Hardward Ranch Elk Ride

I saved an article form the Great Outdoors section of the VIA AAA magazine a few years back about hardware ranch up Blacksmith Fork Canyon.  Too late this year, but the ride is great fun, and the herd seems to always increase in size.  You can go to the visitors center all year and see elk across the mountain meadow.  I remember as a scout going to the ranch and helping with conservation projects, or bringing in the cut hay or bailed grass.  We had some good times there.  One of our scouts' dad worked at the ranch so we got to go there a few times.  That would have been the Hyrum Fourth Ward at the time which included the ranch in its boundaries.  Check out their website.

Another Look at Blacksmith Fork Canyon circa 1972

Blacksmith Fork Canyon from Hyrum

Different zoom

From close to our home

Fire safety display, Blacksmith Fork

Elk

Blacksmith Fork Canyon and Hardware Ranch

Growing up in Hyrum implies having experiences up the canyon.  This included family and ward picnics at the Hyrum City Park.  Also occasional Young Men's and Women's activities at the building there.  We held more than one dance there.  A favorite activity was to look for the head of Lincoln in the formation of the rocks on the up or back.

Hardware Ranch 1965

Elk

Getting wet, Hyrum Park

Modern-day sleigh rides

Hardware Ranch was also fun.  When I was young they had a  bobcat on a leash there.  They also had a pretend cemetery of a family that wasn't careful in the wild.  When we were Young Men, Hardware Ranch was a place for service or conservation projects.
I completed some merit badges up the canyon.  I studied the environment around Shenoah Picnic Area.
One winter, we did a winter camp at the old Quonset huts with the Varsity Scouts.  We had a great time playing penny poker all night.  It was fun as a came out a couple dollars ahead.
We had some fun family activities including going up Left-Hand fork to Old Ephraim's grave, going for a Sunday picnic and Connie and Weldon getting wet, Scout Camporee to the South of Hardware, and deer hunting past Hardware to the East.