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Dimple Dell is a large park in Sandy. It features miles and miles of trails to explore in a deep gully with a creek. There are some great views of the mountains and valley below from most of the trails. Today we decided to explore the Dry Creek Trail as it has been a couple of years since we have done that. It had been raining and snowing on and off so I was really hoping we found a good window between, and for the most part we did. Only got rained and snowed on a little bit.
Quick Details:
Length: We did a 2.7 mile loop. You could do longer if desired.
Trail Type: Loop, or out and back.
Difficulty: For the Dry Creek Trail I am going to bump that to a DR4 due to difficult creek crossings. The rest of it was pretty easy going, DR3.
Elevation Gain: About 360 feet.
Restroom: The new restroom appear to be complete, but they were not open. Not sure if they are seasonal, or just not open yet.
Dogs? Yes, leashed.
Other Info:
To Get Here:
We used the Wrangler TH today. Take 106th South to 13th east, Go south for about 1200 feet then turn right*. Go another 300 feet and you will see the Wrangler TH on the right.
*if you pass Smiths on 13th east, you went to far, but go ahead and turn into their parking lot and head south it’ll get there too.
Then we will access the trail from the west side of the parking lot.
The mountains covered by low clouds (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP)).
The valley below (PSP).
The Trail:
Oh well that answers that question. Once the new restrooms are open, they will be year round.
New ADA parking spaces that are paved.
The new restrooms.
Updated picnic area with 2 wheelchair access tables.
First we will take this trail down to the bottom of the gully.
A couple muddy spots, but nothing too crazy.
Tunnel underneath 13th East. This will take you to the lower, west end of the gully. We kept heading down on this side.
As you can see it decided to dump snow on us. Luckily that was short.
Continuing down. Now we are on the Dry Creek Trail.
Dry Creek, not particularly dry right now. As of 2020, Sandy worked with various water rights to work on allowing Dry Creek to flow freely through Dimple Dell year round when possible. It’s amazing! But, also kind of a pain as this trail crosses it frequently.
This crossing isn’t too bad.
The creek.
Again.
Forest.
Another crossing. Someone has added a board to make it easier. I think a few of these crossings could use real bridges though.
More forest.
Apologies for the water drops. I eventually wiped my lens off at some point.
A hitching post and a bench.
More forest.
The creek again.
More forest.
Mossy trees.
Trail split. We went left, but I am thinking we probably should have gone right.
Continuing along.
Fun with reflections.
The creek again.
About here the trail starts getting a little sketchy.
Following the creek.
Dead end. Well, it is probably doable, but the creek is a little deeper here, maybe if I was wearing my boots.
We found this thin trail heading up the north side of the gully and decided to see if that would get us through. Worse case scenario, it leads to one of the upper trails.
We can see the new Badger Cove Trailhead is coming along nicely. With the tracker there, I don’t think it is quite open yet.
The thin trail looped back east and appears to be taking us back down to the lower trail.
Yes! It does. It is a little more steep on this side though.
The creek again.
More forest.
Another awkward crossing.
Another short muddy section.
This part has a bunch of bushes with these black berries. I have no idea what they are and I know better than to try to eat random unidentified berries.
Huge tree!
More berry looking things. Perhaps rose hips?
More forest.
The creek again.
Huge birds nest.
Rust colored pond.
Found some patches of snow.
More forest.
Dry Creek is dry here.
Again.
Overgrown section.
More mossy trees.
Sandy cliff. Looks like some nest holes in there. I am guessing probably cliff swallows.
I love how oak trees will hang over some trails.
Dry Creek again.
More oaks.
More forest.
Another thick overgrown section.
Snowed in fuzzy plant.
Random fenced section.
Somewhere about here is where they are talking about putting another bridge over the gully, to extend Highland Drive to the north (pictured) and connect it to 2125 East on the south side. I really hope that doesn’t ever come to fruition. We have 13th East, and Dimple Dell Rd.. There really is absolutely no reason to put another bridge across it as it really is not a big deal to go around it on those roads.
The south side.
Continuing along.
Dry Creek again.
Another sandy cliff.
Cloud shrouded mountains.
Another sandy cliff with some more nest holes.
Dry Creek again.
Restoration area.
Another creek crossing. Thankfully it is dry here.
Another sandy cliff with nest holes.
Mount Jordan.
The creek bed again.
Well, we hit 1.5 miles, and I didn’t want to be much further from the car with storms looming overhead so we decided to call it. The junction I was hoping to reach today seems like it is at least another half, maybe a full mile further if you want to keep going. However, we noticed a connector trail not too far back that I knew would connect us up to the Mountain View Trail.
The aforementioned connector trail. It’s a little steep and sandy, so a bit rough, but not horrible.
It is like a miniature slot canyon. LOL.
Success! It did take us up to the bark lined Mountain View Trail.
Looking back east shows why this trail was named what it is.
Heading back west.
Itty bitty little pink flowers.
Looking back down into the gully.
I am not particularly fond of bark lined trails, but I will say it beats mud any day.
I believe we are under the Primrose Loop here.
The Sego Lily Trail. This is probably the only trail we have yet to really explore, well that and the Dry Creek Loop. So, those are probably my next adventures in the area.
Looking back towards Mount Jordan again. Still shrouded by clouds.
More itty bitty pink flowers.
With my hand to show size.
Where the potential bridge might go.
Mount Jordan again.
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Panoramic.
Another patch of snow.
Another restoration area. We both wondered what the danger to horses might be? Landis thought maybe some plants, and then I decided the terrain might be it. But, those are just guesses.
The Primrose Loop again.
Another fenced in path, with some snow.
The Badger Cove Trailhead. It really looks like it is almost ready for use.
Itty bitty yellow flowers.
The Sego Lily Trail breaks off to the left here, Mountain View Trail stays to the right. Either one will get you back to the trailhead, but we stayed on Mountain View.
The Flanders Point Loop.
The gully below.
Mount Jordan again, still shrouded by clouds.
Better view of the upcoming Badgers Cove Trailhead. Again, I assume with the tractor still there that it is not ready yet. However, I am kind of excited to try it out soon!
Flanders Point again.
The Mountain View Trail climbs up towards the North Ridge Trail. It’s a little steep, but not to bad.
The final push.
Mount Jordan again.
We reached the North Rim Trail, AKA the Dimple Dell Trail.
The Jordan Narrows next to the Point of the Mountain to the south.
Down into the gully again.
Continuing along the North Rim Trail.
Mount Jordan again.
I never really noticed those cliffs at the base of Mount Jordan before.
The Flanders Point Loop Trail again.
Magpie.
The North Rim Trail.
Steep Mountain.
Mount Jordan again.
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Another panoramic.
Closer look at the mountain.
Flanders Point again.
The west end of Flanders Point.
Almost down to the trailhead.
Mount Jordan is almost completely shrouded again.
Back down to the trailhead.
Fun sun rays on the way home (PSP).
That was a fun trail! The Dry Creek trail was a little rough, but the rest was pretty smooth. We only ran into a few people today which is always a plus. 9 out of 10 squirrels. Loosing one due to the confusion of the massive web of trails.
As for difficulty, The Dry Creek Trail was a little more rough than anticipated so DR4 for that. The rest of the trails were pretty cut and dry and easy, DR3 for them.
Dogs are allowed, but should remain leashed at all times.
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