Fossil Hunting: Delta, Utah

Fossil Hunting: Delta, Utah

by | Apr 26, 2021 | Desert, Utah

Fossil Hunting: Delta, Utah

Share
Tweet
Pin

Fossil Hunting in Utah is a great way to dig into Utah’s rich geological history with your kids. You can find and keep your own fossils in fossil beds near Delta, Utah. This is where the classroom meets real-life and your kids can discover a love of geology and paleontology.

KID RATINGS

Fun: ⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
Difficulty:     Very Easy    Easy    MODERATE    Hard    Very Hard

KEY FEATURES

Terrain: Dirt, rocks, shale. Bumpy dirt road to access fossil area.
Time Needed: 1 to 2 hours
When to Go: Spring, Summer (morning or evening), Fall 

COST

Free on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land.

U-Dig Fossil Quarry 

There is a paid option up the road about a mile from the BLM land called U-dig Fossils. This private, 40 acre quarry provides tools and instructions on fossil hunting. We went fossil hunting when U-dig wasn’t open so I can’t speak to the success of fossil finding there. However, other blogs have mentioned that the overall fossil quality is better there than on the BLM land.

Prices at U-dig Fossils (as of April 2021):

2 Hours – Ages 7 to 16: $19 Age 17 and older: $33

4 hours – Ages 7 to 16: $33 Age 17 and older: $49

8 hours – Ages 7 to 16: $58 Age 17 and older: $90

Ages 6 and under are free with a paying adult

Personally, I think 2 hours is plenty of time to fossil hunt. Especially when you are in a paid quarry where there are more fossils. 

AMENITIES

  • There are no bathrooms or water on BLM land. The closest amenities are about an hour away in Delta, UT. However, the U-dig quarry does have toilet facilities if you pay to find fossils.

THINGS TO BRING

  • Bucket

  • Shovel

  • Pickaxe or hammers

  • Lots of water, especially in the summer months

  • Snacks

  • Sunscreen, no shade in the area

  • Spare tire, just in case

  • If going to U-dig Fossils they will provide all the tools you need to find fossils. 

DETAILS

During the social distancing of COVID-19 our family found out about a place to hunt for trilobites and fossils in Utah for free! So much fun!

This area is on BLM land, about 1-hour outside of Delta Utah. It is literally in the middle of nowhere, but don’t worry, I have directions, maps and GPS coordinates below. The last 45 minutes of the drive is on a dirt road. We take our mini-van everywhere and it did just fine on the dirt and gravel. Keep your eyes out for wild horses. We saw a few on the drive!

How to Find Fossils

The location for fossil hunting is in a ravine where the side of a hill has been visibly cut out by a tractor. There are mounds of rock where the side of the hill has been removed, exposing layers of shale. 

Orson Smith Park Parking Lot

There are a few different methods to find fossils

1) Simply pick up pieces of shale that is already broken and inspect to see if you find a fossil. This is how we found the majority of ours.

2) Break apart the shale with your hands to find fossils in between the layers of hardened mud.

3) Using a shovel, hammer or pickaxe you can chip away at shale that is either still attached to the hill or larger pieces that are on the ground.  

 

Plant fossil

We spent only an hour looking and found many plant fossils, one full trilobite and several imprints of trilobite fossils. A couple of my kids spent most of the time just climbing up the shale hill, only spending a few minutes looking, and they still found a few fossils.

A bit of patience is required to find quality fossils. Our 10 year old had this patience and was able to find a whole trilobite.  

This is a great family adventure because it is fun and easy for the entire family. My kids love learning about rocks, minerals and fossils so it was so fun to be our own paleontologists and geologists for the day instead of just seeing fossils in a museum.

PROS & CONS

PROS

  • Fairly easy to find fossils

  • Fun place to explore

  • Free!!

  • Paid quarry near-by 

CONS

  • Long drive on a mildly bumpy dirt road

  • No amenities nearby unless going to private quarry

DIRECTIONS

We went fossil hunting about 60 minutes west of Delta, Utah. The GPS coordinates are 39.345756,-113.275586. You can also follow my map below.

