Muddy Creek - 70150

Muddy Creek Road climbs out of the Strawberry Valley on a dirt two-track that winds through aspen and pine before opening into wide meadow country near the top. It's a short run, but it packs in a steady 1,400 foot climb, a few soft and rutted stretches that live up to the trail's name after rain, and open views back across the valley toward Strawberry Reservoir. The road is used heavily for dispersed camping, so expect trailers and tents tucked into the trees along the way.

Trail Summary

Location: Strawberry Valley, off US-40 near Daniels Summit, Wasatch County, Utah
Distance: 3.83 miles
Difficulty: Level 3 - Best suited for a high clearance 4x4
Minimum Elevation: 7,733 ft
Maximum Elevation: 9,120 ft
Elevation Gain: 1,397 ft
Travel Time: 24 minutes (recorded)

Difficulty

Best suited for a high clearance 4x4

A stock vehicle with real ground clearance, 4WD, and a good set of off-road tires is enough to handle this route. The surface turns rocky and uneven in spots, with ruts and small ledges that call for careful tire placement, and a few sections stay loose or soft after rain. There are no water crossings deeper than about a foot, but mud holes show up where the road hasn't dried out. Most of the road is a single lane with pull-outs to let other vehicles by.

Elevation

The track starts at 7,733 feet near the valley floor and climbs almost the entire way to a high point of 9,120 feet. Total elevation gain comes to roughly 1,397 feet against only about 22 feet of loss, since the route is essentially a one-way ascent with very little downhill. Net change from start to finish works out to about 1,387 feet of climbing.

Terrain

Expect mountain shelf roads and rocky two-track through most of the drive. The lower half runs through dense aspen and conifer stands on a narrow forest road, with the trees opening into broad grass meadows as the route gains elevation. The road surface is native dirt that turns to mud quickly after rain, and there are several dispersed campsites tucked along both the timbered and open sections. The road stays mostly single-lane, with turnouts where two vehicles can pass.

4WD Experience

A high-clearance 4WD handles this trail without much drama in dry conditions. The obstacles are all under a foot, mostly ruts, small ledges, and the occasional loose rock, so nothing here demands low range or lockers. The trail earns its name when it's wet, though. Mud holes and soft, greasy sections form quickly after rain or snowmelt, and tire placement becomes the main skill needed to keep moving without digging in. Anyone running this after a storm should plan on some careful, low-speed sections through the meadow stretches near the top.

Travel Time

The recorded track shows a total time of about 24 minutes covering the full 3.83 miles, including a couple of short stops. That works out to a brisk pace for a Level 3 route. A high-clearance 4WD driving more deliberately, especially through any soft or muddy sections and while watching for camping traffic, should plan on 30 to 45 minutes for the one-way climb.

Highlights

The open meadows in the upper half of the route offer wide views back down into Strawberry Valley, with Strawberry Reservoir visible in the distance on a clear day. The aspen groves lower on the trail turn bright gold in early fall, which is a popular time to run this route. Dispersed camping is scattered along nearly the entire length, making this a good option to pair with an overnight stay near Strawberry Reservoir or a run over toward Diamond Fork Canyon.