Cohab Canyon Trail

The Trail

This moderate trail is about 2.8 miles long with approximately a 530 ft elevation change when hiking both the canyon and the lookout points. If you do not go to the lookout points and only hike the canyon, the trail is about 1.1 miles shorter with roughly a couple hundred feet less of a climb. This trail could be started at either end of the canyon, but we started from the trailhead for Hickman Bridge, and that is reflected in the information here.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

From the Hickman Bridge parking lot, hikers must cross the street to access this trail. A sign clearly marks the trail and various distances to different places from this trailhead. The trail heads up from hear fairly steeply as it ascends into this high canyon. In fact, because this canyon is so high up, it can safely be hiked even when flash flood danger makes hiking other trails in the area unwise.

About 0.6 miles up the trail, there is an option to turn off to North and South Fruita Overlooks. Doing these overlooks adds just over a mile to your hike, but they do offer some nice views for hikers with the time and energy.

When we did this trail, we headed to the south overlook first, so that is what is reflected in the graph's information. As it turned out, we accidentally made a wrong turn along the way (shown in red on the topographical map) when we lost the trail for a moment, and we found a couple interesting rocks, including this one that had a hole in it reminding us of a birdhouse.

The actual trail continues along a trail marked off with stones just past where we turned and arrives at the viewpoint soon thereafter.

Path to south overlook

View from south overlook

View looking west from south overlook; the lines on the hill
are old walls created for fencing livestock by early settlers

The trail to the north overlook is shorter than the south one. 

View from north overlook

View of Fruita from north overlook

After hiking back down to Cohab Canyon, hikers will find many other interesting points along the trail from side slot canyons to walls of wind pocketed rocks.

 

As hikers exit the canyon on the west side, they can enjoy some nice views of the valley below and the canyon they just left.

 

Looking back at Cohab Canyon

View of Fruita and surrounding canyon
area upon exiting Cohab Canyon

 After transversing the switchbacks down, hikers will end up in the Fruita area. This is a great hike to do with others when you can have a car parked at each end of the trail, but if not, hiking back the way you came is a good option too.

 

There are bathrooms available at both ends of the trail, near the main parking areas. 

 

Directions

This trail is located in Capitol Reef National Park in Wayne County, Utah. The trail is right off UT-24. To get there from I-15, take Exit 188 to get onto US-50. Get off US-50 at UT-260. From there get onto UT-24 and continue to Capitol Reef and the trail head on your left. This trail shares a trailhead with the Hickman Bridge and Hickman Bridge/Navajo Knobs Overlook trails, but this trail starts across the street from the parking area. Note that a fee is required for this trail due to its location in a National Park. GPS Coordinates: N38° 17.319' W111° 13.680'

Chimney Rock Loop

The Trail

This moderately difficult trail is 3.7 miles long round trip with about a 570 ft elevation change. There is some up and down though, so there is more climbing and descending than that within the hike. Also, while the elevation change isn't huge for the distance, there is a steep 500 ft climb in about a half mile distance in this hike. If you are looking for a shorter hike, just hiking up to the Chimney Rock Overlook is only about a mile in, but this would include still ascending/descending the steepest sections of the hike.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

This trail starts at a well marked trailhead with bathrooms available there. It heads up near a wash area gradually at first and passes by Chimney Rock before climbing steeply up short switchbacks north of this point. There is a split at this point that connects either side of the loop. We headed right to go around counterclockwise, and all information here reflects that choice of direction. After the split, the trail loops a bit and head more south to Chimney Rock Overlook. Climbing to this point is still nearly a 500 ft. climb, but the view is impressive.

Trailhead

Looking down at the switchbacks going up

View from Chimney Rock Overlook

From here, the path continues along the south edge of Mummy Cliff offering expansive panoramic views along the way.

 

After hiking about 2.3 miles, the path turns west and starts heading back. Right after this turn there is a split with a label for the trail heading to Spring Canyon. Hikers turning this way would head up Chimney Rock canyon fro about 1.5 miles before reaching Spring Canyon at the divide point between Upper and Lower Spring Canyon. To finish the loop though, continue west to return to the point where the loop splits and then return down the switchbacks along the same trail that was ascended to reach the loop. It was getting dark by the time we reached this section, but we were stunned just how quiet it was while we were there. If we were walking, we could hear our feet on ground, but when we stopped we couldn't hear anything at all. There was simply NO noise...not from bugs, birds, other animals, wind, or anything else. 

Note that this trail is located in Capitol Reef National Park, and is thus subject to fees for use of the trail and area. Pets are not permitted on this trail. There are bathrooms available at the trailhead.

 

Directions

This trail is located in Capitol Reef National Park in Wayne County, Utah near Torrey. To get there, take UT-24 to Capitol Reef. Get off at the trailhead for Chimney Rock, which is just off to the north along the highway, between 7 and 8 miles from the middle of Torrey. GPS Coordinates: N38° 18.950' W111° 18.238'

Smith Ditch Falls No. 1

The Trail

This moderate trail is about 1.25 miles (one way) with a 610 ft. elevation change. The Smith "Ditch" is actually a pipeline that sends irrigation water into the Provo Cemetery and farmland, but despite the lackluster name, the waterfall is quite scenic.

Topographical Map

 

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

This trail starts from the Upper Bridal Veil Falls Park parking lot. To start, follow the upper paved path for a short distance (about one tenth mile) before turning right at the sign for the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. 

Paved Path

Turn onto the Bonneville Shoreline Trail

The trail is not very steep along this section. Unless you are hiking first thing in the morning, there isn't a lot of shade.

Continue along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail for about 0.8 miles, at which point the trail intersects with a wider ATV type path. Turn left here to head up the path. The trail will start climbing more steeply at this point.

Head up this wider path

Soon the falls will be visible, but the climb will not be over. It continues to get increasingly rocky and steep, requiring some care since many of the rocks are loose. The waterfall at the end though is refreshing, and hikers can walk right up to it.

 

 

 

  

 

We tried to follow a trail to find Smith Ditch Falls No. 2 to the northeast without success. While a trail appears on a map we found of the area, we could not locate it. Heading along the areas shown in our map resulted in tromping in thick brush with no sign of a path.

 

Leashed dogs are allowed on the trail. There are bathrooms near the trailhead.

 

Directions

This Trail is located in Provo, Utah. To get there, take I-15 to 800 N, Exit 272 in Orem. Head east on 800 N toward the mountains. Stay in the left lane at the end of 800 to turn left onto Provo Canyon Rd. Continue about 3.3 miles, then turn right onto Old Provo Canyon Rd. The parking area will be on the right across from the Nunn's Park Rd. The trail starts on the south end of this parking lot. GPS Coordinates: N40° 20.256' W111° 36.561'