From Delta, head west on Highway 6 (also called Highway 50). You will turn north on a dirt road called Death Canyon Road. You will then follow this for about 45 minutes. Off Death Canyon Road you will see a fork in the road to the right, head to this fork and then take a left at this fork. The area we searched for fossils is about 0.1 miles off of this fork. 

MAPS

To BLM Land

U-Dig Fossils

To get to the U-Dig Fossils private quarry, stay on Death Canyon Road for another mile after the BLM quarry. There will be signage to direct you when to turn for the quarry.

MORE INFO

As I was looking at other blogs about trilobite hunting afterward, I found that there is another BLM quarry about 1 to 2 miles from where we were hunting that looks awesome. I wish I would have known about it before we went. Follow this link for info and directions to the additional location. Also, here is the approximate GPS coordinates: Lat: 39 Deg 21′ 29″ N and Long: 113 Deg 15′ 58″ W.

OTHER NEARBY ADVENTURES

Rock hounding for sunstones at Sunstone Knoll (1 hour)

Great Basin National Park (1.5 hours)

Fort Deseret State Park (1 hour)

 

ABOUT

Hi, I’m Corrine! I’m an outdoor enthusiast and mother of four.

My goal is to inspire you to get outside and create your own amazing memories as a family. Life is precious and there are too many adventures to be had to spend life on the couch or in front of a screen.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

 

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

Alien Tower Hike: Draper, Utah

Alien Tower Hike: Draper, Utah

by | Apr 21, 2021 | Hiking, Mountains, Utah

Alien Tower Hike: Draper, Utah

Share
Tweet
Pin

The Alien Tower Hike leads to the top of a small peak with an old a-frame, metal structure and amazing 360 degree views of the Wasatch Mountains and valleys below. It is a dog and family-friendly, out-and-back hike, that gains 538 feet over 2.5 miles, and is well worth the trek.

KID RATINGS

Fun: ⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
Difficulty:     Very Easy    Easy    MODERATE    Hard    Very Hard

KEY FEATURES

Hiking Distance: 2.5 miles round trip
Hiking Elevation Gain: 540 ft
Terrain: Dirt trail, rocks, exposed trail,
Time Needed: 1.5 to 2.5 hours
When to Go: Spring, Summer (morning or evening), Fall 

COST

Free

AMENITIES

  • There is a single port-a-pottie at the trail-head. The closest gas station is a Chevron, 4.5 miles from the trail-head on Highland Drive in Draper, UT.
  • There is a water fountain at Maple Trailhead Park just north of the Alien Tower Hike. It is only on during the summer months.

THINGS TO BRING

  • Sunscreen, trail exposed
  • Water
  • Snacks
  • Dogs allowed. There is an off leash area on the trail.

DETAILS

The Alien Tower hike is a fun, free adventure in Draper, Utah. We hiked to the Alien Tower in early spring with an 11, 9, 7 and 2 year old. We had fun making up stories about aliens and how the tower got to the top of the mountain.  

Trailhead

The Alien Tower hike begins from a small parking area at the end of Deer Ridge Drive in Draper, Utah. If there is not enough parking near the trail head, Maple Trailhead Park is directly adjacent on the north side and has a few parking stalls. There is a trail that connects Maple Trailhead Park to the Alien Tower Trailhead if you park there or you can just walk from the park to the Alien Tower Trail via the sidewalk.

There is a chain blocking the large trail to restrict motorized vehicles from entering. This is where the hike begins.

The Hike

There are two main route options to get to the alien tower but they begin from the same place. After a few minutes on the main trail there is a trail to the left that heads south. We followed this route. However, you can continue on the main trail where the off leash dog area is. Each route leads to the alien tower.

Orson Smith Park Parking Lot
There are a few different trails that emerge from the trail that we followed but they do all end up coming back to the trail that takes you to the Alien Tower. The off leash dog area and the most direct route merge together before the final ascent to Alien Tower.

