Little Willow Canyon

 Little Willow Canyon is a small canyon located in Sandy that features a small creek, some wildflowers, and even some wildlife. Unfortunately, the city has restricted the proper canyon portion since our last visit, but it was a nice add-on trail after our shorter adventure to Rocky Mouth Falls today.

Quick Details:

Length: About a mile loop.
Trail Type: Out and back, or several loop options, including adding Big Willow Canyon.
Difficulty: DR3. Little bit of a climb, but not to bad.
Elevation Gain: About 135 feet.
Restroom: Yes.
Dogs? Yes, however you are skirting the watershed border. I feel like it is signed appropriately, but pay attention so you do not cross into the watershed boundary.
Other Info:

To Get Here:

The most direct rout is to take i15 to 123rd south. Take that east towards Wasatch Blvd, turn right onto Wasatch. After Wasatch curves to the north, look for Hidden Valley Park on the right. It is right next to a church. Located at about 2860 E Wasatch BLVD.

The Trail:

Trailhead map. interesting that the sign shows you can continue into the canyon beyond the new “no trespassing’ signs.

Anyway, blue is dog friendly, red is no dogs allowed. So you cannot do the loop we did with dogs, but you can do the out and back we started on, or the lower loop around the park.

I also find it interesting that Draper has decided dogs are okay on and below the BST (Bonneville Shoreline Trail), but Sandy has other rules. Lastly, they also have not updated the signs to include the newest section of the BST to the north here.

Big Willow Canyon.

Little Willow Canyon.

There are a couple little memorial benches along the trail.

Deer.

The split off for Big Willow Canyon.

Another memorial bench.

View across the park.

Lovely little poem.

Another memorial bench.

I didn’t get a picture of the previous trail split, but I think that is the better way to go up. It's more gradual than this way.

The canyon we are heading towards.

The aqueduct road. Its a bit of a climb.

The canyon.

So this gate was here last time we came up here.

Heading down towards the creek.

Neat little A frame bridge. Circa 2009.

The creek is diverted for drinking water.

Well these are new. They certainly were not here last time we came here or we would not have gone up there like we did. Well, poop. It is a shame they felt the need to close it off. I guess too many people ignored the watershed rules and ruined it for the rest of us. I am glad we got to explore it before they closed it. Not having any luck finding when and why though.

There are 2 trail splits right next to each other. The upper one is the BST, and will take you to Big Willow Canyon. We haven’t done that yet, but it seems like a fun loop option. The lower one will take you back down to the park/trailhead more directly.

Pretty wooded section.

I believe these are annual honesties.

Valley view.

Panoramic.

Some yellow wildflowers. You know, I am pretty surprised we have yet to see a glacier lily this year. Those are usually the first wildflowers I start seeing in the foothills.

Mountains to the north.

The park below, and Antelope Island off in the distance.

This trail is quite lovely. Definitely would have been the more gentle climb up.

Another panoramic.

Downtown.

Looking up towards the ridgeline.

Mountains to the north again.

American kestrel. Our smallest and prettiest little murder birds.

Again.

Off to find the next meal.

Panoramic showing both Big and Little Willow Canyons.

Turkey vultures soaring above.

Another panoramic of the 2 canyons.

I am pretty sad the upper canyon has been closed off to exploring, but this trail system is a nice easy, short one to do when you don’t have a lot of time. Not too busy, and some great views of the valley below. 7 out of 10 squirrels today.

As for difficulty, there is a bit of a climb, which would be easier if done for the other direction, but it is short.

Dogs are allowed on the lower part, but not the upper part. I feel it is adequately signed on each trail split so it is pretty easy to keep them out of watershed areas if you pay attention.

On lower trails.

On upper trails.