Bowman Fork (Millcreek Canyon)

Our original design as we set out at 6:30 in the morning was to hike Mount Aire (a peak behind Grandeur Peak) up Millcreek Canyon. As we drove up the canyon we were disappointed to find out the gate to the upper part of the canyon was still closed. I guess it never opens till July 1st even though we haven't had much snow this year. So we decided to find a random trail and follow it. 

The trail we ended up on was the Bowman fork trail. The trail head is found at the Terraces Picnic area. The picnic area is found about 4.5 miles up the canyon on the south side of the road. From the Bowman Fork trailhead, the trail begins a gradual ascent as it heads in a generally eastward direction for approximately 1 mile up the Bowman Fork drainage.  From there the trail leaves the drainage and turns to the south. After a series of switchbacks the trail arrives at a beautiful overlook towards Mount Raymond and the Mount Olympus Wilderness Area. 

After exploring the area for a while we continued onward. From the overlook the trail headed east again. According to our map we were supposed to run into a fork in the trail that would head over to the Porter Fork Trail. After searching for the other trail we decided to abandon our efforts and turn around. The map we had showed the trail heading towards a pass between Gobblers Knob and Mount Raymond.

Where Are We?

A Super Gnarly Tree we found 

Desolation Trail to Salt Lake Overlook

The Desolation trail is a 17.5 mile (one way) trek that starts in Millcreek Canyon and ends at Desolation lake. Although I would have loved to have hiked the whole thing time would not permit. Our destination was a Valley overlook about 2 miles from the trailhead. The trail starts to the west of  the parking area. After a short distance the trail forks with the Desolation trail heading to the right and the Thayne Canyon trail going left.

The first part of the trail is very wooded and offers a lot of shade. after about a 1/4 mile you hit the first set of switchbacks. The trail was fairly easy but had a very steady elevation gain. After the first set of switchbacks the trail heads back to Thayne Canyon where the Two trails meet up again. (We took the Thayne Canyon trail on the way down.) Desolation trail then heads west and gradually makes its way up the mountainside. There is one switchback before a longer stretch of the trail  takes you to the last set of switchbacks that takes you over the ridge line to the Valley overlook.

First look at the valley 

A view of Grandeur Peak to the north

The desolation trailhead is located at the South Box Elder Picnic area, 3.2 miles up the canyon just east of the Millcreek  Inn.

View Salt Lake overlook-Thayne Canyon in a larger map

Grandeur Peak from Church Fork

Click to enlarge panorama atop Grandeur Peak

Grandeur Peak from Church Fork
Church Fork is the easiest and most accessible trail-head to hike Grandeur Peak. The trail head is at the end of the Church Fork picnic area about 3.2 miles up Millcreek Canyon on the North side of the road. if you reach the Millcreek Inn you have gone to far. For directions click here. The gates to the picnic area are open from 7 am til 10 pm during the summer. On the day of our hike the gates were closed do to excessive spring runoff in the canyon. If the gates are closed hike the additional 1/4 mile through the picnic area. The trail-head is well maintained and there is parking available. Don't park in the picnic area.

Extra spring runoff flowing from church fork

The beginning of the trail is a moderate hike through a heavily forested area of the canyon after a short distance it intersects with the Millcreek Pipeline trail, make sure you continue heading north across the other trail. The trail is very easy to follow until you get closer to the peak. A little over a mile into the hike the trail turns to the left and climbs out of the wooded area through a series of switchbacks. The surrounding area is now primarily scrub oak and exposed rock. There are a few areas on the trail where the rock has slid onto the trail but it is easily navigated. About 2 miles into the hike you reach the ridge looking over into Parleys Canyon. From here the trail heads Southeast toward the summit, about a 1/2 mile away. The climb gets a little more difficult and heads up a false summit. After the false summit the trail then goes around to the west side of the mountain, although there is a path up the more difficult east side. The final ascent has some very minor scrambling but is less than difficult.

Bret (in the bushes) and Joeh on ridge just before the final stretch

The peak offers wonderful views of the Salt Lake Valley to the West Mt. Olympus directly to the South, Emigration Ridge directly North and Mt. Aire to the East. The return trip is back along the same trail. The only problem we encountered was for some reason our GPS didn't log the hike correctly. Thankfully because of the many times I have hiked this trail I know that the total distance round trip, from the road, is 7 miles. it took us less than 2 hour to get to the top and about an hour and ten minutes to get back down.



Click here for a larger map: Grandeur

Total Distance: 6.9 mi
Total Time: 3:33:01
Moving Time: 3:07:28
Average Speed: 4.83 km/h (3.0 mi/h)
Average Moving Speed: 6.54 km/h (4.1 mi/h)
Max Speed: 10.80 km/h (6.7 mi/h)
Min Elevation: 1730 m (5676 ft)
Max Elevation: 2523 m (8278 ft)
Elevation Gain: 984 m (3229 ft)
Max Grade: 19 %
Min Grade: 0 %
Recorded: Tue Jun 07 06:32:25 MDT 2011
Activity type: -