We enjoyed coming up with stories about aliens and what the alien tower might be used for. There is a twin alien tower on the top of Lake Mountain, near Saratoga Springs and maybe aliens use the two towers for communication. 😉

The Alien Tower

The alien tower is a-frame metal structure and marks the turn-around point at the top for the hike. We took a break here for a snack, enjoyed the views and pointed out landmarks that we know.

The views at the top are breathtaking of Utah and Salt Lake Counties, as well as the Great Salt Lake and Utah Lake. The views of Mount Timpanogos and several other mountain tops create a beautiful back-drop. This would be an amazing sunset hike.

Dogs

Dogs are allowed on this trail and there is a specific area where dogs are allowed off leash that is well marked. There was a lot of dog waste along the path. Please clean up after your dog if you bring one.

The distance and climb make it a great hike for families. It is not too short and not too steep, but there was still enough climbing to get couple minor complaints from our youngest daughter. According to my GPS, the hike was closer to 2.8 miles. There are not any trail markers along the way so you can follow the All Trails route.

PROS & CONS

PROS

  • Beautiful views of Salt Lake and Utah County Valleys
  • Fun destination to Alien Tower
  • Family friendly: Not too steep or long for kids 

CONS

  • Can become crowded with hikers, mountain bikers and dogs
  • Lots of dog poo on the trail

DIRECTIONS

The trailhead is officially called Deer Ridge Offleash Dog Trailhead on google maps, but there is not a sign that calls the trailhead this. The address is 1455 Deer Ridge Dr, Draper, UT 84020. Type Deer Ridge Offleash Dog Trailhead in google maps or the exact address to get you to the starting point.

We pulled up the map from All Trails to get directions to the trail head and follow the actual trail to make sure we were going the most direct route.

There are a few different ways to get to the alien tower, we took the most direct route taking a left at the first fork in the road. You can make this hike slightly longer by adding in a loop.

MAPS 

 

MORE INFO

All Trails

OTHER NEARBY ADVENTURES

Rocky Mouth Waterfall Hike (10 minutes)

Draper Suspension Bridge (15 minutes)

Horsetail Falls Hike (30 minutes)

 

ABOUT

Hi, I’m Corrine! I’m an outdoor enthusiast and mother of four.

My goal is to inspire you to get outside and create your own amazing memories as a family. Life is precious and there are too many adventures to be had to spend life on the couch or in front of a screen.

You Might Also Like:

 

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

How to Hike Delicate Arch with Kids

How to Hike Delicate Arch with Kids

by | Apr 16, 2021 | Desert, Featured Posts, Hiking, National Parks, Southern Utah, Utah

How to Hike Delicate Arch with Kids

Share
Tweet
Pin

Delicate Arch in Arches National Park is an iconic Utah symbol and is a must-see when living in or visiting Utah. Visiting Delicate Arch with kids is very doable with a little preparation and determination. To see Delicate Arch up-close you will need to hike 3 miles on Utah red rock. This guide will help your plan your hike to Delicate Arch with kids.

KID RATINGS

Fun: ⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
Difficulty:     Very Easy    Easy    Moderate    HARD    Very Hard

KEY FEATURES

Distance: 3.1 miles round trip
Elevation Stats: Trailhead: around 4000 ft above sea level, Elevation gain: 680 ft
Terrain: Sand and slickrock, steep areas, some drop-offs, exposed trail
Time Needed: 1.5 to 3 hours
When to Go: Spring, Fall, Winter (weather permitting). Before 9 am or after 3pm during peak season (spring and fall) and on weekends. Park closes entrance when it reaches capacity. Check if park is at capacity before you go on the Arches National Park page. 

COST

$30 for seven day Arches National Park Pass. Check current entrance prices on Arches National Park page. 

Free if you have a 4th grader: Get your Every Kid Outdoors Pass. 

AMENITIES

  • Vault bathrooms at trail head, but NO water
  • Water and restrooms available at park entrance visitors center
  • Restaurants located in Moab, just 5 miles south of the park entrance
  • Campgrounds in Arches National Park or in the Moab area. 
  • Hotels in Moab, UT

Note on Hotels and Campgrounds: Moab campgrounds and hotels fill quickly, especially in spring and fall. I recommend booking your stay 6 months in advance.

