Deuel Creek South

Deuel Creek is a nice little trail system in Centerville that follows Deuel Creek for most of the way up Centerville Canyon. There are 2 very nice waterfalls, as well as many small cascades to enjoy along the way. The trail is a long climb up, but does offer a lot of shade. It is one of my favorite local trails.

For Labor Day I wanted a good trail that wasn’t going to be too crowded, and this was a good choice. More people than I usually see on this trail, but still not too many.

Quick Details:

Length: 2.3 miles to the waterfall, 4.6 round trip. Or you can continue up.
Difficulty: DR4. The elevation is generally a gradual climb, but you will notice it. the trail can also be thin in some parts.
Elevation Gain: About 1400 feet
Restroom: No. Gas station would probably be the closest option.
Dogs? Yes.

To Get Here:

Take exit 319 for 400 N in Centerville. Turn right on 100 East. Turn Left on 100 e. Take that up the hill, take the slight left and continue up the hill. From here on out this will be a dirt road. Turn right on Firebreak Road. Follow that up the hill for about 3/10 of a mile (stay to the left). Here you can either veer slightly right, or switchback and do a hard left. go left go another tenth of a mile or so, and park in the large lot.

The road is very rough so I don’t know if a small sedan would make it, but our SUV was okay on it (DBP). If your car can’t make it, you can park on the street below and add a little more mileage.

View from the parking lot.

The Trail:

Trailhead sign.

Quite a few paragliders out today.

The trail starts at a landslide section. I swear it gets further back every time we do the trail.

You follow an old pipeline into the canyon.

Eventually the bottom of the canyon rises to the trail level.

Nice little cascade. This late in the year I thought the creek would barely be a trickle, but its got a good amount of water in it still.

I’m not certain, but I think the pipeline started here.

Random apple tree.

The first of 10 bridges.

There is a nice little set of cascades above it.

A neat looking cliff face.

Bridge number 2 is next to the cliff. So if I were to give the bridges names this would be cliff bridge.

After the 2nd bridge you will come to the only major obstacle. You have to scramble up over these rocks.

It looks worse than it is. With all the different cracks and layers there is a lot of good footing.

At about .45 miles in there is a short scramble down a steep path if you want to see the lower waterfall.

We didn’t do it today, but here is a picture from the last time we were up here March of 2017.

Here is the top of it.

More scrambling. The canyon is very narrow through here.

Another view of the narrow canyon.

The paragliders again.

Bridge 3. I would call this one narrows bridge because the canyon is so narrow through here.

Looking back down.

Some eagle scout added half mile markers. I love trails that have mile markers so you know just how far along you have. My pedometer app agreed with the mileage here.

Pretty butterfly.

Another small cascade.

Looking back at the thin trail next to the creek.

The trail follows the creek for the entire way.

Twin springs.

Into the trees!

Paragliders.

Some fall color starting.

The pretty forest.

Bridge number 4.

There is a nice little camping spot here.

Bridge number 5.

1 mile marker. Again, my ped app agreed with the mileage.

This trail is just lovely. I really enjoy hearing the creek along the way.

Most of the swampy areas have good stepping stones.

Some more cascades.

A little way past the 1 mile marker, I want to say, 1.15 miles is the rope swing. I don’t know who put it here, or who updated it, but it is kind of fun. We gave it a spin last time we were here, but wanted to push on to the waterfall today. As always, you know, some random person put this up, so use at your own risk.

Little waterfall.

Another side spring.

Bridge number 6.

This one has a nearby spring that has a pipe to help fill water bottles (I would still treat it though). So I would call this Spring Bridge.

Not far above #6 is Bridge #7. I would call this one cave bridge due to the little alcove in the cliff next to it.

The little alcove.

There is a great camp site up here. nice big ring, lots of seating. The Cottonwood Canyons have a 100 feet from water rule, but that is watershed so I don’t think the same rule applies here.

More fall colors.

Starting to hit more conifer trees.

The creek again.

Bridge #8.

There is a tiny waterfall just above it.

Little side stream. Easy enough to step across.

1.5 mile marker. My ped app put this at about 1.63 miles. I only side tracked about, 10 feet so that shouldn’t account for that much change.

