Random Rambler: 2025

Red Butte Garden is a large garden within the University of Utah complex. It features several themed garden areas, as well as some wild trails in the natural area. They were doing a special Holiday Open House Art Fair today, so the normal fee was waived. I wanted to see the art fair as well, but I mostly wanted to see the 6 Bridges Trail since I didn’t get to do it last time. Unfortunately, we got stuck in traffic for a nearby holiday event so we cut our visit to the art fair a little short.

Quick Details:

Length: We did about a 1.7 mile loop, which includes getting through the garden to the trail.
Trail Type: Loop, out and back options.
Difficulty: It is paved with a gentle incline, DR2. We did a little extra though DR3
Elevation Gain: We did about 160 feet.
Restroom: Several.
Dogs? No.
Other Info: Fee area. Normally $16 per adult.

To Get Here:

Take i215 to Foothill Drive heading north. Go about 3.3 miles and turn right on Wakara Way. Continue up that for 9/10ths of a mile and it will be on the right.

Overflow parking just to the west.

The mountains with a fresh coat of snow (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP)). I was a little worried the snow was going to be low enough to make the drive not so fun, but it was fine. We had something else make it not so fun.

Suicide Rock (PSP). I feel like that blue cross thingy has been there for a minute.

I didn’t get a picture but we got stuck in a huge traffic jam on Foothill Blvd for the nearby Utah Museum of Fine Arts Holiday Market. It took us almost an hour to go a mile. Hindsight being 20/20, we could have cut that down significantly if we had known how it was all setup. But we knew we had to turn right, so we stayed in the stalled right lane. I assumed all of the traffic was heading towards where we were going, since the UMFA is further north. But, no, they had some overflow lot on Sunnyside Avenue and were running shuttles. Oi. Well, now we know.

On the plus side, we were able to see a hawk soaring above while we waited (PSP).

The Trail:

We made it! Phew!

After sitting in traffic for an hour we had almost decided to just say screw it, but we made it. However, we were both just completely peopled out at this point. So we did a quick breeze through of the art show before we decided to just get our planned hike on. It is a bit of a shame, I did want to enjoy some art. Meh, we miiiight come back tomorrow.

Neat leaf art.

We took the main loop along the “easiest walking direction” to the left, or clockwise. It might be a little shorter to get there going to the right, but meh.

Through some scrub oak.

Pear Arbors.

Cute benches.

Pretty orange rose.

Pretty maple trees hanging on to their colorful leaves in front of the Rose House.

BTW: Last chance for water and restrooms here.

The Rose Garden.

The Rose Garden Wedding Lawn.

Cute little waterfall along Red Butte Creek.

With the pond.

Again.

Closer.

Longer exposure.

With the pond.

From the bridge over the creek.

Closer.

Downstream.

If I had bothered to consult the map, I would have seen that we could have stayed on the north side of the creek here and gotten to where we were heading, but tunnel vision. I knew where I wanted to go, and was heading that way.. with just a few distractions. You know, cause… SQUIRREL!!!

Quite a few of the roses are still hanging on. Which, isn’t too surprising since quite a few of our roses are still hanging on.

Now we are in the Water Pavilion Garden with the larger pond, which has a thin layer of ice on it! I guess it was cold enough last night for it.

Plants coming up out of it.

The pavilion.

Looking back at the pond and creek.

Continuing along.

Neat tree.

Fun moose statue.

We reached the beginning of the Six Bridges Trail (right) but, we noticed something downstream to the left that we wanted to see, so quick detour.

Downstream.

There is another fun moose statue in the creek.

Closer. There is a baby statue too. I have had the fun experience of seeing a moose wading in water on some of our adventures so this is cool.

“A Moose Family”

Super cute. I wonder if I can get a replica.

In the creek.

Scrub oak and bird nests.

Alright. Back to the Six Bridges Trail. With my squirreling a bit, it was about a half mile from the Visitor Center. Probably closer to 3-4/10ths of a mile.

The first bridge.

Downstream.

Upstream.

Narrow gully.

Bridges two and (three)?. I don’t think these higher, connection bridges count.

Bridge three.

Landis was just saying how surprised he was that all of the bridges are not named and/or dedicated to someone…

“Ezekiel R. Dumke, Jr.

