Random Rambler: Burnham Creek Loop

The Burnham Creek Loop is a short loop located in Corner Canyon, Draper. It features a nice creek, some nice forest, and wildflowers. The loop starts from the Corner Canyon Crossroads. There are a couple options to get to the crossroads, with the 2 shortest options being The Coyote Hollow TH, which is the shortest, but starts at the top, meaning you have to climb back out at the end. The other option is the Carolina Hills TH which is a smidge longer, but does not have the return climb. We opted to go from Coyote Hollow today. Our planned hike for the day, Little Valley was a little short, and we still had some energy so we decided to tack this on as an add on. We were here just a few weeks ago, and I thought I could hear a waterfall in Burnham Gorge, so that was what I was hoping to find on this short adventure, but no such luck.

Quick Details:

Length: The main loop is about 7/10ths of a mile long. Add about 3/10ths of a mile in, and back out for a total of a 1.27 mile lollypop.
Trail Type: Lollypop, out and back, longer loop options.
Difficulty: DR3. It is a very gentle climb.
Elevation Gain: About 220 feet including the climb back up to the Coyote Hollow TH.
Restroom: Yes, there are flush toilets. However, they did not appear to be open today. Not sure if it is a Memorial Day to Labor day kind of thing, or if they were just closed for maintenance today.
Dogs? No. Dogs are not allowed above the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST) in the canyon. The entire loop is above the BST.
Other Info:

To Get Here:

Take i15 to 14600 south in Draper and head east. Turn right on Traverse Ridge Rd. Turn Left on Mike Weir Dr. Turn right on Pinion Hill Ln. an immediate right on Canyon Vista Dr. An immediate left on Gray Fox Dr. and an immediate right onto Cayote Hollow Ct. Take that to the end to the Coyote Hollow Trailhead.

The Trail:

I just love these signs in the parking lot. I still need to see if I can get one for my driveway.

I think someone left this sign out too long. It has been dry for a few days, and there was absolutely no mud. But it is a good reminder that if mud is sticking to your shoes, you should turn around.

Trailhead kiosk.

There is a kind of confusing mess of trails through Corner Canyon. Really, we just want to get down to the crossroads. Which you can do a few ways, going down the Coyote Hollow Foot Path, or down the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST). We chose the latter to go down, and came back up the former.

Generally just head downhill. Following the signs for the BST.

One of the side streams that feeds Corner Canyon Creek. As far as I can tell, this is not named.

Pretty forested section.

Passing by the Creekview Trail. Also nice, but you want to stay right for this adventure and keep heading downhill.

The side creek again.

Sagebrush.

Down to the crossroads, with Burnham Gorge to the right.

There is an additional kiosk down here. I don’t know for sure, but I think that once upon a time you could actually drive some of these old dirt roads. I might be totally wrong, but that is what makes sense to me.

Close up on our planned loop, which confirms it did not appear to be very long.

From here we will continue up the Lower Canyon Road for just a smidge.

Before long we reached the Burnham Creek West Trail.

Back into the woods!

Burdock.

Mint.

Before long we started to see Burnham Creek.

More forest.

The Silica Pit across the way.

Burnham Creek again.

Not a great shot of a butterfly.

More forest.

Some stone stairs.

An old log bench.

Little bridge over the creek.

Small cascade upstream.

Downstream.

Itty bitty yellow flowers.

Continuing up.

Myrtle spurge. This is a noxious weed that is growing all over this canyon. Avoid getting any of it’s sap on you as it can cause irritation and burns.

Mullein.

The trail gets a little thin, but still easy to follow.

More pretty forest.

Eventually we reached the Gas Line Trail and there was a sign pointing us towards the Burnham Creek East Trail. Which I actually appreciated because I questioned if we were on the trail I thought we were on for a minute.

Gas Line Trail. I might have to check the rest of this one out some time.

Another bridge.

Downstream.

Upstream. Unfortunately there was no major waterfall that we could see.

The creek again.

The top of the Burnham Creek East Trail.

More myrtle spurge.

Looking back at some stone steps.

Burnham Creek again.

More pretty forest.

The creek again.

More forest.

I think this is now the main Corner Canyon Creek.

A bridge over it.

Looking back at some more stone steps.

Downstream.

Upstream.

Climbing back up out of the little gully.

Back to the main Corner Canyon.

Heading down the Lower Canyon Road.

Almost down to the crossroads.

Little meadow.

Looking back at Burnham Gorge.

Back down to the Burnham Creek West Trail.

Back to the crossroads.

Terrible shot of a snake I caught just before he disappeared in the grass.

The Silica Pit and a neat spire.

We decided to head back using the Coyote Hollow Foot Path.

Sagebrush.

The foot path pretty much parallels the BST for most of the way back.

Milk vetch.

The side stream again.

More sagebrush.

Passing by the Creek View Trail, which heads west.

Continuing up the Coyote Hollow Foot Path.

More forest.

Some less green forest.

A couple final steps up to the Coyote Hollow Trailhead.

Hills above the parking lot.

The valley below, and you can see The Claw pretty prominently (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP)).

Today I learned we have a Waynes World Dr. (PSP). I don’t know why, but this makes me so happy.

Horrible shot, but it looks like Rockwell has not been moved yet (PSP). I am not sure if it is due to weather, or some changes that took place recently.

After this we found The Garage for a place to have dinner. We both enjoyed it.

A faint sunset (PSP).

Well, that ended up being a good add-on trail! I didn’t find a neat waterfall, but it was nice walking along several different creeks. The BST was a little busy, but we didn’t see anyone on the Burnham Creek Loop. Going with 8 out of 10 squirrels.