 

THINGS TO BRING

  • Sunscreen
  • Water (1 to 2L per person)
  • Snacks
  • Hiking shoes

DETAILS

This world-famous, majestic sandstone arch is 46 feet high, 32 feet wide and is the largest free standing arch within Arches National Park. It is worth the three mile hike with kids to see. Delicate Arch was on my 4th-grade daughter’s bucket list. She learned about it in school and begged to visit since.

We visited Arches National Park over Memorial Day weekend. This is a very busy weekend, but we were still glad we went. Be prepared for crowds and a 30 to 60 minute wait to get into the Park if going on a holiday or peak season weekend in spring or fall. Arches will turn away people if it reaches capacity.  If you are visiting during these times, I recommend entering Arches by 9am or after 3pm so you are not turned away and minimize the wait time to enter. 

Trailhead

Grab a map at the entrance to the park or follow my map in the MAPS section to get to the trailhead. The trailhead is located at the Wolf Ranch Parking lot which is 13 miles from the park entrance.  Finding a parking spot can be difficult if visiting at a peak time. Try to hike in the morning, later afternoon or evening. The trailhead is located on the east side of the parking lot near the bathrooms.

The Delicate Arch hike begins with a flat sandy path that then leads to an upward climb on hardened sandstone slickrock. Before the slickrock begins there is a historical cabin and petroglyphs. After walking 0.2 miles from the trailhead you will see signs for the Petroglyph Interpretive Trail. Follow this trail for petroglyph viewing. It will loop around and hook back into the main Delicate Arch Trail. 

The Hike

There are usually a large amount of people hiking Delicate Arch so don’t worry about getting lost. Just follow the masses up the slickrock. The slickrock area contains most of your elevation gain. We hiked with our kids and cousins with ages ranging from 1 to 10. Kids 3 and under were in hiking carriers. The one 4 year old did really well over all and just needed a piggy back ride for about a half mile on the slick rock. Make sure to take snack and water breaks with your kids.

The trail is completely exposed and many people who hike this aren’t use to the high elevation and elevation gain. Delicate arch sits around 4600 feet above sea level. 

There are some drop-offs as you get closer to the Arch. When there are drop-offs on any trail, I have my kids keep one hand on the wall at all times to keep them far away from the edge. My husband and I also split up during hikes, one in the front and one in the back, so that the kids are in-between both of us at all times.

Delicate Arch

Once you come to the Delicate Arch you can view the Arch from a distance or get up close by walking along the top of the “bowl” formation. There is quite a bit of wind at the top as you can tell from some of the pictures with all our hair in our faces.

The “bowl” is a large, circular drop directly in front of the Arch. This is something you don’t want to fall into so keep your kids near the top. You can stand under the arch if you want however, there is usually a line of people trying to take a picture underneath.

After you are finished at the arch, you simply turn around and re-trace your steps back to the trailhead. The way back is easy because you are going down the same 600 foot elevation change that you just climbed up.

Hiking Delicate Arch at Night

My husband and I actually left the kids with grandma that same night and snuck away to see the arch again with no moon and a sky full of bright stars. We were able to sit directly under the arch for as long as we wanted without having to quickly move for someone else to get a picture. One of the most surreal hikes I have been on. The pictures below don’t do this experience any justice.

If you would like to Hike Delicate Arch at night, I recommend hiking it earlier in the day so you get a feel for where you are going. I was glad we did the hike just a few hours before so that we knew where to go in the dark. My husband and I hiked solo without kids. If you choose to bring your kids to Delicate Arch at night, I would probably only bring older kids and teens. 

PROS & CONS

PROS

  • World famous arch 
  • Close to countless other amazing hikes, scenery and outdoor adventures
  • Difficult, but not too difficult of a hike for kids 
  • Petroglyph viewing near trailhead

CONS

  • Can become crowded at the top of the hike around Delicate Arch
  • Hot in summer (100 degree weather) and there isn’t any shade
  • Some steep drop offs around near and around Delicate Arch
  • Park reaches capacity frequently and you may need to come back at a later time to enter Arches National Park

DIRECTIONS

Delicate Arch hike is located 13 miles inside Arches National Park. The entrance to Arches National Park is located just 5 miles north of Moab, UT on Highway 191. Once in the park, follow the main road to the second fork, turn right at this turn. There is plenty of signage on the road to direct you to the Delicate Arch hike. The trailhead is located on the east side of the Wolfe Ranch/Delicate Arch parking lot. You can also follow my map below.

