Cub River Canyon

Written By
Phillip C. Carter and
Carol Carter (Hansen) (Nelson)
Page 1 of 1

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East of Franklin, Idaho, near the north end of Cache Valley, can be found Cub River Canyon. The little community of Mapleton was started in 1874 with the first homesteader locating along the bank of the pristine mountain stream that runs through this canyon. A major logging development occurred in 1877 when a sawmill was established in Mapleton to process the thousands of logs being floated down this small creek. The logs were cut into railroad ties for the expansion of the Utah Northern Railroad then being constructed from Utah through Idaho and into Western Montana.

Cub River, a tributary of the Bear River, is in a heavily forested canyon with a great variety of trees and shrubs. Maples, willows and cottonwoods abound at the lower elevations. Pines and other evergreens plus numerous quaking aspen groves are found higher in the mountains. The Shoshoni Indians used a primitive trail along the river and over the mountains as a trading route from Cache Valley to the Bear Lake Valley. The Mormon Pioneers made good use of this trail as they expanded their timbering and agricultural industries in the 1870's to early 1900's.

Evidence of ancient Lake Bonneville is clearly seen on the bench lands near Cub River Canyon. During the 1930's in the Roosevelt years and Great Depression a CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) camp was established in Cub River Canyon. Water from the river has been utilized for irrigation from as early as 1881 when a canal was built to bring water to the flat bench lands near Preston, Idaho. Preston City and Franklin have also utilized water from this stream for culinary purposes. The trout fishing in the upper parts of the canyon have been and continue to be a major recreational resource for thousands of people. Mature cutthroat trout originally abounded in these clear cold waters. Rainbow and brook trout were introduced at Willow Flat and in the beaver dam impoundments that can be found there. This coupled with increasing fishing pressure resulted in near extinction of the native cutthroat trout. However, recent changes in fishing regulations and management practices have returned the cutthroat trout population to sustainable levels.

In the 1920's my grandfather, George Dominicus Carter, with the help of his brother Warren, homesteaded 160 acres near the headwaters of the left-hand fork of Cub River. This property was later acquired by the Hull family, who in turn sold the "Carter Ranch" to the Cache Valley council of the Boy Scouts of America. The Boy Scouts moved George's homestead cabin to a hilltop in one of the fields and restored it somewhat. Notice the modern metal roof visible in these recent photographs.

The descendants of George Dominicus Carter held family reunions in the mid 1950's in Preston, Idaho and then visited the Carter homestead to hear Myrin Carter, son of George Dominicus, tell stories of his having lived there with his father on the mountain ranch. They raised horses, cattle, hay and grain but their main "cash crop" was pigs. These herds of pigs had to be trail driven down the canyon through the heavily brush lined river and finally into Franklin or Preston, Idaho for sale.

In more recent years various generations of Carters and many other families returned to this beautiful canyon. Some have second homes and Mapleton has greatly expanded over the years. However, the upper part of the canyon is on public lands and remains as it was in pre-pioneer times except for a few roads, hiking trails and the effects of having had much of the pine and fir forest harvested. Dear, elk, and other wildlife can be found here. Perhaps wolves will even return to the canyon someday. However, I might have been one of the last to see a wild wolf in Cub River Canyon. In 1940 my Dad had taken me along on a fishing trip to Cub River, his favorite stream. Just above the CCC camp we saw two wolves. Dad told me to remember that day, as he predicted they would be the last of their kind in this area.

Cub River Canyon was a favorite place to go, so Daddy and the boys could fish. In those days we didn't own a tent and Mother would spread big quilts on the riverbank. In the daytime we could lie on our backs and look up at the blue skies and puffy white clouds and make cloud pictures. At night we would lie and look up into the clear bright sky filled with twinkling stars. It was a magical place for a young girl.

One time we got ready in a hurry when Daddy came home from the college. In her haste Mother forgot to bring silverware and we had the fun of eating with our hands. The fresh caught trout cooked crispy over an open fire in the family's frying pan with lots of butter were the best we ever had!

When I was a teen-ager my older brother Grover taught me to drive in Cub River Canyon, so he could get out of the car and fish down stream. I would drive the car and meet him at selected spots. I loved the experience.

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