The double track up from Tranquiulle is the old wagon road to the Wheeler Mountain homesteads (1906-1918).    The route winds up the hills on a south-facing slope with no trees so it makes a good fall hike.   The road can be driven with a 4WD, but it is a nice hike to the edge of the big gully at the souhwest foot of Wheeler Mountain.    We tried a different approach to the canyon this last time and found ourselves on top of a  steep esker coming down from Pruden Pass into the gully.   On the way out, we found a more direct route which is the one shown here:

From the main road, turn left onto a side track and as it comes down the nose of a ridge, then turn right onto a minor side track. At the edge of the gully, the double track also ends and a diagonal downhill route must be taken through the grass to the bottom of the gully. Follow a single track down the gully all the way to the creek. At the bottom are a number of large hoodoos on either side of the canyon, "guarding" the canyon. In lower water is is possible to scramble along the sides up the canyon, but hikers would have to wade in to explore downstream. Many years ago, we followed a challenging goat path all the way up to the Guardsmen from Pine Park, but this route is only for the most able climbers. In summer, it is possible to wade and swim all the way up to the same spot.

This is wild spot that is seldom visited, but one of our favorites.