North Fork Loop

IT WAS A WONDERFUL DAY IN GOD's OUTDOORS!

DESCRIPTION:  Park at the North Fork Trailhead in the car parking lot.   The trail begins on the north side of the Mirror Lake Highway.   This is a well maintained trail, with blue markers on trees.  When you come to a log fence, the trail heads west.   If you take the trail to the east you'll end up at a lake.   When you get back to the highway, cross the highway, cut over to the cross country ski trail, turn left.   You'll cross a bridge.

RATINGS: Moderate

MILEAGE: 4.1 miles

FEE: $6 per vehicle or use your National Recreation Pass on a rearview mirror hanger.

HIKE TIME: Allow 2 1/2 hours to enjoy the loop.

ELEVATION GAIN: 330'

RESTROOM:   You'll find one at the lower parking lot.

DIRECTIONS: From Kamas, Utah drive east on the Mirror Lake Highway SR 150.

Turn right into the North Fork parking area for cars.

LIVING ROOM

God blessed us with a great BLACK FRIDAY hike.  We hiked up to the Living Room and sat on stone chairs, enjoying great views of Smog Lake City.


DESCRIPTION: Begin at the Bonneville Shoreline trail, by the Red Butte Garden entrance.
RATINGS: Moderate

MILEAGE: 2.6 miles round trip
HIKE TIME:  Allow 2 1/2 hours to enjoy the hike.
DIRECTIONS: From Foothill Blvd, near the U of U, follow signs to Red Butte Gardens. Drive up Wakara Way and turn right on Colorow Road and park.

FRARY PEAK

It was a wonderful adventure on Antelope Island climbing to the highest summit.   On our drive back home God blessed us with an amazing sunset.


RATINGS: INTERMEDIATE PLUS
MILEAGE: 3 1/2 miles
ELEVATION GAIN: 2,100'
HIKE TIME:  Allow 5 hours
FEE: $10 per vehicle 
RESTROOM:  No restroom at the trailhead
NO DOGS allowed on the trail.


DIRECTIONS:  From SLC take I -15 north,
take exit 332 Antelope Drive and turn left, 
keep driving straight till you reach the park.

STANSBURY ISLAND ADVENTURE

What a fun adventure!   The road on the western side of the Island used to be gated and now the general public is allowed to see the northern part of Stansbury Island.









DESCRIPTION:  Enjoy riding your mountain bike down the Stansbury Island road to the northern end.   You'll find a several kiosks, a restroom, and an interpretive trail to explore.
RATINGS: MODERATE
TIME:  2 hours bike time and 1 hour exploring!
MILEAGE:  8 miles each way
RESTROOM:  No restroom at the first parking area.    
Only restroom on Stansbury Island is 8 miles up the road.
DRIVE TIME from SLC 1 hour.










DIRECTIONS:  Take I-80 west toward Wendover,  take exit 84 (SR 138), take the Broken Arrow Salt dirt road (do not drive to Grantsville), travel 7.1 miles passing salt evaporation ponds on the main road, when you see a sign,   Stansbury Island Interpretive Trail, take a short drive up the hill to a boulder parking area. (If you come to the gate on the road you've missed the turn off.)

GEAR:  Helmet, lunch, water, sunprotection, sunglasses, extra tube, pump, jacket, and flat repair kit.
 

GHOST FALLS LOOP

God blessed us with a wonderful day, good friends, and fun adventure.

DESCRIPTION: Enjoy a walk through a forest to Ghost Falls.  At the trailhead, maps are available.  Travel the Bonneville Shoreline trail down the hill, connect with Canyon Hollow trail, turn left on the Burnham Creek trail, right on the Gas Line trail, left on the Ghost Falls trail.  After seeing Ghost Falls, continue on the trail, take a left and join the Canyon Hollow trail and head back to Coyote Hollow trailhead.
TRAILHEAD: COYOTE HOLLOW
RATINGS: Moderate
MILEAGE: 2.75 mile loop
ELEVATION GAIN:  450'
NO DOGS allowed in Ghost Falls watershed area
NO RESTROOMS available
DIRECTIONS: Travel toward the Draper Temple,
from Highland Drive, take RAMBLING ROAD,
turn right on MIKE WEIR DRIVE,
turn left toward the Draper Temple parking,
turn right on CANYON VISTA LN.
turn left on GREY FOX DR.
turn right on COYOTE HOLLOW CT.
and find a place to park.
GOOGLE MAP: Draper Temple, Draper, Utah

Rattlesnake Gulch to Overlook

The sun felt good on this brisk Autumn day. 

