Sunset/Farmington Creek/Farmington Canyon Trail

The Trail
This trail seems to go by multiple names. I have seen it called the Sunset Trail, Farmington Creek Trail, and Farmington Canyon Trail. Whatever name you want to call it by, this moderate trail is 2 miles long (one way) with about a 1227 foot elevation change.

Topographical Map (white square marks cave; green flags mark falls
car symbols mark crashed cars)

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

This trail runs below Skyline Dr. and just to the north of the creek. During the summer, there are some pleasant shady spot along the way. However if you do the trail in the middle of the day, the foliage is not tall enough to provide much shade along much of the trail.

We started this trail from the west end. If you also come from this end, very shortly after starting you will arrive at the very shallow Farmington Cave. This cave appears to be a popular spot for building fires and for spraying graffiti. It is marked on the topographical map with a white square.

Farmington Cave

Looking back down at Farmington Cave from further up the trail

Looking up the canyon from the trail

After continuing up the trail a ways, you will come to a stream crossing by a small waterfall. This beautiful and peaceful spot is about .9 mile from the trailhead. Some rocks offer nice seats for anyone who wants to take a break and rest in the shade.

Small waterfall at the stream crossing along the trail

By following the stream and climbing up the side of this lower waterfall, you will soon come to another small waterfall with a crashed car sitting above it.

After continuing another 0.4 mile from this small waterfall you will come to another wrecked automobile. There are several of these vehicles from the 1940s, 50s, and 60s that came crashing down the canyon from Skyline Drive. The ones we saw are marked on the topographical map by little cars.

The vehicle below is the one furthest east on the map. We reached it by continuing a short way up a path heading east off the main trail (which turns more south) after the stream crossing here.

The large waterfall is about 1.6 miles from the trailhead where we started. Unfortunately, the view from the trail it is mostly blocked by trees. If you climb to the top of the nearby rocks, you can see the top of it a little better.

If you are up for some scrambling, you can climb down to the bottom of the cliff and see the waterfall from the base. This is a pretty steep path though, so use care. A rope had been placed there for some support when we hiked this trail in 2019, but the first time we went in 2015 there was no rope. As always for safety though, don't rely on any rope left on trails by others more than absolutely necessary, and always test them first.

Path down to base of waterfall

 

The waterfall is more impressive looking from the bottom. After enjoying the falls, you will have to head back up the way you came.

Climb back up to the trail

The trail continues after the waterfall for a little ways and then seemingly splits. The main trail turns and heads north taking hikers up a couple switchbacks to to a dirt road, which is as far as the maps above show. That dirt road continues up a couple more switchbacks to Skyline Drive near Sunset Campground. There is sign marking this end of the trail at the end of the small dirt road heading down to it, and if you prefer you could drive up the canyon along Skyline Rd. and start hiking from this point instead. Starting here, it is about 0.3 miles to the large waterfall.

Trailhead from the end of the little dirt road

The trail that continues southwest along the creek is shown in the topographical map in red. This is just a social trail following the river a bit further that eventually fades.

Directions
This trail is located in Davis County, Utah near Farmington. To get there, take Exit 325 off of I-15. Turn east onto Park Lane. Next, turn right onto Main Street and then turn left onto 600 North. Continue to 100 East/Farmington Canyon Rd. and turn left. Stay left on the paved part of the road when it forks (going right will take you to a parking area) to continue up the canyon. Right before the pavement gives way to dirt and the road turns sharply, there is a dirt parking area. Park here and you will find the trailhead on the north end of this parking lot. GPS Coordinates: N41 00.019 W111 51.984

Birdsong Trail

The Trail
This easy trail is only about 0.8 mile one way with about a 200 foot elevation change. There is an option to go out on an "overlook" trail (shown in green on the maps below) 0.3 mile from the trailhead at Rainbow Gardens, which will add about 0.1 mile to your trip. Either way, this trail is a well worn, fairly wide path that is perfect for a very short relaxing outing or for families with kids looking for something easy and interesting.

Topographical Map (Main trail=blue; Overlook=green; Path up Hill=red)

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth
(Main trail=yellow; Overlook=green; Path up Hill=red)

This pleasant trail cuts through some beautiful shady forested areas as well as some grassy open areas with nice views of the surrounding mountains and valley.

View from Overlook Trail at golf course below

Although the trail was pretty well marked, we accidentally went up a trail (marked in red on our maps) going straight up a hill. This is not part of the Birdsong trail and doesn't look like anything but a shortcut down to the trail from the houses above. If you find yourself going this direction, you are headed the wrong way.

View from shortcut trail up the hill

About 0.5 mile from the Rainbow Gardens trailhead, you will come to a nice resting spot with a bench nearby a little natural spring. This is a great place to listen to or spot birds especially during the right times of day - hence the name of the trail.

Natural Spring

Peaceful resting spot with bench

The trail continues to Fillmore Avenue near 20th street. There are nice views of the mountains and valley from here. There is also a picnic bench.

View from trailhead on Fillmore Avenue

This trail is also popular for bicyclists, so be polite and watch out for them if you are on foot.

Fillmore Ave. Trailhead

Directions
This trail is located in Weber County, Utah at the mouth of Ogden Canyon. To get there, take I-15 to Exit 344 for 12th Street in Ogden. Turn east and continue on 12th Street toward Ogden Canyon until you reach the turn for Rainbow Gardens at Valley Dr. Turn right here, and then turn left into Rainbow Gardens. The trailhead is at the far southwest corner of the parking lot.

Alternatively, you can drive up to Fillmore Ave and start the trail from there. To get to this trailhead from the Rainbow Gardens trailhead, continue along Valley Dr. to 20th Street and turn left. 20th Street will turn right and become 1300 E/Tyler Ave. Continue from there to 21st Street and turn left. Turn left again and Fillmore Ave. and continue to the end of the street where you will find the trailhead - GPS coordinates N41 13.866 W111 56.225.