Hike: Yellow Fork Loop

This trek in the Oquirrh Mountains presents a fun change-of-pace to routine Wasatch Mountain hikes. Starting from the end of the pavement up Rose Canyon, our itinerary is to hike a 6.5-mile clockwise loop sandwiched between Camp Williams and Rio Tinto in the southwest corner of the Salt Lake Valley. We’ll trek through groves of overhanging trees, mosey adjacent to flowing streams, scamper through wild turkey habitat, and enjoy unique vistas of the Salt Lake Valley, Utah Lake, the Bingham Copper Mine, and the Oquirrh Mountains. One stretch has an amazing number of cacti. Along the way, we’ll gain approximately 1600 feet before looping back to the trailhead.

This route connects several trail segments, so our agenda is to regroup periodically to keep everyone on course. We’ll then stop for brunch/lunch/snacks and to socialize about 2/3’s of the way at a picnic table – so everyone is encouraged to bring a picnic snack. Meet Elliott at the top of Rose Canyon at the Yellow Fork Canyon trailhead, 15000 South Rose Canyon Road in Herriman at 8:30am. (We are going early because parking areas fill-up early on weekends.) No Dogs.

Trailhead: In Salt Lake County drive 13400 South west to 6400 West and turn south. This is Rose Canyon Road. Drive south on Rose Canyon Road one-half mile to the first stop sign and turn right. Follow this road 3.5 miles to the end of the road at Yellow Fork Park trailhead. We will rally in the small parking lot located at the end of the road.