Grotto Trail

The Trail

This is a very easy and short .3 mile (one way) trail that is perfect for families or as short side trip while traveling up the Nebo Scenic Loop. There is only about a 106 foot elevation change to the waterfall, often called Grotto Falls, at the end. The trail is mostly shaded. It follows a pleasant babbling stream, which it crosses a number of times over log and plank bridges, all the way up to the grotto area .

This trail is open to horses and bikes, but it is too short to make it worth doing on its own by those means.

Topographical Map

Trail in Google Earth

Graph of Elevation

The Grotto with Grotto Falls

Directions

This trail is found along the Nebo Loop in Utah County. If you are coming from the north, take exit 250 for Payson off the I-15. Turn left onto 3200 West/Main Street. Continue south until you reach 800 South, then turn left. Go to 600 East and turn right. Continue on this road and it will become Nebo Loop Road. Go up this road about 7 miles and you will reach the trail head, which is labeled.

If you are coming from the south, it is better to take exit 248 off of I-15, turn right onto 800 South, and continue straight until you reach Nebo Loop Road.

Rock Canyon to South Fork Canyon by way of Cascade Saddle

View from overlook/campsite

The Trail

This is a strenuous 12 mile trail with a 4731 foot elevation change. There is a decent mix of sun and shade along the way as the trail heads in and out of groups of trees and open areas. When doing this trail, we started from Rock Canyon and ended in South Fork Canyon. The first part of the trail up Rock Canyon looks like a road. This splits into a couple different roads and trails. It does not matter which one you take; they all end up in the same place. There are also a number of good rock climbing spots in this area. Continue to follow the main trail straight up Rock Canyon without veering off onto one of the side trails, such as the one heading up to Squaw Peak about 1.7 miles up the trail. Eventually, you will end up at a campground about 3.1 miles from the Rock Canyon Trailhead. There are restrooms available here too. Go through the campground and find the trail labeled 006 on the other side. This trail continues east across a dirt road and beyond. There are some beautiful meadows and amazing views of the surrounding mountains as you continue up toward the saddle. Many different wildflowers grow here as well, adding a lot of color to the meadows and slopes.

Looking up the mouth of Rock Canyon

The trail splits shortly before the saddle (about 6.6 miles from the Rock Canyon Trailhead and about 5.4 miles from the Big Springs Trailhead). Stay left here to take the trail toward Big Spring. The other trail follows Shingle Mill Canyon and eventually connects with Shingle Mill Canyon Road, which then connects with South Fork Canyon Road as well, but it is a bit longer route.

Looking up toward Shingle Mill Peak

After crossing the saddle, hikers will start a steep slippery decent toward Big Springs. The trail here is covered with lose gravel, rocks, and dirt, and it can be a bit treacherous if you are not careful. Eventually, it becomes more stable as the ground becomes more solid. The lower portions of this trail are very popular for horseback riding. The trail splits up a bit as you draw closer to the park. There are a couple different trails and a dirt road. They are all similar in length and will lead you back to the parking area.

It would probably be easier to do this trail starting from South Fork Canyon and ending in Rock Canyon.

Most of this trail is open to dogs and livestock. However, horses are not allowed at the beginning portion of the trail up Rock Canyon. To get to other areas behind Rock Canyon by horseback, I recommend going up Slate or Slide Canyon.
 

Topographical Map

Topographical Map Detail of Rock Canyon Area

In the maps above, the blue flag marks the turn off from Rock Canyon to hike Squaw Peak. The blue dot marks a drinking fountain. There is another drinking fountain before this point as well. The green dot marks an over look and a backpacking campsite. The restroom symbol marks the restrooms at the campgrounds at that point. The green flag marks a trail split, and the trail shown continues toward Big Springs. Hikers can eventually reach the same point by taking the other trail, the Shingle Mill Trail, which is a bit longer and ends further up South Fork Canyon. The red flag marks Cascade Saddle, and the green tent marks another large camp area.

Trail in Google Earth

Graph of Elevation

Looking down toward Provo from near the saddle

Near the saddle looking at Shingle Mill and Freedom Peaks

View looking toward Mt. Timpanogos & South Fork Canyon from Cascade Saddle

River along Rock Canyon

Directions

This trail is located in Utah County. To get to the trail head at Rock Canyon, take exit 269 off I-15 for University Parkway. Head east along University Parkway to 900 East. Turn left at 900 East, go to Temple View Drive, and turn right. Then turn right at 2300 North. When the road turns off to the right, stay straight to enter the parking area for the Rock Canyon Trail.

To get to the trail head up South Fork Canyon, take exit 272 off of I-15 for 800 North in Orem. Head east along 800 North until the road splits. Take the left fork to head up Provo Canyon. Continue up the canyon for about 5.8 miles, and then turn right onto South Fork Road (toward Vivian park). Drive up South Fork Road for about 3.3 miles, then turn right onto Spring Hollow Road. You will find yourself in a park. If you drive up to the end of this road past the restrooms, there will be a large parking area. The trail starts along the west side of this lot. Please note the location for this trail shows the trail head at South Fork Canyon.

Looking down at Squaw Peak

Timber Creek Overlook Trail

View from the parking lot

The Trail

This is a short easy .6 mile (one way) jaunt along a rocky ridge with an approximately 124 foot elevation change. This trail starts at a large parking lot with great panoramic views and ends with more panoramic views. The best time to hike this trail is around sunset, when the soft evening light give the canyon walls a beautiful glow. Plus, it is not as hot in the evening as it is in the middle of the day.