MAPS

 

MORE INFO

Arches National Park Official Page

OTHER NEARBY ADVENTURES

Arches National Park Hikes
Canyonlands National Park (30 minutes from park entrance, 1 hour from trailhead)
Dead Horse Point State Park (35 minutes from park entrance, 1 hour from trailhead)

ABOUT

Hi, I’m Corrine! I’m an outdoor enthusiast and mother of four.

My goal is to inspire you to get outside and create your own amazing memories as a family. Life is precious and there are too many adventures to be had to spend life on the couch or in front of a screen.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

 

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

Draper Suspension Bridge Hike, Utah

Draper Suspension Bridge Hike, Utah

by | Apr 10, 2021 | Mountains, Utah

Draper Suspension Bridge Hike, Utah

Share
Tweet
Pin

The Draper Suspension Bridge hike is a must for any family along the Wasatch Front in Utah. It offers gorgeous views of the Salt Lake Valley, as well as is a  fun destination to Draper’s newer suspension bridge that connects the well-groomed Bonneville Shoreline trail over Bear Canyon.

KID RATINGS

Fun: ⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
Difficulty:     Very Easy    Easy    MODERATE    Hard    Very Hard

KEY FEATURES

Hiking Distance: 2.2 miles round trip
Hiking Elevation Gain: 440 ft
Terrain: Dirt trail, rocks, exposed trail, suspension bridge
Time Needed: 1.5 to 3 hours
When to Go: Spring, Summer (morning or evening), Fall 

COST

Free

AMENITIES

  • Bathrooms: During the summer and fall months there are 3 bathroom stalls and water available. During the colder months, there is only a single bathroom accessible.
  • Grass area with picnic tables covered with gazebos
  • Climbing area for kids
  • Drinking fountain on in warmer months
  • Garbage cans

THINGS TO BRING

  • Sunscreen, trail exposed
  • Water
  • Snacks
  • Hiking shoes with good traction
  • Dogs allowed

DETAILS

The Draper Suspension Bridge Hike is a perfect hike for adults, kids and dogs. It isn’t terribly steep and mid way through you are able to walk on a fun suspension bridge. The suspension bridge is 185 feet long and was finished in 2015 to connect the Bonneville Shoreline Trail over Draper’s Bear Canyon. 

We hiked to the Draper Suspension Bridge in early spring on a Saturday. The weather was perfect and we even brought our dog.

I was a little worried at first when I saw the amount of cars parked on the street with the parking lot full, but there are so many hikes in the area and everyone was well spread out. I felt like the trail was not too crowded and we were able to social distance appropriately during the days of COVID-19.

Orson Smith Park Parking Lot

The Trailhead

The trailhead is at Orson Smith Park just north of the bathroom building. The parking lot can hold 30 to 40 vehicles and there is also some street parking available if the parking lot is full. There are several trails in the area, but you will want to follow signs for the Bridge Loop for the quickest and most direct path to the suspension bridge.

The hike begins with a wood stairs followed by a few quick switch backs and then levels off as you continue north and come to the Aquaduct trail.

The Hike

From here, you can continue on the Aquaduct Trail which is first flat and then you hike upwards to the bridge or you can get the uphill portion done at the first and continue east following signs for Bridge Loop. Either way you will reach the suspension bridge.

We chose to get the uphill portion done first while the kid’s legs were still fresh. We continued on a few more switchbacks following the bridge loop signs eastward and then continued north connecting to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST). Follow BST until you come to the Bear Canyon Suspension Bridge. This is about 1.1 miles from the trailhead.

The bridge will slightly rock and move as you cross. This is normal and the bridge is very well built. We had fun walking across the bridge as is swayed slightly beneath us. We enjoyed the beautiful views from the bridge.

