Davis County High Point Trip Report
seventeen areas (1,000+ ft)
Date: March 18, 2004
Author: Bob Schwab
seven areas in sections 7/8-67N-15W
From the intersection of Routes 2 and 5 in Centerville, go east on Route 2 for
about 10.5 miles to Route 202. Drive south on Route 202 (passing through the
town of Moulton) for a total of 9 miles. Watch for the intersection with
Alpine Avenue (which goes north), and just beyond 306th Street (which goes east).
Most of these areas are located on land owned by the Burgher horse farm
(house #10884 on 306th Street). I met the grandson, Beau, who permitted me
to visit their property and the adjacent CRB (conservation reclamation bureau?)
land north of the house.
From the intersection of 306th and Route 202, go east on 306th
Street about 0.25 mile to where the road bends north. There is a gate here
where you can enter the tall hay with some paths running through it. There are
three areas down here in the CRB field (conservation restoration) land, one
directly south a few hundred feet, and two others southeast roughly 0.25 mile.
Continue east on 306th Street to the field immediately west of the Burgher home.
This very flat contour (area 4) extends from the grassy field next to the house
into an adjacent bean field. Continue past the Burgher’s house as the road
bends north and then east again. At this point, note an old road going north.
Park here and hike north about 0.25 mile, crossing some drainage. Turn west and
angle up the hill into more CRB land to the top of area 5. This is actually a
pleasant little hike and there is a definite rise inside the contour (map lines
are drawn in 20-foot contours). There is a smaller (and obviously lower) spot
just to your southwest (area 6). While you’re visiting area 6, you may want to
continue over to the fence corner and cross over it to visit the oblong-shaped
contour immediately southwest of the corner (area 7). You can also approach
area 7 from Alpine Avenue. I just parked along the edge of the road (Alpine)
and hiked east along the fence line (since it was the first one I did that day).
After visiting these seven spots, I believe area 5 is the highest contour in
this cluster, and may be the highest in the whole county.
ten areas in sections 17/18-67N-15W
John Beeler owns most of the land in these sections and I found him to be very
friendly and helpful. He took the time to personally escort me to the spots he
thought were the highest ones on his property (and almost got his truck stuck in
the mud!). Go south on Route 202 to Coatsville, and turn left on East Bull Run Road.
The first white house to your right, just as the road swings north again
(parallel to Route 202) is his home. Once you’ve gotten permission, drive north
on Route 202 about 0.5 mile to where the road bends left. You can still see an
old railroad right of way that continues north here. The land contours are a
bit different here now, because the EPA dug out the contour to the north and
used it to cap off an old coal loading site here. Mr. Beeler thinks this spot
may now actually be higher than the contours out in the field. Anyway, park
here and hike north along the old RR path. In about 0.4 mile, there is a gate
into a hayfield to your right. Cross the field, and then cross the fence to
visit an obvious contour (area 8). Another larger contour is to your north in
the hay (area 9). Mr. Beeler thinks this is the highest one on his property and
I’m inclined to agree. Walk northwest across this large area, heading back
toward the RR right of way. Once you get on it, continue north another 0.3 mile
to three small areas (10-12) along the old RR path (These spots can also be
accessed from Mr. Burgher’s CRB field). I suspect they are remnants of the RR
construction. Return to your car by walking back down the RR path.
When road conditions are better, you can access areas 8 and 9 from a dirt/mud
road that runs north from East Bull Run Road about 0.75 mile east of Coatsville.
When the road bends east, park here and walk north to areas 8 and 9. The road
then goes east for almost 0.5 mile to a house (# 11483) where the road bends
north again. Just before you get to the house, note a spot to the south in a
plowed bean field (area 13). The area is small and quite flat. Follow the road
(318th Trail) north to the next bend to the east and park here near the sign
(315th Street and 318th Trail). Hike north into the open field and stay east of
the fence line. You will cross over four more areas (14-17) which are quite modest.
If the road is really bad, you can approach these spots from 306th Street.
Drive east, past the Burgher’s home to an intersection with Buck Avenue.
Turn right and go south about 1 mile to 315th Street. Turn right (west) and
drive 0.25 mile to the 318th Trail sign and park. The road is in decent shape
another 0.25 mile south to the house. Going south from there it’s mucky mire at
this time of year, so either use your 4WD or park and hike.