Hike: Upper Mormon Trail

This is an out-and-back hike in East Canyon below the Big Mountain road summit. Plan on hiking about 1.15-miles each way with 802-feet of elevation gain; this makes for a one-hour trek each way or about a 2-hour RT event — perfect for a Saturday morning. This trail begins at the first switch-back above Afflect Park, 6.3-miles east of I-80 exit #134 on SR-65, and ends at the Big Mountain road summit. This section begins at a modest gradient and is rockier than the lower sections, then after crossing two bridges, features six switch-backs zig-zagging toward the top. A special treat is that the upper reaches of this trail provide the first panorama early pioneers viewed of the Salt Lake Valley. Meet Elliott at Little Dell Recreation Access at 9:00am. TH parking is very small so we will carpool/caravan from this location. This is water shed, so 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.

Drive I-80 east up Parleys Canyon and take exit #134 for SR-65. Drive SR-65 north then east to Little Dell Recreation Access on the right hand side of the road. There are restrooms at this location and also at our turn-around location at Big Mountain road summit.