Neffs Canyon

Neffs Canyon is a smaller canyon in the Mill Creek area. In fact it is just south of Mill Creek Canyon. It is a beautiful forested trail up a very steep canyon. Seriously, this trail starting kicking our butts right at the beginning and never really let up. But there are some great sights to see and some nice views as well. We did not make it to the meadow today, but I thought I would share what we did do.

I

It’s weird that we haven’t done this trail sooner considering it was my primary view from work for the last year or so.

Quick Details:

Length: 2.75 M to the Meadow and 3.5 to the pass. One way.
Difficulty: DR5 This is just up. And pretty rocky.
Elevation Gain: 2450 ft to the meadow and 3190 to the pass.
Restroom: No. The closest restroom we found was at a grocery store below.
Dogs? Yes. But if you plan on continuing over the pass then leave Fido at home as that crosses into watershed. I did not see any rules on leash restrictions.

To get here:

Take exit 4 for 3900 S in Millcreek. If heading from the North, turn left on 3900 s, which will turn into Jupiter Dr. after you cross Wasatch. If heading from the south, still take exit 4, but then left on Wasatch Blvd, then right on Jupiter dr. after about .8 m turn left on 4280 s Oakview Dr. after .4 miles turn left onto Parkview Dr. after .2 m turn right onto 4260 e. turn right onto White way. Follow that .3 m to the parking lot at the top. 4326 White Way, Salt Lake City, Ut.

The Trail:

Trailhead sign.

Large, but crowded parking lot.

Neffs Canyon from the parking lot.

Right off the bat you are faced with a choice. Both trails join, so it doesn’t matter which one you choose. We took the lower trail.

Pretty little meadow below.

Before long you will come to these stairs which will connect you to the other trail.

Nice wide, well packed old jeep road. With a pretty good view of Mount Olympus.

Before long you will pass a water tower.

Mount Olympus above.

Above the forest.

Mount Olympus.

Old pipe and new pipe.

View of the valley below.

Interesting ridges. I wonder if these might be the same layers that created the Devils Slide in Morgan.

Oh neat, I found a little window.

A little closer.

Trail split. The guide I used said to bear left, so that is what we did. I’m not sure if the trail to the right rejoins the trail or goes elsewhere. After reviewing some other maps it looks like just a little spur.

After about a half mile we have reached the creek!

More of the creek.

Just beyond the trail split is this flat clearing area. And a bunch more trail splits.

Some of the biggest Glacier Lilies I have ever seen.

More cool rock formations.

The left trail follows along this dry creek bed.

Eventually in connected to the main trail.

The path is lined on both sides with Glacier Lilies.

Uh oh, already starting to see some snow.

The cliffs above.

Very steep and rocky trail!

Crossing to the other side of the dry creek.

And another dry creek.

After the 2nd creek crossing we started seeing more snow, and more runoff coming down the trail.

Lots of mud.

The stream, now to the right, is in a pretty deep gulley.

At about 1.5 miles we came to this small clearing.

Looks like someone has made a small campsite here.

What the trail looks like now. I decided to take a break in the clearing and catch my breath. This trail is really intense. It is starting to remind me of Bell Canyon.

The clearing again.

After catching my breath I decided I had enough. I hate to have made it this far to just turn around, but I didn’t want a repeat of a few weeks ago and having to trudge through snow. And I decided the meadow is probably a field of snow right now anyway so the effort/reward tradeoff didn’t seem great right now. We got our hike in, sometimes you gotta know when to throw in the towel.

Looking down the steep, muddy trail.

More Glacier Lilies.

Looking down canyon.

Cliffs above again.

Glacier Lily and another small flower.

Through the forest.

This one just to show the rocky trail.

Mount Olympus above.

We reached the point where the short side trail we took joined the main trail. We decided to try the main trail down.

Scraggly rocks.

I am really glad we took the other trail up. This section of trail seems steeper.

And we have reached the big clearing again. As we approached I heard what sounded like a waterfall.

So I found a small trail next to the creek.

I found a couple small cascades before the trail fizzled out on me.

The stream splitting into two.

The clearing below. It kind of reminds me of Ferguson Canyon.

Someone made a little rope swing.

And a small fire pit. I don’t think this is allowed here but I’m not sure.

The creek again.

The window again.

Cliffs above.

The valley and downtown below.

Panoramic.

With the water tower.

And another view. I can see my work from here.

Last look at Mount Olympus.

I am a little upset we didn’t make it to the destination, but did enjoy what we did do. The first half mile was pretty crowded but it thinned out after that. Due to not reaching the meadow I don’t think it would be fair for me to rate it. As I mentioned the effort/reward ratio was not good today, so as is I probably wouldn’t rate it very high. I will say, I think it would be more enjoyable a little later in the year after the snow is done melting, but before it gets too hot.

As for difficulty, this was a tough trail! Definitely an almost constant up with not very many calmer spots. DR5 for sure.

Dogs are allowed. I’m not sure if leashes are required or not, so I’ll leave that up to you to decide.