Bell Canyon: Lower Waterfall

Bell Canyon (also referred to as Bells Canyon) in Sandy, Utah is a wonderful trail system that offers a number of different things to explore. The trail to the lower reservoir is short and faily easy and appears to be most peoples destination. The trail to the lower waterfall and beyond is very steep and very rocky, but the waterfall is spectacular. My 2 brothers that live out of state were in town for the holiday weekend and wanted to hike with us. I had some other ideas for them, but with other obligations we got a little bit of a late start, so I figured the reservoir is good, but one thing led to another and we found ourselves climbing. Todays post will be a bit shorter as I somehow forgot my camera and only had my cell phone. So if you are looking for a trail guide, check out my post from 2014.

Quick Details:

Length: 1.4 Miles out and back to the reservoir, 4.7 Miles out and back to the waterfall.
Difficulty: DR3 to the reservoir. DR5 to the falls.
Elevation Gain: 1784 Feet
Restroom: Pit Toilets at the trailhead.
Dogs? No. Bell Canyon is considered watershed. Some maps make it look like they are allowed but trailhead signs say they are not.

To Get Here:

There are 2 separate trail heads. The Boulders Trailhead is .5 miles to the reservoir and is a bit steeper. The Granite Trailhead is .71 miles and is a bit less steep. I decided to try the granite one today. This trailhead is just east of the intersection of Wasatch Blvd. and Little Cottonwood Canyon rd. Quickest directions are: from i15 take the 9000 s exit. Follow that east as it turns to 9400 s, then Little Cottonwood Canyon rd. After you cross Wasatch Blvd. look for the small parking lot on the right. If you enter the canyon, you went too far. If the parking lot is full there is overflow parking a little further up the road. You can no longer park on the road.

The Trail:

Lower Bell Reservoir. It is super, super low on water right now. Not sure if they are doing maintainance, or if it’s just being used before being refilled.

From the shore.

We decided to follow the cascades up to the trail above.

The creek again.

After a little bit of debate on if we could make it to the waterfall before dark, we finaly decided to just go for it.

Trailside Christmas Tree. I don’t know why, these always make me smile. So long as whoever does it comes back to collect the decorations after Christmas. Otherwise it’s just littering.

The best trailside Christmas Tree is the Ogden BST Christmas Tree. Nobody knows who does it, but it’s been happening for years.

Old sign has a bit of damage. Oh, they have also added tons more signage! It makes the hike a little more enjoyable knowing how far along you have gone, and knowing you are taking the right turns.

After this sign the trail starts to work it’s way UP. After you cross the creek once, and then meet up with it the trail starts to get seriously up, and very rocky.

This sign is definitely new and is very helpful. The first time we were here we wouldn’t have known to take the side trail here except somebody warned us.

Almost there! There is a very steep mound you have to work your way down if you want to see it better.

And we made it!

Wow, so different at the end of the water season vesus run off.

I would never be able to get this close during run off.

2017

And from our spring trip in 2014. Not the exact same angle, but close enough. This mist was absolutely incredible that day!

Amazing view down canyon. If you have more daylight left than we did, head a little further down trail and it is an even better view. At this point we knew we’d be hiking after dark and wanted to get past the steep rocky section before then. So it was time to head back.

The city lighting up is incredible from here.

Panoramic from a little lower.

That was a tough, but incredible hike! I am still mad I forgot my camera, but we’ve been here before so it’s not the end of the world. My brothers seemed to enjoy it and we had a great time catching up. The trail is crazy crowded on the way to the reservoir, but the crowds thin quite a bit afterwards. Last time we were here we gave it 8 squirrels losing 1 for crowds and 1 for steepness. I think that rating still holds true today.

Dogs are not allowed due to watershed restrictions.

Antelope Island: Beacon Knob

Beacon Knob on Antelope Island is seriously, one of the easiest peaks to ever reach. It is 2.6 miles to reach it, but that is the quickest 2.6 miles we have ever done! It offers fantastic views in all directions. At 4966 feet it isn’t a super tall peak, but it’s a peak. You also have a very good chance of seeing wildlife. There are a couple ways to get to Beacon Knob we went via the Rock Quarry trail which is 1.8 miles. Then .4 miles along the White Rock Loop, then .4 on the Beacon Knob Spur. This is probably the easiest, and safest peak we have ever done and that includes Ensign Peak which is super short, but a little more tough. There is absolutely no shelter from the sun so I would not recommend this on a hot day.

Quick Details:

Length: 5.2 Miles out and back with option to make a loop, but a shuttle would be needed.
Difficulty: DR3. You definitely gain some elevation, but it is so gradual you barely notice it. We were cruising along.
Elevation Gain: 505 Feet.
Restroom: Not at trailhead. Closest one I can think of would be at the visitor center.
Dogs? Yes, leashed.
Other Info: Fee Area. $10.00 per car.

To Get Here:

Take i15 to Antelope Drive in Layton. Head west towards the lake. Pay your fee and cross the causeway. When you hit the island you immediately have a road split. Right will go to the visitor center, you want to go left. After a ways take the next left towards Felding Garr Ranch. Not too far down the road (about 1.8 miles) look for an unsigned dirt road on the right. If you start going downhill rapidly you went to far.

Freemont Island from the causeway (DBP).

