Church Fork

Church Fork is a small side canyon within Millcreek canyon. It was a truly a different hike than what we are used to up here. The first bit follows the stream up the canyon and passes quite a few little cascades in a pine forest. Then it starts switch-backing up the mountain side towards Grandeur Peak. I tried doing this once before with a friend, but we didn’t get very far. So, I thought we’d try again. The guide I used said 5.5 miles out and back.. but I don’t know how accurate that is considering the mileage on the signs on the trail.

To get here drive approximately 3.2 miles up Mill Creek Canyon. On the left (North side) of the canyon you will see a little picnic area. All the way at the top of that is a small parking lot. If it is full, or the picnic area is still closed for the season, you will need to park on the main road. It only adds about a quarter mile to the hike. They ask that you do not use picnic parking for hiking (and I imagine tow too).

A look down Mill Creek Canyon. As you can see a lot of people had the same idea we did.

Here is where Church Fork joins Mill Creek.

The stream meandering through the picnic area. This looks like it is a really nice picnic area. I think I might have to plan a family activity one day.

Strange porous stone.

Nice little waterfall.

And there is another one up by the trailhead.

The trailhead. Which isn’t the main trailhead as I understand it.

Not far up the trail there a bridge across the stream that allows you to look down at the waterfall by the trailhead.

As well as a view up to see that the waterfall continues higher up.

All of the waterfalls look like they are building travertine up, or at least some kind of mineral formations. Looks pretty similar to what you would see by hot springs, like Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone but definitely not as incredible.

More of that bizarre porous stone. It almost looks like coral. I wonder what it is.

Another shot of the stream.

Fork in the trail or as I understand it, the actual trailhead. 3 MORE miles to Grandeur Peak? That is quite a bit more than what the trail guide I used mentioned that would put this trail at 6.2 miles RT (not counting the 1/4 mile through the picnic area) rather than 5.5. However multiple guides have the same mileage so it is possible this sign is not up to date. I’m not sure. Anyway, follow the sign towards the peak.

I don’t know what they have fenced in here, looks like an empty field.

The trail is still very wide and hard packed.

Random stripes painted on this fallen tree.

There were a few muddy sections, but not too bad considering the time of year.

View of a neat hanging cliff above.

Giant boulder that sits next to the trail. I believe this is part of a limestone ridge that runs though here.

Where a side stream joins the main one.

Which made this thin peninsula of land.

Nice little bridge.

Patch of aspens.

And back to pines.

I don’t know what it was about this trail, I was really enjoying it through here.

A couple of springs flow across the trail.

Some stairs were built in here. I’m guessing this slightly steeper section had some erosion problems so they stepped in to try to fix that and still allow people to enjoy the trail.

Some more of the pretty forest.

 

Another spring flowing over the boulder which encouraged some mold growth looks really cool! I think this shows more example of the mineral growth.

I love the color of the mud in through here.

Couple more shots of the forest.

It took us a minute to realize we were walking on frozen mud. I think the grit in the mud helps it to not be so slippery.

We aren’t completely free from the snow yet.

Well. It would appear we have our own Octopus Tree here in Utah. (not officially named) I wonder what happened here?

Bizarre knots and lumps. I wondered if this may have been modified by early humans as they believe happened to the Octopus Tree in Oregon, or if there is just something wrong with them.

A couple yards beyond the tree there is this last parting view of the stream and a sign indicating trail to the left. If you wanted to just get a quick hike in, this might be a good turn around point. Because this is where the trail leaves the stream, and starts switch-backing up the mountains towards Grandeur Peak.

The trail gets a bit thinner.

But not too much further you already start getting a great view. Looking down towards Mill Creek Canyon.

Looking further into Church Fork Canyon.

Out of the pines, into the scrub oak.

Neat rock formations above.

Nekkid trees.

I chose our trail wisely. There is snow on the surrounding slopes, but not the one we are hiking on.

I was a little weirded out by those random lighter trees near the center of this photo. thought of all kinds of things like a dead patch, or even an albino patch until we passed an aspen and well, yea.

As far as switchbacks up a steep slope go, this one is better than most as there is a lot of forest and only a few open areas. Well, at least as far as we went.

At the time of the hike I wasn’t quite sure exactly where Grandeur Peak was so I don’t think I ever got a picture of it (not sure if I could even see it now that I think about it).  Anyway, it is just to the right of these 2 peaks on the south end of the canyon.

A look back down into Church Fork and Parleys. Absolutely beautiful view from up here.

A quick panoramic.

Another view down.

the red rock peak above. Not Grandeur. I think it might be Mill Creek Crest.

I think this might be Grandeur Peak.. or at least the ridge that leads to it.

I really, REALLY wanted to go to the peak today and finally cross that off my list, and it seemed like we were really close, but it was starting to get late and we wanted to be back before dark, and we were starting to get tired (this trail was kicking our butts). Looking back, I do believe we made the right choice as my legs just about gave out on me before we even got back to the picnic area. When I got home I did a little more research and determined we had only gone about halfway! I am really glad we didn’t push it today. This is a tough little trail! But one I really want to return and complete.

A quick panoramic from the highest point of the trail we reached before we turned back.

Another little spring.

Red rock formation and some pines.

Red sand on the trail, and some snow across the canyon.

Pretty view down.

Early flower.

One of the switchbacks.

You can see the limestone ridge just above a large boulder in the middle of this image. that is the large boulder we passed on the way up.

With a quick cropping you can see some people on top of it.

A squirrel let me get surprisingly close… before scampering across to another branch to give me a proper squirrely scolding.

Back to the “Octopus Tree”

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Back into the pines

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The stream.

Human and doggy prints in the mud.

Oh look we are already to the stairs. Down is always so much quicker than up.

Back to the giant boulder. I thought about climbing up, but… legs… jelly… wasn’t going to happen today.

I noticed this tree has a weird wide and mossy base like the Myrtle Wood Tree in Oregon. In fact I noticed a couple. So I am thinking with all of the interesting trees here that there must have been something that affected them. A possible fire, or some disease, or maybe even the minerals in the soil. I don’t know though still it makes for an interesting hike.

Another shot of the stream.

This big rock had a crack like a giant geode.

we are back to the upper waterfall near the trailhead

The lower one.

Back to the picnic area.

Roots pushing through the pavement.

The waterfall in the picnic area.

New fire pits ready to be installed. They look nice with little grilling areas.

Back to where Church Fork meets Mill Creek.

Well, this was a tougher, longer trail that just kept on gong up, and up. However, I absolutely loved it! I wish we had made it to Grandeur Peak but even without doing that I had a great time and was absolutely fascinated with just about everything we saw along the way. It is a really good one to do in early spring, and I would love to see it in full bloom, but I am not sure if this would be a good summer hike being on an open slope for most of it. We didn’t complete it, but what we did do was great. Going with a perfect 10.

As for difficulty, well we didn’t have our usual winter break from hiking this year, but this was seriously UP the entire way and it did have some steep switch-backs. The trail starts at 5900 ft. in elevation and the peak is at 8299 ft. That’s about 2400 ft. of elevation gain. I’m between a 4 and a 5, think I would finalize on a 5.

Dogs are always allowed in Mill Creek Canyon however must be leashed on even numbered days. We didn’t encounter the kind of issues we experienced in nearby Rattlesnake Gulch, but my standard plea still applies: please clean up after your furry friend.