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From what I can tell, you can actually drive right up to this, but I stumbled upon another blog that accessed it from Tomahawk Dr. Since we had just done the Limekiln which is off of Tomahawk, we figured we would just do that.
Quick Details:
Length: .35 miles out and back.
Difficulty: DR2. Paved.
Elevation Gain: 42 feet.
Restroom: No.
Dogs? Yes, leashed. Please clean up after your furry friends.
Other Info: Be sure to stay on the path and mind the surrounding private property.
To Get Here:
From downtown, take South Temple east to Virginia St. Turn Left. This road will start winding up the mountain. Turn right onto Chandler Dr, and another right onto Tomahawk Dr. Take this to the end. Be sure to mind the no parking signs and not park in the circle.
To skip the short walk, take Virginia St to Popperton Park Way. Then switchback up the roads from there.
The Trail:
At the end of Tomahawk Drive there will be a circle. You can’t park anywhere in the circle so will have to park just before it on the road.
There is an old road between these properties that provides access to the road that the Block U is located on. Lots of scary signs about private property, but I think that really the gist is, stay on the path and don’t veer into peoples yards.
Its a nice wide path at least.
The path will eventually pop you out onto New Bedford Dr. And you can just start seeing the U.
We made it. It’s freaking HUGE!
Unfortunately they are trying to restore the vegetation so you can’t go walk on it right now. That is a little disappointing, but oh well.
Information sign.
First constructed at this site: 1905
Fabricated in Concrete: 1907
Light added: 1969
Rebuild with new concrete, lights, and erosion control: 2006
It lights up when there is a game, and will flash if the U wins. It says athletic events, and does not specify football. I mentioned sportsball isn’t really my thing but I have only noticed it lit up during football season. Maybe I am mistaken.
The blog I read claimed this was the 2nd block U and the 1st in Utah. From what I can find on wikipedia, this is actually the 3rd block letter. The first was built in 1904 an L representing Lahainaluna High School in Hawaii. The 2nd was the UC Berkeley C in California created in 1905.
It ‘s a little fuzzy here, but from what I can tell BYU planned to build a BYU block in 1906, and then decided to reduce it to the Y. But, U of U beat them and erected theirs first the following year, so it is the first block letter in Utah. But the sign says 1905. But it also says there was a long tradition of painting it, so maybe wikipedia went by more permanent dates. I guess that matches the Fabricated In Concrete date.
The Y, at 380 feet tall is taller than the U at 100 feet tall.
The U again.
The view below.
View from across the street.
One last look.
Walking back down the road you can see a bit of downtown peaking out.
I like seeing the leaves work their way down into the snow. This happens because the darker colors absorbs more heat.
Back on the little pathway between properties.
A look at the mountains.
Working our way down the windy roads, another view of downtown (PSP).
There are some weird sculptures on this property. I thought it might be Popperton Park, but it appears to be a private residence. Not sure if you can visit the sculptures.
Well, that's not really much of a hike but it is still coo to see such a prominent feature up close. Still not going to rate it.
As for difficulty, Like I said I am pretty sure you can drive right up to it, which would be a DR1. Or you can do what we did and it’s all paved with little elevation gain so DR2.
Dogs are allowed, leashed. Please clean up after your furry friends.
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