Another nice camping spot.

Big fern.

Huge pair of trees.

Loving all the greenery up here.

Another muddy area. There are a lot of springs in this canyon.

There are a lot of sections where the trail is thin, but for the most part it’s not too bad.

More fall color. I love the reds!

Bridge #9 has been replaced with stepping stones. It was pretty wobbly last time we used it, so this is good.

By the way, there is a trail split right here. I don’t know where the trail on the right goes, if it rejoins the main trail, or goes elsewhere, no idea, so go left.

More fall colors up above.

Bridge number 10. This one is thinner than the others but it is sturdy.

The creek below it.

The 2 mile marker! Well, it is consistently off. My pedometer app put this at about 2.13 miles.The waterfall is at 2.3 miles so, when you see this, you are almost there!

And again, Thanks Weston. Good eagle project. Mile markers are fantastic to have along trails.

The vegetation is getting quite thick through here.

The split waterfall is bigger than I remembered it. Another sign that you are getting close.

Beautiful forest.

Steep section. At one time foot holes were dug in, but they have mostly eroded away. It’s still climbable.

At last! The waterfall.

The side trail down to the waterfall looks a lot worse than it is. There are almost perfectly placed rocks to help step down and up. Neither of us slid, but yea, be careful.

The 11th bridge in not on the main trail, but does get you to 1 of the 2 good viewpoints for the waterfall. I call it waterfall bridge.

And the amazing waterfall! The main drop is probably about 20 feet high, and then probably another 20 feet of cascades below.

The other viewpoint you will cross back over the bridge and follow the cliff side up.

This viewpoint offers a great up close view of the main drop.

View down canyon.

Back to the waterfall.

I had the stitch a few photos together to get the full waterfall.

Long exposure.

It’s a little overexposed, but I like this one too.

Looking at the crack behind the falls.

Well, we had our fun but it was getting late and we have a lot of trail to cover. So it was time to head on down.

The waterfall just before climbing back up.

With the cliff.

Climbing back up. Again, it looks worse than it is. It wasn’t a bad climb at all.

The trail does continue up beyond the falls. We’ve been a little ways up there, but not far so I don’t know what else this canyon has to offer. But hey, if you still have energy you can keep going.

The waterfall from the main trail.

This canyon is so lush.

Looking down canyon.

Autumn creeping in.

The fading light makes it a little creepy in here.

I like to take underside shots of large trees.

More pretty forest.

Nice V shaped canyon.

The creek.

More trees.

More creek.

Back down to the alcove.

Little waterfall.

Back down to the swing. Phew, about halfway down.

The cliffs above.

Steeper S curve.

More of the lush canyon.

I was curious what kind of trees these were that tend to grow in clusters like this. After digging a little I think we have correctly identified them as water birch.

More pretty forest.

Flag on top of that peak.

The cascades above the lower waterfall.

Top of the lower waterfall.

Another little cascade.

Hitting the pipeline again. Almost back to the trailhead.

Looking out of the canyon.

The landslide section.

We made it! And yes, the sun has set, but we still have a little light to spare.

Quick panoramic.

Looking back into Centerville Canyon.

View of the city below, and Antelope Island.

Well, that was a fantastic adventure. I am happy we finally made it back to the waterfall. I love trails that the follow the creek, it just makes for such a relaxing enjoyable experience. We saw more people than usual on this trail, but it was Labor Day, considering that we still hardly saw anybody, and it seems most people stop at the swing. And the canyon is so green, even this late in the season. Going with 9 out of 10 squirrels. Losing one for some steeper thin segments.

Quick half mile by half mile recap, because I can on this trail.

0-.5 bridge 1 and 2 (cliff) lower waterfall, bridge 3 (narrows)
.5-1 bridge 4 and 5
1-1.5 swing, 6 (spring), 7 (cave), 8
1.5-2 9 (stepping stones), 10
2.3 Upper waterfall

As for difficulty, the elevation gain is pretty gradual, but it does climb and there are a few steeper sections and a rocky scramble. Going with a DR4.

Dogs are allowed! Please be sure to clean up after them.