View at end of the trail

 Pets are not permitted on this trail. There are restrooms available at the trail head. There is also a picnic area here, but not much shade.

Topographical Map

Trail in Google Earth

Graph of Elevation

Directions

This trail is found in Kolob Canyon National Park in Southern Utah. From I-15 take exit 40 for Kolob Canyons. After paying the entrance fee at the visitor's center, continue up the main road until you reach the end of it. There will be a large paved parking lot, and the trail starts on the west side of this area.

Middle Fork Taylor Creek Trail to Double Alcove Arch

Taylor Creek

The Trail

This is a fairly easy 2.7 mile (one way) trail in Kolob Canyon with approximately a 525 foot elevation change. The elevation change is so gradual is is hardly noticed for most of the trail. The trail starts out dropping down to the creek bed. It continues along following the middle fork of Taylor Creek. Hikers will pass two cabins. The first is the Larsen Cabin, about 1.1 miles into the trail (which also marks the start of the unmaintained North Fork Taylor Creek Trail), and the second is the Fife Cabin about 2.1 miles into the trail. At the end of the trail hikers will find the Double Alcove Arch. As you approach, look up to see the top arch. The lower arch is known for its great acoustic qualities. As you head down into it, your voice will be amplified and echo against the walls. Please do not climb the back slopes of the grotto, as requested by the park, so that vegetation will continue to grow there and prevent erosion.

Lower Arch

This trail crosses the creek many times. We counted 56 crossings. The water is shallow though, particularly in the summer and fall, and crossing is not difficult. There are plenty of steeping stones along the way.

Moss in the Creek

There is some shade along the trail, but Kolob Canyon can get very hot, particularly in the summer. There are also numerous wildflowers to enjoy along the way. The trail itself is mostly hard sand, which is not difficult to hike on (unlike the deep soft sand found further up Kolob Canyon along the La Verkin Creek Trail as it follows the creek).

Dogs and livestock are not permitted on this trail. Group sizes for those hiking the trail are limited to 12 people. Beware of rattlesnakes in this area
.

Topographical Map

Trail in Google Earth

Graph of Elevation

 

Double Alcove Arch

Directions

This trail is found in Kolob Canyon National Park in Southern Utah. From I-15 take exit 40 for Kolob Canyons. After paying the entrance fee at the visitor's center, continue up the main road about two more miles to the Taylor Creek Trail Head. There will be a parking area to the left for hikers using this trail.

Upper Centerville Canyon Trail

The Trail

This is a moderate trail that heads up past Centerville Peak and then follows the ridge behind it above Centerville Canyon.  This trail continues all the way to Skyline Road. However, if you stop at the point shown in the maps below, it is 2.5 miles (one way) with a 1,760 ft. elevation change. The trail works itself up the face of Centerville Peak in a steady gradual manner. It crosses below the south side of the peak, but does not go up to the top. From there, the trail levels off as it continues along a ridge straddling Centerville Canyon (to the south) and Parrish Creek (running down the canyon on the north).

During the summer, the sun beats down pretty hard on the trail heading up toward the peak. There are great views of the valley all along this section of the trail, but there is very little shade. Traveling along the trail during cooler times of the day is recommended. If you hike this trail in the spring or during early summer, you will also find a lot of various wildflowers along the trail.

This trail is open to bicycles, horses, and pets.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

Directions

To reach this Davis County, Utah trail, take the Centerville Parrish Lane Exit, number 322 from I-15. Continue east along Parrish Lane until you reach the dirt road. Take the left fork and continue to the parking area. You will find a trail head sign with a map at the beggining of the trail.

Dipsea Trail to Hill with Bunkers

View of Stinson Beach from top of the hill.

 

The Trail

This is a fairly easy 1.1 mile trail (one way) with an elevation change of about 480 feet. The trail starts out well shaded and cool as it winds through twisted moss covered trees. The trees don't last for long before they give way to a large open field. There are great views of the ocean, Stinson Beach, and Bolinas Lagoon along this section. The trail continues pretty straight until it hits a dirt road. To reach the bunkers, take the right fork and continue until you see another trail leaving the road off to the right. Follow this trail until you reach the top of the hill, where you will find the bunkers. You will also find more beautiful ocean views here.

 

The Bunkers

For a longer loop trail. you can take the left fork of the road and follow the signs directing you to the Steep Ravine Trail. This will take you down a ways to some water and Redwood trees. If you continue along this trail, you will reach the Pantoll Ranger Station in about 1.5 miles. From there you can follow the Matt Davis trail, which will take you back around to the trail head and complete the loop for a total of about 6.5 miles. For more detailed information on this route, go here.

Pets are not permitted on this trail.

Topographical Map: Blue=Dipsea Trail to bunkers
Red=Steep Ravine Trail

Graph of Elevation

Trail on Google Earth:  Yellow=Dipsea Trail to Bunkers   Red=Steep Ravine Trail

 

Directions

From Hwy 101, turn onto Shoreline Hwy/Hwy 1 heading toward Stinson Beach. Turn left soon after that to stay on Shoreline Hwy (and avoid going up Almonte Blvd.). Continue along Shoreline Hwy/Hwy 1 for 11 to 12 miles until you reach the Panoramic Hwy just before Stinson Beach. Turn right onto Panoramic Hwy and park at the Dipsea trail head parking area almost immediately to the left. Take the trail starting from the opposite side of the road.