Ferguson Canyon

Ferguson Canyon is a really popular, small canyon right next to Big Cottonwood Canyon. It is a gorgeous, wooded hike following a nice stream into some rocky areas. I have heard about it quite a few times, but somehow never explored it until today.

To get here, take i215 to the 6200 S./3000 E. exit (6). Be sure to stay in the lane for 6200 s, 3000 east will still get you there but there are more turns. Follow 6200 s as it eventually turns into Wasatch Dr. There is an intersection with a light across Fort Union (7200 S) that goes up into Big Cottonwood Canyon. Go through that and then take the 1st left. Almost immediately this street comes to a T take a right. Follow prospector Dr to the 2nd left which is Timberline Dr. Before long you will see the parking areas on the right. If they are full, I noticed an overflow parking along the way on Prospector Dr. Now on to the hike!

Here is a view of the canyon from Wasatch Dr. It looks pretty daunting from here.

I didn’t get a picture but the first thing we noticed was a very packed, crowded parking lot. Oh boy, very popular trail. Luckily we found a spot and did not have to go back down to the overflow lot.

Well the next thing we say was a very pretty, large butterfly.

It kind of followed us up so I got another shot of him with some different flowers.

Speaking of flowers, wow! There were loads of them up here.

The trail starts on an old dirt access road to this water tower, after this it thins out and goes down into the canyon.

Pretty nice view from here though.

Dogs playing in an open meadow of flowers and grass. The trailhead says dogs must be leashed, but it seems most people allow them to roam free. I don’t mind it myself, but we kept Roxy on her leash.

A look up the canyon.

Wildflowers.

The trail heads down into the canyon from here. Kind of steep and rocky, so remember you have to come back up this on the way back.

Beautiful green hillsides.

Gorgeous wooded trail.

Some nice cascades. The trail is near the creek and you can hear it for most of the way, but if you want to see it, you have to take random side trails. I swear I heard some waterfalls, but never did see any of them.

Beautiful woods.

Occasionally the canopy opens up and allows views of the mountains and cliffs above. The last one kind of looks like a face.

Okay, now the trail meets the stream, the stream IS the trail as it fans out next to the rock outcroppings.

Kind of interesting view above.

This would seem to be a very popular spot for rock climbers. We saw several groups climbing the walls here.

More giant boulders.

And more climbers. I love the outdoors, and being adventurous, but climbing up a vertical cliff… not on my list of things to do. Then again, I am not a fan of heights so, to each their own.

Still nice and pretty though.

Roxy was kind of struggling with this hike so we decided to take a break here. She however still wanted to keep going and decided to climb up the boulders above.

I read that this is a common turn around point, but we decided to push on. The canyon is very narrow with these rock outcroppings, and the stream has fanned out. So your feet are going to get a little wet. We didn’t get very much further though.

Random patch of life on the side of the rocks.

Look back down.

Another look up. Roxy was not having the water, and rocks, so we decided we would turn around.

Roxy tries to decide the best way down. (we had to redirect her)

Trees and water.

Cool rock formation.

More rock climbers.

Wet, wet trail.

Trail split.

My two best friends. :)

Cute spot to snuggle up.

More gorgeous woods.

Wild Snapdragons.

Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Ferguson Canyon.

More wildflowers.

And more.

The trail is 3.2 miles round trip, we made it about .65 miles up, so we did about 1.3 miles round trip I guess almost halfway. It was absolutely gorgeous! We ran into several groups coming down, but didn’t have a crowd problem until we reached the climbing boulders, and even then it was not so bad. We did not end up doing the full thing but I really enjoyed this what we did do! 9 out of 10, only losing 1 due to the crowd.

As for difficulty, this was marked as easy, but I think it was a little rough. It was easy until the water tower, then it goes downhill rather steeply, then back up. The trail was rather rocky and then eventually was wet and rocky. Going with a DR4 for today.

Dogs? Yes! With one caveat. They are allowed in Ferguson but not Big Cottonwood, which the trail does eventually cross into. So just don’t go too far! If the Big Water Trail is any indication, there will probably be a sign to warn you that you are about to cross into watershed.

My newest trail classification system as we have had to turn around once or twice thinking dogs would be fine, and they were not allowed. I might go back and tag some of the more recent posts with this new category.