A recent UTV ride to Smith Creek Lakes revealed stark devastation caused by a record-breaking tornado that touched down in the mountains above Highway 89. The storm featured winds peaking at 120 mph and was 1.1 miles wide.
The storm caused significant damage to the area, including uprooting and snapping pine trees measuring 12 to 18 inches in thickness. During the event, Nick and Krista Lemoine were camping at the middle lake and had to hunker down in their truck with only a two-minute warning. After the storm passed, downed trees blocked their campsite and the access road, forcing them to hike through the debris to find help. Lemoine eventually returned with reinforcements and chainsaws to clear a path and retrieve his vehicle.
The trek to view the damage included riders Kirt Merrill of Layton, Bry Davis of Layton, and Dave Meents of North Ogden. The group traveled from the Farmington Canyon trailhead, navigating an icy track on the shady side of the mountain. Along the route, three new rock slides were observed on the canyon road, though they were not large enough to block travel.
The mountain road is subject to regular changes due to unstable terrain and steep canyon walls. Heavy rains and spring runoff frequently trigger significant slides in the area. Previous major incidents include a massive boulder that crashed onto the road in May 2015, necessitating evacuations, and a wrecking-ball-sized boulder that blocked the road near the first switchback in May 2011.
Riders traveling through the backcountry are advised to bring plenty of water and monitor weather conditions carefully.