Crow (DBP).

We initially missed the turn, but random bison (DBP).

Bison on a beach (DBP).

And the dirt road leading to the trailhead (DBP). The turn off does not appear to be signed. The dirt road is short and not so bad, our little sedan made it without issue.

The Trail:

The trailhead.

The sign. It was a little confusing at first and we weren’t sure if the knob spur added another .4 or more. But now know it’s an additional .8.

You follow this old jeep trail across the meadow and up the ridge.

The lake and the mountains.

Bison up on the ridge.

The lake again. Lovely color today.

Last push to the ridge is a little steep, but not too bad.

Beacon Knob and some bison.

The lake from the top of the ridge.

Uh-oh.

He’s a big one.

So when you come across a bison on the trail you have 3 options. Wait it out, turn around, or go around in a nice wide arc. I read to give about 2 bus lengths. Buffalo don’t want to hurt us, but they will attack if they feel threatened.

From our 2016 trip to the island:

Bison safety tips.

1. If a bison stops grazing, sleeping, or doing other bison things to look at you, you are too close.
2. If the bison stares at you and raises its tail, you are WAY to close.
3. If a bison begins to move towards you, back away quickly! Bison can run up to 40 miles per hour!

We opted to go around. Lucky for us the ridge is pretty wide. He watched us, but never raised his tail. We just worked our way around in about a 50 yard arc around him.

And eventually he lost interest in us. Phew!

We kept an eye on the buffalo as we made our way back to the trail, still not worried about us.

Back to the trail with a cool sphinx looking rock.

Buffalo Point. We hiked up there a long time ago.

White Rock Bay to the west.

Making our way up to the knob.

White Rock Bay again.

Looking back towards the north. Freemont Island and I can just make out Lady Finger Point (middle left).

I love all the random boulders on the island.

We made it to the first junction. We were still a little unsure if the knob was .4 miles away, or if it was .4 miles to the Beacon Knob spur trail. Looking back, it makes total sense, but not being familiar with the area it was not. It’d be nice to see ▼ x miles ▼ between each trail split.

Boulders.

The White Rock Loop section up here is fairly flat.

Looking north again.

Getting a view of Frary Peak, the tallest on the island.

At about 2.2 miles we have reached the spur trail for Beacon Knob. Just .4 miles to go.

Trail sign. At least these trails are well signed. I wonder why the turn off to the trailhead isn’t.

White Rock Bay from the other side of the ridge.

Making our way up to the knob. This is really one of the easiest peaks ever, and nothing scary about it. I wouldn’t worry about the kids at all on this one.

Frary Peak and random boulders. Oh, and I think that is Dooley Knob. We almost did that one once but at the time, dogs were not allowed on that trail. That has since changed, FYI.

You can just see the white rock of White Rock Bay.

The beacon of Beacon Knob. Well, the new beacon. The original beacon was apparently a radio tower for planes that has since been destroyed.

Almost to the top.

The current beacon appears to be a weather station.

Old destroyed building. Possibly the original radio tower.

Frary Peak and Dooley Knob again.

Couple of picnic tables up here, so pack a lunch and enjoy the view.

This old structure still stands.

Inside.

Rather large nest. I don’t know if it is currently occupied but didn’t stay to find out.

The lake below.

Quick panoramic of the east side. From Willard to Draper it’s incredible.

I also took a 3D 360 degree panoramic here. If you have 3D goggles and Google Cardboard it’s kid of neat.

The peak is really just a giant meadow. There is a steep spot near the picnic tables, but otherwise it’s pretty chill.

The lake again.

Looking southeast towards downtown. You can see the somewhat drop-off here (honestly it isn’t too bad) and the Jordan River as it becomes the Great Salt Lake.

Pulled out the telephoto lens to get a closer view of downtown SLC.

Mount Olympus, Twin Peaks, and Lone Peak.

Out west towards White Rock Bay.

North.

Well we had fun exploring the rather broad peak, but if we wanted to get back before dark it was time to head on back.

The ridge to the southwest. I think this is Elephant Head.

White Rock Bay again.

North towards Freemont Island again.

The causeway.

Fun clouds.

Looking back at Beacon Knob.

More fun clouds.

Another look at White Rock Bay.

The sphinx rock again.

Back down to where we came across the buffalo on the trail. Luckily he seems to have moved off a ways.

With the mountains.

And some friends.

The lake again.

Back up towards the knob.

Another panoramic.

Looking back towards the knob again.

I was just starting to wonder where the heck the gravel pit is… it is right at the beginning of the trail. We somehow missed it on the way up. Not sure how, I mean, it’s pretty big.

Bone. I was tempted to collect it, but had to remind myself I am in a state park and that is illegal.

Lake reflections (DBP).

Looking back towards the island from the causeway (DBP). Beacon Know is the lower hill up front.

I honestly enjoyed that trail way more than I thought I would. It is seriously the easiest, safest peak ever. It had wonderful views, wildlife, and hardly any other people (even though the causeway was more crowded than I am used to). I usually do the island in the spring but with the warmer November we are having this was a great time to come out here as well.

Giving this one a good 9 out of 10 squirrels.

As for difficulty, there was a climb, but is was so spread out it was hardly even noticeable. Going with a DR3.

Dogs are allowed, but they must be on a 6’ leash.