From the suspension bridge you can choose between 3 route options to return to Orson Smith Park or continue hiking the BST:

1. Go back the way you came for an out-and-back hike

2. Head west(downward) continuing to follow the bridge loop trail

3. Continue onward on the BST for more mileage.

We choose option 3 and continued along the BST another 0.4 miles to see a small rock tunnel. This area of the BST is flat, easy and goes under several large boulders. My kids enjoyed exploring this area for a few minutes. We didn’t stay long because of the busyness of the trail that day and the bikers who needed to pass us on the trail where we were.

From the rock tunnel, we turned around and headed south until we came back to the suspension bridge, then continued west (downward) on the Bridge Loop Trail. As you connect back to the Aqueduct Trail you head south and will see the Orson Smith Park parking lot below. The hike ended up being about 3 miles with the extra distance we added to the rock tunnel from the suspension bridge on the BST.

This trail in Draper is well trafficked by hikers and bikers. However, we felt like the hike was long enough that people were well spread out. Just be on a look out for passing mountain bikers.

The terrain is fairly easy and the trail is well groomed. I even saw a family on the trail with a running stroller, although I wouldn’t recommend this on the switchbacks. There are also lots of signs and maps along the way to get in in the right direction. If my directions seem a bit complicated, just follow signs for the Bridge Loop and you will get to the bridge pretty easily. It is hard to miss.

Due to the switchbacks, which are actually quite short, I rated this hike as moderate instead of easy for kids. We enjoyed this hike and it is one I would definitely do again.

PROS & CONS

PROS

  • Beautiful views of Salt Lake Valley
  • Fun destination to suspension bridge
  • Family friendly: Not too steep or long for kids 
  • Easily accessible – isn’t far from main freeways/highways

CONS

  • Hot in the summer months and trail is exposed
  • Can become crowded with hikers and mountain bikers

DIRECTIONS

The trailhead is located just off Highland Drive in Draper at Orson Smith Park. You can search Orson Smith Park on your maps app to get you to the right location. The trailhead is located at the north side of the parking lot just north of the bathrooms. There is a dirt road to the south of the parking lot —- this is not the trailhead for the suspension bridge.

MAPS 

 

MORE INFO

All Trails : Orson Smith Park to Draper Suspension Bridge

 

OTHER NEARBY ADVENTURES

Rocky Mouth Waterfall Hike (10 minutes)

Alien Tower Hike (15 minutes)

Horsetail Falls Hike (30 minutes)

 

ABOUT

Hi, I’m Corrine! I’m an outdoor enthusiast and mother of four.

My goal is to inspire you to get outside and create your own amazing memories as a family. Life is precious and there are too many adventures to be had to spend life on the couch or in front of a screen. Read more….

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

 

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

Horsetail Falls Hike with Kids: Alpine, Utah

Horsetail Falls Hike with Kids: Alpine, Utah

by | Apr 9, 2021 | Mountains, Utah, Water

Horsetail Falls Hike with Kids: Alpine, Utah

Share
Tweet
Pin

The Horsetail Falls hike takes you to a majestic waterfall with beautiful views of the Alpine and Highland areas below. This steep hike through beautiful scenery of the Lone Peak Wilderness and Uintah National Forest to a waterfall that is well worth the work. This is great hike for families and kids experienced in hiking.

KID RATINGS

Fun: ⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
Difficulty:     Very Easy    Easy    Moderate    HARD    Very Hard

KEY FEATURES

Hiking Distance: 4 miles round trip
Hiking Elevation Gain: 1600 ft
Terrain: Dirt, large and small rocks, small stream crossings, water on trail during certain times of the year. Trail is mostly shaded.
Time Needed: 2.5 to 4 hours
When to Go: Spring, Summer (morning or evening), Fall 

COST

Free

AMENITIES

There are no bathrooms or water at the trail head. The nearest services are in downtown Alpine, about 10 minutes from the trail head.

