Dougherty Basin Trail

Sections of the trail through the meadows and pine forests can be difficult to follow. Keep an eye out for cairns and blazes.

The Trailhead: From Escalante drive west on Hwy 12. Turn right on the dirt road between milepost 55 and 56 and cross the creek. After a short distance, make a right on the road signed “Barker CG.” This is forest road 149 (FR 149). Continue of FR 149 for 16.5 miles to the Upper Barker Reservoir parking area where the road dead ends. 

The Trail: The Dougherty Basin Trail begins on the east side of the Upper Barker Reservoir parking lot. After passing through a fence, the trail comes to a junction. Take the trail on the right crossing over the water drainage as the sign indicates. The trail begins in an open meadow and soon begins its gradual climb into the aspen and mixed conifer forest. After 0.26 miles Upper Barker Reservoir comes into view on the right. At 0.31 miles the Great Western Trail comes in from the east. It joins the Dougherty Basin trail for a short distance, and then leaves to the west. Just before the reservoir there is a campsite with a fire pit and bear box. The trail ends at Dougherty Reservoir at 0.93 miles.