The Skull Crack Trailhead is a beautiful hike around the stunning Causey Reservoir and in the fall it’s a great place to see the salmon run in the late summer and early fall.
Begin your hike at the south parking lot of Causey Reservoir. You can see how low Causey Reservoir is this time of year, especially with the drought.
Here are some photos from June for comparison.
The trail is a bit narrow, but mountain bikers also use this trail. Very soon you gain more elevation and look down on Causey Reservoir.
The trail heads through the pines with little glimpses of Causey below.
The mountain views are also spectacular!
The leaves are starting to change!
When you are nearly to the Right Fork of the Ogden River, there is a split in the trail. You will want to head down the hill to the stream below.
It’s very pretty looking both directions of the stream.
If it is late summer/early fall, you can start seeing the salmon in the water here.
You can choose if you want to cross the stream. The best viewing spot is across it. Head through the trees to the best viewing.
The Kokanee Salmon are so cool to watch!
If you are not hiking during the Salmon Run, it is still such a lovely hike! This view is from a kayak in June looking at the Skull Crack trail right near the end. In the fall the reservoir is lower, so this part is the river.
On the way back you can see more amazing views!
We also saw a mule deer, squirrel, and turkey vulture on our hike, so keep your eyes out for wildlife!
Stats:
Distance – 4.7 miles roundtrip
Approximate hiking time – 2-4 hours
Elevation gain – 830 feet
Difficulty – Moderate
Trail – well maintained trail of dirt and rocks
Bathrooms – At trailhead
Seasons to hike – End of August – mid-October
Permits needed – None
Pets allowed – Yes