THINGS TO BRING

  • Sunscreen
  • Water
  • Snacks
  • Hiking shoes
  • Dogs allowed

DETAILS

Horsetail Falls hike ascends through mountain terrain and streams to a gorgeous waterfall and views of the valley bellow. This hike is not for small children not in packs or unexperienced older kids. 

The elevation change to the waterfall is 1600 feet, which is why I rate this hike as “Hard” for kids. We hiked this with two 10-year-olds, a 9-year-old, and 6-year-old, as well as a 2 year old in a hiking carrier. The 6-year-old did a good amount of complaining, but kept going with some treat bribery, haha. The 9 and 10-year-olds did very well, and of course the 2-year-old loved life in the hiking carrier.

Trailhead

The trail follows the Dry Creek Canyon just east of Alpine, Utah. The trailhead is located at the end of Grove Drive in Alpine, Utah where there is large dirt parking lot that can fit at least 20 vehicles.

If the parking lot is crowded there is also street parking available. The trail begins on the north east corner of the parking lot with a map of the Dry Creek area.

The Trail

The trail is well shaded for the majority of the hike except for the first and last quarter mile. We did the hike in June in the late afternoon.

There is a huge boulder to the south side of the trail that my girls had a fun time climbing. We always take advantage of fun things along the way. It breaks the hike up for the kids and makes it more fun for them.
There is also a small clearing on the way up that has a fork in the road. You can take either route. The two routes meet up with each other in a short time.

The terrain is very rocky with big and small rocks. There are a couple of small stream crossings which have logs and rocks placed so you don’t have to get wet if you don’t want to.

Dry Creek Canyon is for the majority of the time dry. However, due to the amount of spring rain when we did this hike, there was more than just a couple stream crossings.

There was actually water coming down on the trail for the last half mile on the way to the waterfall, making the trail a small stream. This is just what my kids needed to help them through the last bit of upward hiking. The kids loved walking through the water and getting wet.

One stream crossing was surprisingly stronger than it looked. So, as always, watch the kids and help them across these areas.

On the way up there are a few areas that overlook a view of the falls.

Horsetail Falls

If you would like to get a close up view of the falls, I suggest continuing upward to a sign on the ground with an arrow pointing north that says horsetail falls.

The sign on the ground is near a point on the trail that shifts right. This leads to a narrower trail directly left of the main Dry Creek Trail. This narrower trail descends rapidly and there is a rope to the left to help let you down if needed. Continue on this trail for another quarter mile or so.

The waterfall comes up fairly quickly after turning off the main trail and is pretty awesome to see. The area near the waterfall is steep, so be cautious of your little ones getting there before you. You will likely be able to feel the mist of the falls as you get closer. Due to the heavy spring rain and runoff the waterfall was a lot bigger for us than I have seen in other pictures.

The views looking down from Horsetail Falls are beautiful. Everything was so green and lush with the wet spring.
To get back to the parking lot, just turn back and go the way you came.

Overall, the hike was not too difficult for our family. However, we are a hiking family. I would not recommend this hike to a family new to hiking. Try a few shorter easier hikes first.

PROS & CONS

PROS

  • Beautiful views
  • Gorgeous waterfall
  • Well shaded
  • Water for kids to play in

CONS

  • Steep incline for younger kids

DIRECTIONS

The trailhead is located at the end of Grove Drive in Alpine, Utah. To get to the Horsetail Falls trailhead put Deer Creek/Dry Creek/North Mountain Trail into your maps app. You can also use the search, Horsetail Falls Trail via Dry creek. This will lead you to a dirt parking lot at the end of Grove Drive in Alpine. You can also follow my map below.

MAPS

 

MORE INFO

All Trails

OTHER NEARBY ADVENTURES

Easier hikes in the area to try before Horsetail Falls:

Rocky Mouth Waterfall (45 minutes)

Alien Tower (30 minutes)

Draper Suspension Bridge (40 minutes)

 

ABOUT

Hi, I’m Corrine! I’m an outdoor enthusiast and mother of four.

My goal is to inspire you to get outside and create your own amazing memories as a family. Life is precious and there are too many adventures to be had to spend life on the couch or in front of a screen.