DESCRIPTION:  Enjoy an energetic climb up to the Millcreek Pipeline trail.  Take the trail west to the overlook of the Salt Lake Valley.   This trail is shared with joggers, mountain bikers, dogs and hikers.

RATINGS: Moderate Plus
MILEAGE: 3.4 miles round trip
ELEVATION GAIN: 700'
HIKE TIME: 2 hours
DOGS:  Odd days off leash
TRAILHEAD: Rattlesnake Gulch turnoff
FEE:  Millcreek Canyon Fee $3 per vehicle ($2 seniors)
DIRECTIONS:  Enter Millcreek from Wasatch Blvd. and 3800 South, Salt Lake City, Utah

 

Adams Canyon

Adams Canyon is a fun playground for hikers.   The trail is like an obsticle course, following a bubbling stream to a beautiful waterfall.   On the trail you will pass a huge fir tree, walk by poison ivy, cross a wooden bridge, discover a hidden trail to a pond, scramble over rocks, walk on a ledge, climb over boulders, jump over logs, walk through a stream bed, and climb under a rock waterfalls.  

CLIMB UNDER TREES

CLIMB DOWN

God blessed us with Autumn colors.  



SCRAMBLE ON ROCK

RATINGS: MODERATE PLUS
ELEVATION GAIN: 1,212'
HIKE TIME: 3 1/2 hours
DEPARTING: 10am
MILEAGE: 3.9 miles round trip
NO RESTROOMS available

WALK ON LEDGE

DIRECTIONS from SLC take I-15 north, (45 minute drive)
after passing the Lagoon exit, take exit 324 ~ US 89 North,
when you pass through OAK HILLS DRIVE,
turn right at the next street,
turn right again, drive south on East Side Drive to a dirt parking lot, east of the Oak Hills Intersection.
DIRECTIONS from Ogden take US 89 south toward Farmington,
after passing mile marker 402,
turn left at the next street,
turn right and drive south on East Side Drive to a dirt parking lot, east of the Oak Hills Dr. Intersection.

Mueller Park Autumn Hike

 

Mueller Park trail makes a fun Autumn hike.  God blessed us with a great day in the foothills of Bountiful, Utah.

 

Enjoy hiking 3 1/2 miles to an autumn overlook.

RATINGS: Moderate

DEPARTING: 10:45am

ELEVATION GAIN: 968'

TOTAL HIKE TIME: 3 3/4 hours, unless you turn back early.

NO RESTROOMS available now.   You might try the city park on 850 East,

as you drive up 1800 South.

DIRECTIONS from SLC: Take I-15 exit 315, 2600 South,

drive up the hill and the road curves left becoming Orchard Drive (north),

turn right on 1800 South and drive straight to the mountains.

Park outside Mueller Park at Maple Ridge Drive and Mueller Park Road.

GEAR: Where warm clothes, jacket, gloves, hat, bring water, energy snacks, and camera

DOG OWNERS: Need to clean up after their pets.

Doughnut Falls

We enjoyed a wonderful Sunday afternoon hiking to Doughnut Falls from Big Cottonwood Road.

RATINGS: Moderate
MILEAGE: 1.6 miles to the falls
PARK at Mill D South Fork up Big Cottonwood Canyon
RESTROOMS available at the road and trailhead
WATERSHED: No dogs allowed in Big Cottonwood

Murdock Canal Trail

BULL RIVER ROAD TRAILHEAD

BULL RIVER ROAD to HIGHLAND GLEN PARK
The Murdock Canal Trail opened May 2013 and is a wonderful paved parkway   It is a wider trail than most parkways, and even has a seperate trail for those who walk.   There are flush restrooms at the trailhead, and even trailhead rest areas with drinking fountains and picnic tables.   The entire trail runs 17 miles, end to end.




BICYCLE REST AREA

DESCRIPTION:  Enjoy a short out-n-back ride from the Bull River Road trailhead, to Highland Glen Park trailhead.  There are a few hills to climb; but a fun ride back.
RATINGS: MODERATE
RIDE TIME: 1 1/2 hour out and back MTB
DIRECTIONS to BULL RIVER ROAD trailhead: 
From SLC take I-15 South over the point of the mountain, take the Timpanogos Cave exit (SR 92) and turn left on the Timpanogos Highway,  stay in the right lane, at the top of the first hill is a stop light 1200 West, turn right, turn right again on the unnamed road and drive a block to the trailhead.



