Random Rambler

Church Fork is a beautiful little side canyon in Mill Creek Canyon. The trail features a pretty mixed forest, some fun geological formations, a creek, as well as a couple little waterfalls. It is a little bit on the tougher side, but it is lovely, so it is worth it. This trail will take you all the way up to Grandeur Peak, but we haven’t made it that far yet. Today we went up almost to what I call the elbow, where the trail veers away from the creek and starts switchbacking up the mountain. We have done this before, but it has been a good minute.

Quick Details:

Length: it is about 3.4 miles to the peak (one way), we did about 2.66 miles out and back, including the .7 miles out and back through the picnic area. So, not even half.
Trail Type: Out and back.
Difficulty: It is a constant climb! DR4.
Elevation Gain: we did about 892 feet. It is 2299 feet up to the peak.
Restroom: Several pit toilets in the picnic area. We confirmed the 1st one was open today, but I was kind of surprised it was.
Dogs? Yes, leashed in all areas of the canyon (including the picnic area). Can be off leash on the trail on odd numbered days.
Other Info: The picnic area is gated off from October to April which means you have to hoof it in from the road, about .35 miles each way.
Fee area: $5.00 toll paid as you exit the canyon (card only now). Please note, it is a toll, not a day use fee. This means that the standard forest, state, and national park passes do not cover it. It is also exempt from Fee Free Days. We don’t have a lot of toll roads around here so it is a little weird to think about The only other one I can think of it the Summer Road at Albion Meadows. There is a Mill Creek Canyon only yearly pass for $50 bucks a year, but it is only valid for Mill Creek Canyon. So, unless you go 10+ times a year it’s not really worth it. Maybe if you live right by it.

To Get Here:

Drive approximately 3.2 miles up Mill Creek Canyon. On the left (North side) of the canyon you will see the Church Fork Picnic Area. All the way at the top of that is a small parking lot. If it is full, or the picnic area is still closed for the season, you will need to park on the main road. It only adds about a quarter mile to the hike. There are signs advising you to not use picnic parking for hiking (and I imagine they tow too).

Lovely mixed color tree (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP)).

Pretty mountains (PSP).

The turn off for Mill Creek Canyon (PSP).

A Little bit of color as we head towards it (PSP).

Fun rock formations (PSP).

More (PSP).

Well, I was hoping for one more fall color adventure… but it appears to all be done here (PSP). Poop.

Camp Tracy (PSP). I remember going there as a young boy scout.

Pre-trail:

Walking through the Church Fork Picnic Area, on foot since it is closed and gated now.

After parking along the main canyon road we arrived to the Church Fork Picnic Area. The sign says the Grandeur Peak Trailhead is only a quarter mile up… but, even using a shortcut it was actually .35 miles.

Bridge over Mill Creek.

A little bit of color.

Mill Creek, upstream. With Church Form draining into it.

Church Fork again.

Downstream Mill Creek.

Walking up the road through the picnic area.

Church Fork again.

Continuing up the road. With lots of leaf litter.

I noticed a set of stairs that looked like it might be a shortcut.. so I figured lets try it. It was indeed a short shortcut. I noticed 2 additional possible ones that we did not use today.

Nice forest section.

Across the canyon towards Thayne Canyon. I might have to check that one out sometime.

Church Fork again.

Continuing up.

Pretty waterfall.

Longer exposure.

Lowest tier.

The split upper tier.

Closer.

Forest.

Another small pop of fall color.

Church Fork again.

Up to the summer trailhead. Phew!

With another lovely little waterfall.

Again.

The Trail:

Trailhead kiosk.

Old trail sign.

Climbing up.

The first bridge.

With a random water pipe.

Coming up out of the ground. I wonder if this is a spring, or just redirected water from upstream? We will cross over a similar pipe in just a minute.

There must be a leak in the pipe which created this cute little mossy heart.

Downstream towards the summer parking lot.

Upstream has more of a waterfall.

Continuing up.

The creek again.

Neat porous rock.

Before long we cross the Pipeline Trail. This sign says it is another 3 miles to the peak! Eep! Good thing that was not the intended destination today.

Pretty forest.

Fallen group of trees that have been cut away.

Weird fenced off area with a pressure pressure relief pipe. Yeah, I have no idea.

From above.

The hill above.

Big old tree.

Another biggun.

Slightly steeper slope, not too bad.

Continuing along.

Another small patch of color.

The creek again.

Leaf littered trail.

Enjoying a nice flatter section for a minute.

Another big tree.

Another small patch of color. It is mostly done for the year, but there are still a couple little patches left.

But otherwise it is quite bare.

Church Fork.

Giant boulder.

Again.

The back side of it.

The upper bridge.

2 Streams converge here, upstream of the left one. I think the other one is the primary though.

Downstream.

Little peninsula between the 2 streams.

The stream on the right.

Continuing up, with a lot of leaf litter.

Short wet section. It wasn’t too muddy though.

A couple little cascades.

Again.

Random stairs. I would guess they were added to help control some erosion.

Continuing the climb.

A little bit more color.

Little spring flowing over a weird rock.

Underneath a rather large tree.

Pretty maple leaves.

Another patch of color.

Continuing along.

Well, this is weird looking.

Hit a nice thick forest section.

Looking up.

We made it to what I call Utah’s Octopus Tree. It’s not as neat as the much more famous one in Oregon, but it is neat.

It is a bizarre but neat tree.

The creek is down in a deeper gully here as well.

The tree cluster again.

Above.

Again.

Well, my original goal was to continue up to the “elbow” as I call it, where the trail turns away from the creek (at almost a direct right angle) and starts to switchback up the mountain. But… it was starting to get dark and I didn’t want to push it anymore. I knew we were pretty close, but I wasn’t sure how close. Turns out we really were close! haha! But, meh, I am glad we turned back when we did.

I hate this time of year. We often run out of light before we are done. bUt YoU cOuLd JuSt GeT uP eArLiEr? Yeah… I could, or we could not change the fucking clock twice a year.

Heading back down.

Lovely forest.

Looking up.

Patch of color.

The weird little spring rock again.

Faint sunset.

Little patch of color.

The upper bridge.

The big rock.

Forest.

Back to the random fenced area.

The other side of the canyon.

Down to the lower bridge.

Back to the summer trailhead. Phew! We made it back to pavement before dark dark. Now lets see if we make it back to the car before dark dark.

Back through the picnic area.

I am a little surprised this shot of the waterfall is alright. Not amazeballs, but alright. No tripod even!

There were a few people using the picnic areas. I am not sure if that is allowed, or if they are just risking it. o.O

Well, we made it back to the car before total dark, but just barely.

Heading down the canyon (PSP).

We stopped at the toll booth to pay our fee. They have switched from cash preferred to card only. I mean, from a safety perspective, it totally makes sense! No need to risk a single employee in a tiny shack with a bunch of cash. It is just a jarring change from just a few years ago.

Afterwards we went to find dinner.

It has been a few years since we have done this one, and now I think I remember why LOL. It was a constant UP. However, it is super pretty, so I am glad we came back to do it. It is that time of year that the precious daylight is quite limited, so I need to somehow adjust my weekend schedule to get up a little bit earlier than normal to be able to finish with the daylight… but, if you have been following along for a while you already know how successful I am in that endeavor. haha. Anyway, even though it was a little more tough I enjoyed our adventure today. 8 Squirrels.