and connect with this trail up on top. From the Hog Canyon Trail System, take the Mosdell Trail to connect. In February of 2023, Utah began enforcement of a new law, which requires an online education course for all off-roaders. The free course is available online. Google "Utah OHV Education Course," and the free test will pop up. It's an easy test that will only take 15-30 minutes, and it's required for all off-roaders, Jeeps, SXSs, dirt bikes, and ATVs. Kids under the age of 18 will have to take the Youth Education Test at the same site. After completing the test, print out the certificate to carry with you which shows you completed the course. We have taken it, and it's really no big deal. Good reminders about trail etiquette and trail preservation.

Photos of Mansard Trail North (BLM 104)

Mansard Trail North (BLM 104)
Mansard Trail North (BLM 104)

Difficulty

A very easy sandy trail.

History

The Mansard Trail leads down into Johnson Canyon, which is the site where a lot of old westerns were filmed, including Gunsmoke, Wagon Train, Have Gun - Will Travel, Westward the Women, How the West Was Won, Mackenna's Gold, Death Valley Days and Duel at Diablo. The Johnson Canyon Western Movie Set is a tourist attraction in Kane County, Utah. The buildings have fallen into disrepair, and so they cannot be accessed, but they are visible to take photos of.

Technical Rating

2

Access Description

From Kanab, UT, take Highway 89 north to the Hog Canyon parking area on the right. It's a large sandy staging area that will hold a lot of vehicles and trailers. Take Hog Canyon Road up through the North Fork of Hog Canyon. From the Hog Canyon Trail System, take the Mosdell Trail (BLM HC1Z) east to the Mansard Trail. From Johnson Canyon Road, take the Johnson Canyon Rd Access Trail.

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