BICYCLES LEFT and PEDESTRIANS RIGHT TRAIL

Smith and Moorehouse

There are two hiking trails, not far from Smith and Moorehouse reservoir.    From Weber Canyon road,  instead of turning right on the Smith and Moorehouse road, drive straight.   7 miles up the road is the Dry Fork trailhead, which will take you up a steep hill to Fish Lake.  (4.7 miles each way, 2,400' elevation gain.  If you drive 9 miles to the end of the road,  you'll reach the Gardner Fork trailhead, which will take you to Abe Lake.  (3 1/2 miles each way - 2,000' e.g.)




Snake Creek Pass

Today we had an enjoyable hike in Brighton.   We started on the Lake Mary trail and followed the Clayton Peak trail to Snake Creek Pass.   This is a great trail to get away from all the crowds and be with God.









RATINGS: Moderate
MILEAGE: 2 miles to the overlook
ELEVATION GAIN: 1310'
HIKE TIME: 3 1/2 hours
WATERSHED: No dogs allowed in Big Cottonwood Canyon
RESTROOMS:  Silver Lake visitor center
DIRECTIONS:  Drive to the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon to the large ski parking lot.  The trail begins by the gravel road.
Hike the Lake Mary trail.   At the Dog Lake trail sign, turn left and take the Clayton Peak trail.
 

Round Valley Mystery Tour

Hey, Hey it's the mystery tour.    The weather was nice Labor Day in the Round Valley area.   It was cloudy when we began the ride, and sunny when we finished.   On the mystery ride we saw golden retrievers, unicyclers, and even a mystery car. God blessed us again with good weather.



DESCRIPTION:  Park at the Round Valley ballpark, and begin your ride at Quinn's trailhead.  The rest is a mystery.
RATINGS:  Moderate/Intermediate
DIRECTION:  From SLC take I-80 up Parley's Canyon,  take US 40 south,  take Park City exit 4 and turn right,  turn right on Round Valley Drive,  and make an immediate left turn into the ballpark area. You'll drive by the dog park.

Lake Mary, Martha and Catherine

After a few terribly hot days in Salt Lake, hiking in Brighton was a wonderful place to cool off.   It was a great day to be with God in the mountains.








DESCRIPTION:  This is a great trail for kids and beginners.   Enjoy seeing three beautiful alpine lakes.  
RATINGS: Moderate
MILEAGE: 2 miles each way
ELEVATION GAIN:  1125'
TRAILHEAD:  East side of the large parking lot at the Brighton Ski Resort in Utah.
DIRECTIONS:  From Wasatch Blvd and Fort Union Blvd, drive to the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon.
RESTROOMS:  Available at the Silver Lake parking area.
WATERSHED:  No dogs allowed in this canyon.   Also, no swimming and no wading allowed.

Ann's Trail to Potatoe Hill

Today was a wonderful day mountain biking around Draper Ridge.  God blessed us with a great day!
 
DESCRIPTION: Begin biking up the double track by the restroom toward the hill, turn left and travel on the Bonneville Shoreline trail. When the trail splits, take Ann's Trail to the right. There is more climbing the first half of the ride; but it is a sweet ride returning. Follow Ann's Trail and go under Traverse Ridge Road. Turn left and ride to the trail head or overlook.   On your return ride you'll climb up a hill, and have a wonderful fast ride back.  
MILEAGE: 10 miles total, out and back.
RATINGS: Non-techincal Intermediate
RESTROOMS: available at Flight Park
DIRECTIONS: Take I -15 exit at 14600 South, turn left driving on Highland Dr, turn right on Traverse Ridge Road, turn right on Manilla Dr, turn right on Steep Mountain Dr. and follow the street to Flight Park.

BOWMAN FORK

Saturday morning isn't a good time to hike upper Millcreek. Our Dog Lake Hike was changed when we found the top of canyon so crowded with parked cars. People were walking up the road from Alexander Basin trailhead to get to the upper hiking trails.  We choose a plan B hike, a less crowded trail mid canyon.   This is a fun trail with a bubbling stream.

DESCRIPTION:  You'll find parking near the bridge gate to the Terraces Picnic road.   Walk up the road and you'll find the trailhead.   The trail splits, Terrace to the right and Bowman to the left.



RESTROOMS: Near the parking below, and at the Terraces picnic area.
MILEAGE:  2.2 miles from the canyon road to the first Bowman Ridge overlook.
ELEVATION GAIN: 1300'
WILDERNESS AREA ~ no mountain biking allowed
DOGS must be on leash on even days and leashed in parking and picnic areas at all  times. Owners must clean up after their pets.