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Millcreek Canyon (Salt Lake County, Utah) facts for kids

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Millcreek Canyon
Millcreek Canyon

Millcreek Canyon is a beautiful canyon located in the Wasatch Mountains in Millcreek City, Utah. It's on the east side of the Salt Lake Valley. This canyon is a very popular spot for people to visit and have fun, both in the warm summer months and in the snowy winter. It got its name from Brigham Young back in 1847, because of all the mills that were built in and around the canyon, which was full of trees. Today, you can find two restaurants and several Boy Scout Day Camps here.

Millcreek Canyon is right next to Parleys Canyon to the north and Big Cottonwood Canyon to the south. Even though it's easy to get to from Salt Lake City, the higher parts of the canyon are usually quieter than its neighbors.

Fun Activities in Millcreek Canyon

Biking Adventures

If you love biking, Millcreek Canyon has trails for you! The trails higher up in the canyon, past the winter gate (which is near the Maple Grove picnic area), are open for bikes only on even-numbered days. This means on the 2nd, 4th, 6th, and so on, of each month. The trails lower down in the canyon are open for bikes every day.

When you ride your bike on the main road, remember that you need to follow the same rules as cars. This includes using hand signals before you turn and stopping at stop signs.

Dogs Welcome

Dogs are allowed in Millcreek Canyon every single day, which is great news for pet owners! There are special rules for when your dog can be off-leash:

  • On odd-numbered days (like the 1st, 3rd, or 5th of the month), your dog can be off-leash on hiking trails.
  • However, even on odd days, dogs must always be on a leash in developed areas. This includes the main road, the start of trails (trailheads), and picnic spots.
  • On even-numbered days, dogs must always be on a leash everywhere, including all hiking trails.

If there's a groomed ski trail along the road in the upper canyon during winter, it's treated like a hiking trail. So, dogs can be off-leash there on odd-numbered days. But if the trail isn't groomed yet (like before it snows a lot), it's considered a service road, and dogs need to be on a leash.

It's very important for dog owners to clean up after their pets. You'll find special bins for dog waste in several places, including at the start of the Big Water trails.

Hiking Trails for Everyone

Millcreek Canyon offers many different hiking trails. You can find trails that are easy for beginners, and others that are quite challenging for experienced hikers.

Here are some popular trails:

Pipeline Trail

The Pipeline Trail is a great choice for kids or people just starting to hike. You can get onto this trail from several spots like Rattlesnake, Church Fork, Burch Hollow, and Elbow Fork Trailheads. The easiest ways to start are from Elbow Fork and Burch Hollow. This trail is about 6.7 miles long and goes up about 800 feet in elevation.

Desolation Trail to Salt Lake Overlook

This trail, also known as the Overlook Trail, is about 4.8 miles round trip. You can find the start of the trail just east of Millcreek Inn, on the south side of the canyon. It's a moderately challenging hike, but it leads to an amazing view of the Salt Lake Valley. In winter, this trail is also popular for snowshoeing.

Grandeur Peak Trail

This trail takes you to Grandeur Peak, which is 8,299 feet high! It's about 2 miles to a saddle point and 2.75 miles to the peak. The trail starts from the Church Fork Picnic area. You'll gain about 1,700 feet in elevation to the saddle and 2,400 feet to the peak.

Dog Lake/Big Water Trail

This trail is about 3 miles long to Dog Lake, and you'll go up about 1,200 feet in elevation. You can start this trail from the Big Water trailhead at the very top of Millcreek Canyon. It's a moderately difficult trail that's very popular with both hikers and mountain bikers. You can also reach Dog Lake from the Mill D trailhead in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Alexander Basin Trail

This trail is 2.2 miles to Alexander Basin Ridge and 2.5 miles to Gobblers Knob. It starts from the Alexander Basin trailhead, about 8 miles up Millcreek Canyon on the south side of the road. In the summer, Alexander Basin is often full of beautiful wild flowers and offers fantastic views of the canyon. Gobblers Knob, which is 10,246 feet high, can be reached from Alexander Basin. This is a steep and challenging hike.

Mt. Aire Trail

The Mt. Aire Trail is 1.8 miles long. Mt. Aire is a peak where Mill Creek Canyon, Mt. Aire Canyon, and Parley's Canyon meet. Hiking to the top of Mt. Aire is a steep climb, going up almost 2,000 feet in elevation.

Getting There and Fees

The upper half of Millcreek Canyon is closed to cars and other vehicles from November 1st through July 1st each year.

There is a small fee to leave Millcreek Canyon. It costs $5.00 per vehicle. You can also buy an annual pass for $50.00 if you plan to visit often. Seniors (people aged 60 and older) pay a reduced fee of $3 per day, or they can buy an annual pass for $30. Please note that the interagency pass from the National Park Service is not accepted in Millcreek Canyon.

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