Yellow Fork Canyon: Big Rock Fork

 Yellow Fork Canyon is a nice, easy trail system on the southwest side of the valley in Herriman. There are a lot of trails to explore, but today I just wanted a nice easy, familiar trail. So, we are doing Big Rock Fork again. This trail features a creek, and mountain views. We got a late start so we didn't get very far today.

Quick Details:

Length: We only did about 2 miles out and back today, but it does keep going.
Trail Type: Out and back, longer loop and balloon options.
Difficulty: DR3. It’s a super mild climb.
Elevation Gain: We did about 280 feet today.
Restroom: There is a vault toilet.
Dogs? Yes, leashed.
Other Info:

To Get Here:

From i15 take exit 289 for Bangerter Highway. Go about 5 miles and turn left on 13400 S. Go about 3 miles and turn left on 6400 W,/Rose Canyon Rd. .6 miles later turn right to stay on Rose Canyon Rd. 1.4 miles later turn left to stay on Rose Canyon Rd. About 2 miles later will be the trailhead parking.

If you are starting from Bangerter and are north, Start from 13400 S. But turn right, then follow the rest of the directions above.

Amazing storm clouds (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP)). But uh oh, does this mean we are gonna get rained on?

Again (PSP).

Kennecott Copper Mine (PSP).

More storm clouds (PSP).

Kennecott again (PSP).

The canyon we are heading towards (PSP).

There are a LOT of deer in the area below the canyon (PSP). So you know, drive carefully.

We did get sprinkled on a bit towards the end of the drive (PSP). But it stopped.

The Trail:

The trailhead kiosk.

We started to head up the old Yellow Fork Road Trail.

Oh what the hell? It’s closed! Well, poop. I guess we will do Rose Canyon instead since it is right here too.

Down canyon.

Oh. The Yellow Fork Trail is open. This trail follows the Yellow Fork Road trail up, but on the other side of the creek, criss-crossing a few times.

The bridge is just above where both creeks merge.

Rose Creek coming out of Rose Canyon to the left.

Yellow Fork to the right.

Like I said, they merge right here and continue as Rose Creek downstream.

Fun decorative direction marker..

East.

South.

West.

North.

I still haven’t figured out what the additional #’s and AM mean. 12:30:06 AM? 12306 AM station? That doesn’t seem like its possible. 12/30/06? That can’t be right cause it has only been here a couple years now, plus then what is the AM?

Landis thought maybe coordinates, but that doesn’t seem right either, and again, then what is the AM? Gah! So frustrating! If you know, or hell, even have a theory that makes sense, I would love to hear about it.

Frustration aside, it is a rather pretty direction marker.

Heading up.

Fun twisted forest.

I love the leaf covered hill. It should be snow covered right now, but we are experiencing a super weird, warm and dry winter.

Yellow Fork Creek again.

Enjoying the forest.

Pretty purple leaves. I am pretty sure it is Oregon grape, but not 100%.

Deer and horse tracks.

I feel like this fence is new.

Big tree.

Random lean-to structure. I still haven’t figured out why people randomly build these along our trails, but I see them pretty often.

A couple muddy spots. We probably should have turned back here, but it wasn’t super, suck you in, cling to your boots mud… yet. Plus we were not sinking in like the tracks ahead show.  I totally forgot it actually rained last night.

The creek below, with an analog beaver dam. Also, the creek is currently in a 20 ish foot deep gully through here.

Itty-bitty waterfall.

Short section along a steeper slope. That generally triggers my fear of heights, but I did okay here. It was wide enough, and not really high.

Fun rock.

The beginning of the big clearing.

With some deer friends.

The creeks gully becomes more shallow, and less wide here.

Deer friends again.

The creek below, plus an analog beaver dam.

Forest.

Deer friends.

The creek heading downstream.

Upstream.

Dried up run off stream from the storm.

Forest.

Random cement structure in the creek. I wonder what it was.

It took me just a split second to understand what I was looking at here. Wild turkey tracks!

Better shots. We have seen wild turkeys up here several times, and well, we eventually saw some today as well. Just, not our best sighting.

Shortcut into Big Rock. I thought about trying it out, but opted to see if I could see where it connects to the main trail first. We tried it on the way back, and it was too muddy.

The ridge between the forks.

The picnic area at the split. This is about a half mile up.

Big Rock Fork to the left.

Yellow Fork continues to the right.

Panoramic.

Heading into Big Rock.

The other trail. It looks like they will connect soon.

Forest.

Another lean-to structure.

I still don’t get it. But, I mean, there are definitely worse things people do to our woods so…

Where the other trail connects. Okay, like I said it is just a shortcut.

Continuing along.

Mossy rock.

Forest.

Looking up.

Creek bed.

Forest.

Fun rock with a puddle on top..

Continuing along.

More turkey tracks.

At about a mile we made it to a creek crossing. I decided this was far enough, we were pushing it with the daylight.

View down.

Fun rock holding a pile of smaller rocks.

Lone juniper.

View down again.

Forest.

Looking up.

Continuing down.

I just love a twisted forest.

Creek bed.

Looking up.

The almost full moon. There is going to be another lunar eclipse tomorrow night.

Little clearing.

Back to the big lean-to structure.

Closer.

Entrance.

Inside, looking up.

Door.

The other side.

Then we decided to try the alternate path down.

Approaching the big clearing.

Again.

Back to the main trail.

Getting too dark for pictures.

What the… There is a turkey in that tree! I haven't seen that before.

 I just wish I had better lighting.

I knew they were capable of flying.. I just have never seen it myself. I caught a picture of it taking off, but I didn’t catch it flying down to his friends that we can hear but cannot see.

Wow, That was neat! I guess wild turkeys roost in trees at night?

Another one.

Closer.

Continuing down.

Again.

The smaller lean-to again. I probably would have explored it more if it wasn’t so dark.

Back to the parking lot. Phew! We are not the last ones down today.

We took it a little slowly driving back down in case of deer, and sure enough we saw a large group crossing.

Well, that was a good little hike, even in the dark haha, that was totally our fault though. However, it did allow us to see turkeys in trees. That was fun! We didn’t run across very many people either. 8 out of 10 squirrels today.

As for difficulty, it is super, super easy. DR3.

Dogs are allowed, leashed.