Random Rambler: Battle Creek Falls

Battle Creek Falls is a cool waterfall located in Pleasant Grove. The short trail features a creek, neat rock formations, a view, and of course, a waterfall. It is supposed to be a twin waterfall, but I have only seen it really act like a twin waterfall once since I have started coming here several years ago. This is another favorite trail that we do fairly often, but it has been a little while so I thought we’d do it again.

Quick Details:

Length: About 1.2 miles out and back.
Trail Type: Out and back, with longer loop options.
Difficulty: DR3. Its a little bit of a climb, but mostly not too bad.
Elevation Gain: About 600 feet.
Restroom: Yes! They recently installed fancy new flush toilets and drinking fountains.
Dogs? Yes, leashed.
Other Info:

To Get Here:

Head south on i15. Take exit 275 for Pleasant Grove, and head east. Turn right on state St. turn left on 200 S. Follow that all the way up until the road turns into a dirt parking lot next to Kiwanis Park.

The Pleasant Grove G (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP)).

Big water tank with the city name painted on it (PSP).

The Trail:

Neat peak above.

The fancy new restrooms with flush toilets, running water, SOAP, drinking fountains, bike repair station, the works. This was not here the last time we were here in January 2022. So it was built sometime between then and now.

You know, I have been hiking for a long time, and it really just feels like trails were always the same for as long as I can remember. Then something like 5 years ago, all the sudden I am seeing all sorts of trail/trailhead improvements. Its actually pretty great! But I just wonder what seems to have changed?

Anyway, the trail goes up to the right behind the new restroom.

Heading into the canyon.

I think this is yellow clover.

The canyon again.

It is greening up nicely.

The creek below.

Some of the fun rock formations.

Mount Timpanogos above.

More greenery.

Mount Timpanogos again.

Fun rock layers.

More fun rock formations.

The creek again.

Up canyon.

These pretty red flowers are all along the hillsides up here. I think it is a type of penstemon. Possibly scarlet penstemon or Eaton's penstemon.

Pretty purple flowers.

The spillway. This is just a smidge past halfway.

More rock formations.

The spillway again.

Closer.

The creek again.

Then the canyon narrows a bit.

Small cascades.

More fun rock formations.

A hummingbird enjoying the penstemon.

The creek again.

The bridge.

Upstream.

Downstream.

After the bridge the trail gets a bit more steep, but you are nearly there.

The creek again.

Shallow cave.

The penstemon again.

The first of two landslide sections. These generally make me nervous, however the trail is pretty wide so it was not an issue for me today.

First glimpse of the falls.

Looking up at the landslide.

More penstemon.

Little closer.

Pretty yellow flower.

The second little landslide.

More layers of rock with a little seep coming down it. In winter this can make a pretty neat ice fall.

Then we reach the trail split. I imagine the roaring waterfall is a pretty darn good sign of which way to go, but just in case, go right. Left will continue up canyon and will connect to some other trial options. I often think about checking it out, but so far have not really.

The waterfall from the top of the trail split.

The worst of the entire trail is this short steep part down to the base of the falls.

Before long we made it! The famed twin falls is more like a strong twin that took all of the resources from the other twin.

Little closer.

The whole thing.

Slightly longer exposure.

Again.

Vertical panorama.

From a little lower down.

With the creek below.

Another longer exposure.

It is so neat to be this close to a big waterfall.

Downstream.

The waterfall again.

Faint waterfall-bow.

Looking up.

Wow! Look at that spray!

Stronger waterfall-bow.

Looking up again.

Waterfall-bow again.

The sad twin falls.

Again.

Downstream.

Getting close to the main waterfall. Considering how busy the trail was today I was a little surprised we got a moment with the falls to ourselves. Yay.

Looking up.

Super fun!

Quick video.

And another.

Downstream.

The waterfall again.

Landis made his way across the creek, but I am not so sturdy rock hopping and didn’t want to get my feet wet. But ultimately, it does not look super rough to do so.

Folded layers of rock.

More.

The waterfall again.

The sad twin.

Both.

Alright, we had our fun, time to head back down.

But first, we have to climb this short hill. Oi.

Some primrose.

Looking back at the waterfall.

Utah Lake below.

More penstemon.

One of the landslide sections. Again, not too bad since the trail is wide.

Back to the little cave.

Interesting tree.

Back down to the bridge.

Continuing down.

More fun rock formations.

Down to the spillway again.

The front of it.

Back down to the pretty purple flowers.

Little closer, with a little bee friend.

Again.

Oh, we have a fun little visitor.

A stunning hummingbird moth!

You can see it’s tongue, or proboscis.

It is hard to capture their pretty wings unless they actually stop moving for a second, which they don’t really do haha.

Here you can see the proboscis curling or uncurling.

I absolutely love these guys.

So neat.

I kind of captured the wings here.

Continuing down.

Fun rock layers.

The other side.

Fun rock formations.

Fun forest.

Houndstongue.

I think this is more primrose.

More forest.

Utah Lake below.

Thick plants.

The creek again.

Back down to the parking lot.

With a better view of Utah Lake.

Pretty blue bridge over the creek leading to Kiwanis Park.

Upstream.

Downstream the creek flows into a reservoir.

Looking back up into the canyon from the parking lot.

Utah Lake as we head to our next destination (PSP).

That was a great little hike to a great waterfall. With some neat and interesting things to see along the way. Considering the parking lot was practically full I was expecting it to be busier than it was. We even got a couple minutes alone with the falls. Plus the clouds were nice to us today and covered the sun for the way up then opened up to allow us to see the waterfall-bow. I am pleased today, 10 out 10 squirrels.