Doughnut Falls Snowshoe

Beautiful blue sky, clean air, and lots of fun.  Because of the low snowfall this year, a lot of folks on the trail were hiking without snowshoes.   But poles are highly recommended. 

God blessed us with a refreshing day in the mountains!

DESCRIPTION:  Follow the Cardiff Road up to the Summer trailhead, where you'll see a restroom.   Get off the road, and follow the snowshoe trail up the hill.   The trail will cross a bridge and join the Cardiff Road.   When you come to a fork in the trail, stay to the left fork.   Follow the trail down to the narrows, where you'll have to climb down a few icy boulders.   Go up the stream bed and see the falls.  

RATINGS: MODERATE

BIG COTTONWOOD WATERSHED: No dogs allowed

MILEAGE: 3.15 miles round trip from Big Cottonwood Rd.

HIKE TIME: 3 hours

ELEVATION GAIN: 490'

PARKING: 8.8 miles up Big Cottonwood, park at Mill D South Fork,

"Cardiff Fork Road and 9730 E. Big Cottonwood Rd, SLC, UT"

RESTROOM available at the parking area.

GEAR: Poles, snowshoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, knit hat, insulate gloves, snow boots, water, energy snacks, and camera.

DIRECTIONS: Big Cottonwood Canyon begins at Fort Union Blvd and Wasatch Blvd in Salt Lake City, UT

SNOWSHOE 101

BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON

God blessed us with a sunny day in the mountains!  Pure blue sky!  It was great to escape Smog Lake City, getting out of the cold valley, and to breathe clean fresh air...what a blessing!  






MILL D SOUTH FORK
Cardiff Fork Road, 9730 East and Big Cottonwood Road
RATINGS: NEWBIES - easy terrain for beginners and kids
GEAR: Snowshoes, poles, hat, insulated gloves, snow pants, sunscreen, sunglasses, water, camera, day pack, energy snacks, wear layers of clothing.
HIKE TIME: 2 hours
MILEAGE: 1 1/2 miles
DIRECTIONS: From I-215 take the ski exit,  drive up 6200 South and continue on Wasatch Blvd.  Turn left to Big Cottonwood Canyon Road at Wasatch Blvd and Fort Union Blvd.   Drive up to Mill D South Fork and park.

Autumn Tour Provo Parkway

God gave us a great and wonderful day!



PROVO CANYON

Enjoy an Autumn bicycle ride on the Provo Parkway.   Finding your way through the I-15 construction and detours, is like driving through a Utah Valley Corn Maze.   The Provo River Parkway is closed under I-15.

VIVIAN PARK












PAUL REAM WILDERNESS PARK to VIVIAN PARK LOOP
RATINGS: Moderate ride on pavement
MILEAGE: 24 miles total
ELEVATION GAIN: 650'
BICYCLES: All bicycles
RIDE TIME: 3 1/4 hours
RESTROOMS available at parks along the trail.
GEAR: Helmet, pump, extra tube, flat repair tools, water, sunscreen, jacket, and energy snacks.
TRAILHEAD: Paul Ream Wilderness Park, Independence Ave and 500 North, Provo, Utah

Grandview to Horseshoe Mesa

  

GRANDVIEW TRAIL

Enjoy an exciting adventure at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.  From the Grandview Overlook, the trail has steep switchbacks.   This section has shade in the morning and afternoon.   Hiking on the mesa is easy, but the temperature is hotter.

RATINGS: INTERMEDIATE

MILEAGE: 3.1 miles down to Horseshoe Mesa, Pete Berry cabin.

ELEVATION GAIN: 2,560' hiking back to the rim.

RESTROOMS: Backpacker's campsites and group site.

NO WATER on the trail.   You might hide some extra water, half way down the trail.

700' down the east side of Horseshoe Mesa is Page Spring.   A steep climb.

GEAR: Two hiking poles recommended!  High energy food, salty snacks, sports drinks instead of water, sunscreen, hat, map, good hiking shoes, light jacket, and camera.

SIGHTSEEING on Horseshoe Mesa, Pete Berry's Cabin, backpacker's campground, Eastern overlook, and Cave of the Domes.   Add 3 miles to your hike exploring Horseshoe Mesa.

 

HORSESHOE MESA









CAVE OF THE DOMES



EASTERN OVERLOOK





















HISTORIC TIN CANS



CAMPGROUND RESTROOM









     



Twin Lakes Autumn Adventure

 Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful Autumn day!   The colors were crazy in the mountains!   We read Psalm 47 at Twin Lakes Reservoir.   It was a great day for friends to be in the mountains. Cool mountain air, and warm sunshine!   Autumn leaves were yellow, gold, orange, speckled, brown, and green.

RATINGS: Newbies

MILEAGE: 1 mile to Twin Lakes Reservoir

ELEVATION GAIN 800'

HIKE TIME: Allow 3 hours to enjoy this hike

KID FRIENDLY

WATERSHED: No dogs allowed in Big Cottonwood Canyon; no swimming, and no wading.

TRAIL BEGINS at Silver Lake in Brighton, Utah

DIRECTIONS: Big Cottonwood Canyon begins at Wasatch Blvd; Fort Union Blvd, Salt Lake City, Utah.   Drive up to Brighton and park in Silver Lake parking lot.

Round Valley Adventure

The adventure began during a cool Autumn day in September.   We met at the Rail Trail parking lot on Prospector Avenue, in Park City, Utah.   After we prayed, we glided down the paved Rail Trail for 2 miles.   At a road, we turned left and went up a paved trail to the Round Valley area.
Our dirt adventure began at the Quinn's trailhead.   We rode up the dirt road and went to a paved parking lot.   From there we climbed the hill up to the Cammy's trail and took a break.   Then we road up to the Valderoad, turned left and went down the Seventy Seven trail.   We road down to the center of the valley and climbed up the ridge.   Turning left, we went up Rad Ridge to the Cammy's trail.   We rode to the Valderoad, turning right and coasting back to the Round Valley ball park.  Then back up the Rail Trail.
RATINGS: Moderate technical
MILEAGE: 13 miles
TIME: 3 hours
RESTROOM available at the Ball Park during the warm seasons.
GEAR: Helmet, water, pump, flat repair kit, first aid, and energy snacks.

Upper Red Pine Lake



Upper Red Pine





Boulder Field



God blessed us with a challenging hike today.   Light snow covered the ground above Lower Red Pine.  It was cloudy, sunny, light rain, light sleet, icy wind, sometimes warm and full of adventure. 

A great day to praise God, fellowship together and even pray.

DESCRIPTION:  Drive up Little Cottonwood Canyon to the White Pine trailhead.  While the trail to White Pine Lake is a winding jeep road;  Red Pine is a steeper singletrack hiking trail.   Once you have arrived at Lower Red Pine, there is no official trail to Upper Red.   Most people climb boulders up the hill.   Fishermen catch monster trout in this lake, when the conditions are right.

RESTROOM at the trailhead.

WATERSHED: No dogs in Little Cottonwood Canyon.  No swimming in lakes.

WILDERNESS AREA:  Red Pine and Maybird Gulch.  No mountain biking.

RATINGS: INTERMEDIATE to Lower Red Pine Lake,

Upper Red Pine is more challenging, climbing over huge boulders.

MILEAGE: 3 miles to Lower Red Pine,  3.6 miles to Upper Red.

HIKE TIME:  Allow 7 hours total,