Name: Morman Trail, East Canyon
Start: 2025-11-22T10:00:00-07:00
End: 2025-11-22T13:00:00-07:00
Location: Little Dell Recreation Area Mormon pioneer trail

This out-and-back hike showcases the middle section of the Mormon Trail above Little Dell Reservoir, in East Canyon. This hike is being scheduled before the road is closed for winter. Plan on hiking 2.0-miles up East Canyon, gaining around 625-feet over rolling terrain (so total elevation gain is greater), and then returning. 4-miles RT. We will regroup along the way to keep the group together. In the past this has been about a 1-hour trek each way – so plan on 2.5-hours on the trail. There are restrooms at the trailhead. Meet Elliott at Little Dell Recreation Access at 10:00am. TH parking is very small so we will carpool/caravan from this location. No Dogs.

This event will provide a perspective on the challenge early pioneers faced crossing the Wasatch into the Salt Lake Valley. It is along this general route through East Canyon that the Donner Party traveled in 1846 spurred on by Landsford Hastings’ promotion pamphlet, *The Emigrants Guide to Oregon and California* promising a short cut saving 300 miles. Because the track for wagon travel had not been established, historians theorize the time the Donner Party spent route building through the rugged Wasatch compelled these early emigrants to arrive late in the Sierra Nevada mountains and the reason their tragedy unfolded. Only 48 of 87 survived. Mormon Pioneers traveled the same route across the Wasatch Mountains through East Canyon a year later in 1847.

Trailhead Information: Drive I-80 east up Parleys Canyon and take exit #134 for SR-65. Drive SR-65 north then east 3-miles to Little Dell Recreation Access, on the right-hand side of the road. This site is just before the winter gate. Enter and turn left after passing the entry station. There are restrooms at this location. From this location we will carpool/caravan to the trailhead. There are also restrooms at the trailhead.

Elliott Mott

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Morman Trail, East Canyon

Little Dell Recreation Area Mormon pioneer trail 

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Morman Trail, East Canyon

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