Hiking (Part 2)

Behind Red Butte Gardens - Red Butte Canyon

Give me a trail and I want to hike it. What a chance to go hiking twice this past week.  This time it was with Craig and one of our missionaries, Keaton, from when we were serving in Palermo, Sicily.  Let me just say if you invite me to go hiking I am most likely going to say yes.

I don't know this trail's name. We parked behind Red Butte Gardens and walked up the road toward the dam. I have always gone left off the road but this time we walked to the end and went right. "Choose the Right" as my mil always says. Craig had ran it before so he was the only one experienced on this trail.

The trail was charming from the start with a couple of streams to cross over on wooden bridges, a few stone steps to go up, and leaf covered paths.  You can ask my companions but I kept gushing over how pretty it was.

There was quite a bit of uphill climbing at first but nothing too steep. But if you go uphill you are going to get a few views.

Salt Lake Valley was really shining.

Just check out these mountains.

You might even see a deer or two.

I think if this was where my home was I would be in heaven.

Some of my favorite things we saw from grand to small details.

If I were to rate this trail it would be moderate. It isn't too long maybe a couple of miles but we hit some steep sections and some rocky, narrow paths that were a little concerning going downhill. It also appeared to be a favorite of other hikers because we passed a few going the opposite direction of us. Our downhill took us a little bit behind the Natural History Museum and we were able to loop easily back to our car.

Hiking (Part 1)

From Dry Creek Canyon to City Creek Canyon - Bonneville Shoreline Trail

Craig introduced me to Dry Creek Canyon over a month ago.  Dry Creek Canyon starts at the end of 11th Street in Salt Lake City.  The gulch itself wanders about 1 mile before heading uphill for a view of the valley.

My first experience hiking this trail I traveled about halfway along it before after a couple of hours I headed downhill to where I left my car at Poppleton Park. I walked through neighborhood of homes to the park and drove home. But I had resolved that I wanted to hike the whole trail from the beginning to the end.

Now when I say beginning to end I meant completely round trip, leaving my home on foot and returning to my home on foot. I didn't know what distance it would be all in all but I guess about 9 miles and at my slow speed with a camera in hand about 4 hours. I was correct with the time but it turned out to be closer to 10.5 miles. The trail was close to 6.5 miles but walking to and from the trail was about 4 miles.

This was my second time hiking a part of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, earlier in the spring I went from City Creek Canyon to Bountiful. I had Craig pick me up in Bountiful.

Both are fairly easy trails with a few areas of uphill but not too steep. Both trails give you fantastic views of the Salt Lake Valley. And both take you along dry grassy areas, trees, and spring wildflowers (or I at least assume Dry Creek to City Creek will in the spring.) Because of their 6 mile  lengths though I would consider the trails moderate.

It was a crisp fall morning for the Dry Creek trail section and I appreciated the coolness - I took the City Creek to Bountiful on a warm 80+ day and was very grateful for my water and the park drinking fountain at the end of the trail.

I like fall, I like the changing colors and the bare trees. I also appreciate the bluer skies with lots of white clouds that the cold air brings.

 

I passed or was passed by about 7 mountain bikers, 1 camper, 8 other hikers, and a few dog walkers on the trail.

Beyond this I will let my pictures showcase what the trail gives you.