Mule Hollow

Due to all of the rain recently, I started feeling a little cooped up. So with a break in the clouds I decided to just go do something. So, my plan today consisted of doing a couple quick stops in Big Cottonwood Canyon. And well, while trying to locate a particular vantage point I stumbled upon this unmarked trail. I only learned of it’s name after we got home and did some research. It is a steep, STEEP trail that crosses the stream quite a few times. Which I guess normally probably isn’t a big deal but we went after a large storm so it was pretty swollen. I’m not sure how far we went today, but I did learn there are several mines near the top between 2 and 3 miles up.

To get here drive 3.1 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon, pass the Storm Mountain picnic area, and the cut in the rock right after it, and turn left into the small dirt parking lot.

Our first stop was the quartzite mound just above the Storm Mountain picnic area. Looking down canyon towards that.

Looking up canyon. You can see the pull out for Mule Hollow on the left there.

And the trail head. Like I mentioned I really just intended on running up a little ways to see what was up here, and well, we just kept going.

Nice little stream.

Which the trail follows for the most part.

First stream crossing, this one wasn’t too bad.

The first of a few primitive campsites.

Landslide section.

The stream is pretty.

Navigating another crossing.

Getting into the thick wilderness.

Another campsite.

I believe this is Storm Mountain.

Nice and green up here right now.

Really now? How am I supposed to cross here? Well.. we managed.

Little bit of water on this part of the trail. Another landslide on the right.

The stream again.

Vegetation getting pretty thick again.

Storm mountain again.

Pretty yellow flowers.

Some.. strange insect on these flowers.

Nice little cascade.

Eek. The trail is really wet here.

Nice and green.

Pretty flowering tree.

This part of the trail was flowing with water.

Oh, it’s a spring.

Pretty forest.

Another shot of the creek.

It’s really green up here.

Storm over.. Storm Mountain.

I didn’t know what might be up this trail and really didn’t like putting all that effort in for nothing, but it was starting to rain so we turned back.

Pretty forest.

Water flowing over a rock.

I learned today that is is a lot harder to go down a wet trail than up. It’s harder to judge a good sturdy place to step.

Some other obstacles to get around.

I like this view of the mountains.

Log dam.

Okay this one is my favorite shot of the day.

And I am fairy certain this is looking into Stairs Gulch. Another great hike.

Fairly long stream crossing.

This really makes me angry. Why do idiots feel the need to tag pretty areas?

More green woods.

Another primitive campsite.

Back to the larger landslide area. I just love the way the trails look through these as they all slowly flatten down and turn into almost a cobblestone path.

Storm Mountain behind a large rock ridge.

The stream rushing towards Big Cottonwood Creek.

And the parking lot sure cleared out.

That was a tough hike! Seriously UPhill with a lot of obstacles including several creek crossings. My pedometer app, which is usually seems pretty accurate put us at a half mile up today. I am certain we did more than that, however it was steep so maybe the extra work made it seem longer. Not sure. But we didn’t make it to the mines either. I’m not gaga over mines but it would have been nice to reach something. However the views of Storm mountain were spectacular! and there were not very many people on this trail either. Not going to rate it due to not completing it, but I would probably settle on a 7.

As for difficulty, well this is going up to a DR5 it was really steep, and my legs are still kind of barking at me. Plus with all the obstacles, it almost felt like the trail was doing everything it could to keep you from going up.

Big Cottonwood Canyon is Watershed so dogs are not allowed.