Utah has a ton of interesting geological features, and we found a new one in Juab County. This one isn’t cut from the red sandstone of southern Utah, but it does feature a small arch. Paul Bunyan’s Woodpile is a unique set of basalt columns that look just like stacked wood. The trail is just under two miles roundtrip.
Trail Info
- Distance: 1.8 miles roundtrip
- Elevation Change: 535 ft.
- Difficulty Rating: moderate due to climb
- Dog-Friendly: Yes
Where is the trail?
There is a short hike to the Paul Bunyan’s Woodpile, and an even longer drive to the trailhead, which is located southwest of Eureka, Utah. The trailhead is a little over an hour from Provo, Utah. Get to Highway 6 wherever you are coming from and head west. Head through Eureka, and then set the odometer at the end of town. Stay on Highway 6 for 18 miles and then turn left onto Paul Bunyan’s road. There is a rest area just shortly before the turn, and a sign (once you have turned) letting you know you are in the right place. Follow the dirt road about 3 miles to the trailhead. It is passable for all vehicles.
The Trail
Once you have parked at the end of the road in the small parking area, pass through the narrow gate to the north. There are 2 options for this trail, the steep one up into the woodpile, and the flatter trail to the overlook. Both trails start out the same way, gently climbing through the junipers to the bottom of the hill that has the woodpiles on top. The trail is easy to find, and we saw squirrels, lizards, and a few birds as it climbed to the flat.
The Paul Bunyan’s Woodpile Trail finally comes to some smaller trees where there is a bit of shade. From this spot, you can easily see the woodpiles on the hill in front of you, and you’ll need to make a decision. Will you climb the switchbacks up that hill to the left side of the woodpiles? Or will you stay on the flat and loop around to the right, which allows you to overlook the woodpiles without the climb?
Paul Bunyan’s Woodpile
We decided to climb, and the trail is so short that the ascent doesn’t seem too difficult. It switches back and forth across the face of the hill, and in several places, people have left the trail to enter the woodpile from the bottom. We stopped at quite a few of the switchback corners for photos, and a quick rest. We decided that we wanted to climb all the way to the top, and we were glad we did. This allowed us to stand at the top of the hill and overlook the trail back the way we’d come. There are so many great views of the woodpile up top, too.
While standing at the summit, we also noticed a slash of light in the furthest woodpile from the trailhead. Though it was steep and treacherous, a few of us slipped and slid down through the chute and found a little arch where some of the logs had fallen out of the woodpile.
The return trip is all downhill, but we found it more difficult than the hike up, as it was slippery and dusty, and we really had to watch our footing. So be careful on your way back down to the trailhead. This hike, though quite a drive, is unique and interesting if you have a free day.
Paul Bunyan’s Woodpile Trail is only about 45 minutes before Delta, so if you are interested in continuing on your way, here are some ideas to do in that area: Things to do near Delta.
