Salt Lake Overlook
Ensign Peak
Doughnut Falls

Salt Lake Overlook
(via
Desolation Trail)

Distance: 4 Miles round trip
Elevation Change: 1250 Feet
Highest Point: 7000 Feet
Hiking Time: 3 hours round trip
Location: In Millcreek Canyon just past the Millcreek Inn, on the right hand side.
Take the Desolation Trail to the obvious Salt Lake Overlook.

Brief: Obvious path with a fair amount of switchbacks. Watch for wildlife such as moose. At the overlook you get excellent views of the Salt Lake Valley.

Return to List

Distance: 1 Mile round trip
Elevation Change: 600 Feet
Highest Point: 5414 Feet
Hiking Time: 1.25 hours roundtrip
Location: From the State Capitol Building take the cross street either in front of or behind the Capitol complex until you reach East Capitol Blvd. Turn left and drive north through the residential area until you reach North Sandrun Drive (940 N) and turn left on that road. Drive about 1 block and the road "forks". In the middle of the fork is an LDS meetinghouse. Take the right fork, which runs behind the church. The trailhead is about 1/2 block further on the right hand side and is a developed, easily identifiable trailhead.

Brief: Obvious path and watershed area (No Dogs!). Ensign Peak is a great place for commemorative events and casual hikes. A great view and an easy hike for someone with very little time. Great hike for families.

http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/Ensign_Peak_7160.asp

Return to List

Distance: 0.5 Miles round trip
Elevation Change: 200 Feet
Highest Point: 7920 Feet
Hiking Time: 10 Minutes one-way
Location: Via Big Cottonwood Canyon Road (7000 South Wasatch Blvd) about 8.8 miles up the canyon to Cardiff Fork (Mill D South Fork). Then 1 ¼ miles up Cardiff Fork to parking area. Trail follows the creek.

Brief: "The Doughnut Falls Trail ends at an unusual formation where the stream falls through a hole in the rock, hence the name Doughnut Falls. The trail connects with the Cardiff Fork Road."

http://www.compassmonkey.com/activities/activities.php/476/hiking

Return to List

Distance: 4 Miles round trip
Elevation Change: 1250 Feet
Highest Point: 7000 Feet
Hiking Time: 3 hours round trip
Location: "From Salt Lake City, Head east toward Mill Creek Canyon on 3800 South Wasatch Blvd. At the first stop sign (Parkview Dr., 3700 East) turn right and go 1.1 miles to Parkview Terrace (4175 East 4245 South). Turn left and continue to White Way (4275 South 4260 East), turn right heading generally eastward and uphill to the end of the road. The trailhead is marked and the trail begins as a rocky jeep road. The drive takes you through a residential area. Please be courteous of others and their property. No parking after 10:00 PM." Dog's allowed but must be leashed in parking area.

Brief: Neff's Canyon Trail begins as an old jeep road and then leads into the Mount Olympus Wilderness Area. Or you can take a small trail to the right of the parking area up to the main trail. "The canyon is larger than it may seem and has many smaller drainages. The hiking opportunities are varied, with access to the Desolation Trail in Thayne Canyon. Neff's Cave, claimed to be one of the deepest caves in the United States, is also accessible by this trail. However, the cave has been closed due to natural hazards and spelunking difficulties. Written permission is necessary to gain access."

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-parks-233433-neff_s_canyon_trail_wasatch_cache_national_forest_hiking_walking-i

Return to List

Distance: 3.5 Miles round trip
Elevation Change: 3100Feet
Highest Point: 8299 Feet
Hiking Time: 4 hours round trip
Location: Via Mill Creek Canyon Road (3800 South Wasatch Blvd.) about 3 miles up the canyon to Church Fork Picnic Area. Take the road in the picnic area to the end and follow Church Fork Trail 3.4 miles to Grandeur Peak Summit.

Brief: "The summit of Grandeur Peak offers a view of the Salt Lake Valley and a large portion of the Wasatch Front from Neff's Canyon on the south to Francis Peak on the north. This trail is open for a great part of the winter, and can be hiked nearly year round. The trail begins at the end of the road at Church Fork Picnic Area. Parking is limited at the end of the road." Dogs are allowed on odd days only.

http://www.compassmonkey.com/activities/activities.php/463/hiking

Return to List

Distance: 3 Miles round trip
Elevation Change: 1600 Feet
Highest Point: 7000 Feet
Hiking Time: 2.5 hours round trip
Location: The canyon is located directly south of Big Cottonwood Canyon. Take Prospector Drive and then turn right onto TImberline Drive. Park at the base of the dirt road that leads to the water towers.

Brief: A short steep canyon, Ferguson also is known for it's rock climbing. Walk up the canyon bottom and follow the trail (in the spring it is wet with running water and waterproof boots are recommended). After about 1.25 hours you should reach the switchbacks which head up the ridge. You can take the ridge trail down (it connects to the main trail) or double back and head down the canyon bottom.

Return to List

Lake Blanche
Mount Timpanogos
Pfiefferhorn from Red Pine

Distance: 5.5 Miles round trip
Elevation Change: 2720 Feet
Highest Point: 7000 Feet
Hiking Time: 3 hours round trip
Location: "Via Big Cottonwood Canyon Road (7000 South Wasatch Blvd) about 4.3 miles up the canyon to Mill B South Fork Picnic Area just before the "S" curve. Turn into picnic area and go left. Trailhead is located at the east end of the picnic area by the outhouse." Dogs are not permitted in this watershed.

Brief: "The Lake Blanche or Mill B South Trail enters into the Twin Peaks Wilderness Area and leads to Lake Blanche, Lake Lillian, and Lake Florence. The trail provides access to Sundial Peak. Glacial evidence can be seen all around along this trail." Probably one of the easiest trails in this "difficult" rating.

http://www.compassmonkey.com/activities/activities.php/477/hiking

Return to List

Distance: 13 Miles round trip
Elevation Change: 4580 Feet (gain) 4840 Feet (loss)
Highest Point: 11,749 Feet
Hiking Time: 10 hours round trip
Location: "Access the Aspen Grove trailhead from the North Fork of Provo Canyon off of the Alpine Scenic Highway SR-92. The trailhead and parking lot are located just south of the Brigham Young University's Aspen Grove Camp."

Brief: "Begin at the Aspen Grove trailhead (elevation 6,861 feet) and head west through the aspen trees. After about a mile, the trail will begin to climb gently, then more steeply, on two miles of switchbacks. At 10,000 feet a valley area offers the opportunity to search out some of the spectacular mountain wildflowers that light up the meadows along this segment. Continuing on the trail for another half a mile, you will come to a knoll overlooking Emerald Lake.
At Emerald Lake (elevation 10,800 feet), head up the snow field another 0.75 mile. Past 11,500 feet, the trail traverses the western slope to the top. Follow the same route to descend or head down the other side of the mountain to the Timpanogos Basin."

http://gorp.away.com/gorp/location/ut/ww_saltlake2.htm

Return to List

Distance: 3 Miles round trip
Elevation Change: 1600 Feet
Highest Point: 7000 Feet
Hiking Time: 2.5 hours round trip
Location: The canyon is located directly south of Big Cottonwood Canyon. Take Prospector Drive and then turn right onto TImberline Drive. Park at the base of the dirt road that leads to the water towers.

Brief: A short steep canyon, Ferguson also is known for it's rock climbing. Walk up the canyon bottom and follow the trail (in the spring it is wet with running water and waterproof boots are recommended). After about 1.25 hours you should reach the switchbacks which head up the ridge. You can take the ridge trail down (it connects to the main trail) or double back and head down the canyon bottom.

Return to List