Purchased by Salt Lake County in 2010, Killyon Canyon is now an open space preserve for all to enjoy The canyon, tucked up near the top of Emigration Canyon, is particularly popular with dog owners, as it is one of the trails along the Wasatch Front dogs are allowed the hike The trail begins at about 6000 feet of elevation and meanders alongside a perennial stream to the ridgeline at almost 7000 feet En route, the hike passes through nine distinct forest plant communities and passes several old growth conifers The ...

Maple Canyon likely needs no introduction for most climbers If you are not a climber, however, you may have never heard of it Maple Canyon is a large conglomerate canyon near Fountain Green The rock has eroded into a surreal landscape of spires, steep overhanging walls, deep alcoves, narrow fissures, and the occasional arch The climbing here tends to be steep, well bolted sport lines with options for most any ability In addition to the climbing, however, Maple is a rich area for hiking, camping, and off road vehicl...

Three Canyon is heavily visited by river rafters floating Labyrinth Canyon by hiking up from the river Surprisingly, however, it is often overlooked by canyoneers Well suited to beginners, or those looking for a less technical canyon, Three Canyon is stinkingly beautiful and a nice easy outing The two rappels or one long one if not breaking up the rappels in the canyon are at the very beginning while the rest of the canyon consists of hiking in a deep, lush canyon Exiting the canyon requires either a bit of 56 clim...

Beginning in 1846 with the Donner Party and 1847 with the Mormons, Emigration Canyon was the route pioneers used to enter the Salt Lake Valley Many know this historical fact The canyon, however, also has a long history as a quarry In the late 1800's, stone blocks were the only method available for building foundations As the Salt Lake Valley grew, granite quarries in Little Cottonwood Canyon to the south and, surprisingly to many, sandstone quarries at the top of Emigration Canyon provided the stone for the foundat...

Ah, Sandthrax! What do you write as an introduction to a canyon that needs no introduction Well, first off, a little about the history of the canyon Steve Allen descended it back in the day, calling it Dog Gone Then, in 2001, an ill-fated group Shane Burrows, Hank Moon, and Chris Raver tried to descend the canyon They were stopped by the climbing crux, spent the night engineering a route out the side using bolts and free climbing, and reached the rim just about the time Search and Rescue were going to reach them Th...

Fallen Roof Granary is one of the more photographed ruins on Cedar Mesa Its image is often seen in calendars and photos, and for good reason, the ruin and aspect make it very photogenic and scenic The lighting on the ruin can be really dramatic In addition to Fallen Roof, Road Canyon contains the Seven Kivas Ruin and several other fantastic ruins This is one of my favorite hikes on Cedar Mesa, both for the ruins, as well as the views from the canyon rim The lower trailhead, in particular, offers excellent primitive...

No one in my close canyoneering circles had done Drill Hole Canyon, except for one person that gave it a mediocre review of "it's ok" Armed with that less than glowing review, I decided to check it out one hot July day Perhaps it was the heat delirium talking, but I thought the canyon was gorgeous and a lot of fun! It is not as narrow or dramatic as its nearby neighbor Upper Red Breaks, but I think still charming The cross jointed nature of it makes for a very interes...

Like most Millcreek Canyon hikes, this is a steep one! That being said, the effort is worth it in my opinion The hike is broken up into two different parts Section one climbs to the pass and returns the same way This is about 175 miles and 1,700 ft elevation gain one way A solid workout! Those wanting more can continue to Millvue Peak, which clocks in at about 25 miles and nearly 2700' of elevation gain ONE WAY An overachiever workout! Millvue is the local name for the peak at elevation 8,926' to the east of Lambs ...

Lookout Peak overlooks Emigration and City Creek Canyons The Lookout Peak hike is a moderately strenuous hike, with about 2700 feet of elevation gain to the summit, but much of the hike has outstanding views of the Salt Lake Valley and surrounding mountains If you like ridge hikes with expansive views, I highly recommend this one The route is commonly done from either Killyon or Affleck Park The Affleck Park route is shorter than the Killyon approach, and in my opinion quite a bit better It is a quick climb to the ...

Willow Springs in Red Rocks Conservation Area is a stunning natural oasis, nestled within the rugged Red Rocks landscape Willow Springs is a picturesque desert oasis, where a scattering of willow trees thrives among the springs, creating a verdant contrast to the surrounding arid environment This is a place that ancient peoples used, and left pictographs Today, several short trails traverse the area, as well as a large parking area, picnic tables and restrooms This is an excellent spot to have a picnic and do some ...