‘Zeke’ Dumke constantly looked for ways to improve his community with a remarkable ability to see things, not only as they are, but as they could be.

While in his 80’s, Zeke bushwhacked his way through this impenetrable upper reach of Red Butte Creek, climbing over fallen trees and wading through the creek as he contemplated a series of bridges, walking paths, and boardwalks to bring visitors into contact with the creek.

In gratitude for his funding of the architectural design works, this bridge is named in Zeke’s honor.”

I think that is definitely an honorable dedication. This little trail is fairly new, completed in 2022.

The creek again. This is in the dead season, I can’t imagine what it might look like in summer. Although we both decided we definitely wanted to see that too sometime.

Continuing along.

Adorable birdhouse, using a natural log.

Bridge number four.

Downstream.

Scrub oaks and their roots.

Bridge # five.

Upstream.

With an analog beaver dam.

Again.

Fun stone benches.

Bridge # six. Yup, the upper bridges don't count.

Downstream. With another analog beaver dam.

The first one again.

Itty bitty waterfall.

More stone benches. Also I think this is the best shot I took of the information signs, which are all currently blank. It would seem they remove the info for the cold months.

The creek.

Another high, overlook bridge.

Then, the end of the line. Unless I wanna be like Zeke and bushwhack our way through. yeah, not gonna happen, and I am pretty sure the garden might have some strong ideas about that too hah.

The creek again.

Upstream.

Up on the high bridge offers a nice view of the narrow gully the creek has worn down.

Again.

After here you have a few options. return the way you came, or hit the Creekside Trail, heading back down, or as we decided today, continuing up. We still had about a half hour before the garden closes, so I figured we had time.

The Creekside Trail is a little more thin through a thick scrub oak forest.

But it is lovely!

The creek through the brush.

This is the end of the Six Bridges Trail, but we decided to keep going.

It connects to Zeke’s Mountain Trail. According to the map, that is only 1.15 miles, not counting connectors, and the main garden path. I might do that next time we are here.

I was having a real hard time understanding the map through here. But now that I am reviewing what we did, it is starting to make a lot more sense. I'm not sure what they could do to make it more clear, maybe a few directional markers though here would be helpful.

The creek below.

I am not 100% sure, but I think this is the Oak Tunnel. Again, the maps are a little confusing.

One of several benches along the way.

Lots of oak leaf litter.

Continuing along.

The creek again.

Nice wide path.

Again.

The Outdoor Classroom.

More scrub oak.

Bird nests.

Snow.

Gnarly roots.

The creek.

Mess of trees.

The creek.

End of the line. Well, this is probably a good place to turn around. If I am understanding the map correctly, the Zeke’s Mountain Trail continues at a connection just a bit downstream. It looks like we could follow Red Butte Creek just a little bit further upstream using that trail. Meh, maybe next time.

This ended up being a good turn around spot. We were pushing our luck with lighting, and well, the garden hours. So, time to head on back.

Mess of oaks..

The creek.

Heading back down.

Lots of oak trees.

Through the trees.

The outdoor classroom again.

Oaks.

The creek.

Continuing down.

Nice little bench.

The ridge along Mount Van Cott to the north.

Through the oaks.

The creek.

Tree tunnel. Again, I am not 100% sure if this is THE Oak Tunnel, but it seems right.

Back down to the Creekside Trail.

The creek.

Another lovely bench to enjoy the creek.

For Mitzi D Conover.

Back to one of the (what I am calling) overlook bridges above the 6 Bridges Trail.

We opted to stay on the Creekside Trail.

Poison ivy warning. Well, this officially makes 3 places that I have seen warnings for it, but I still have never seen it myself. The other 2 places are Corner Canyon and Hidden Hollow.

I love puddle reflections.

More tree tunnel.

Oaks.

With a nest.

Little meadow.

Neat pavilion.

With the meadow.

Ridge to the south.

Another “observation bridge” over the Six Bridges Trail.

Upstream.

Downstream.

Oaks and a bird nest.

Again, we opted to stay on the Creekside Trail., so back to the meadow. Here an employee yelled across the meadow, most of which we did not hear. But, seeing as it is about 5 minutes to 5 we picked up it was the get the hell out message, but probably more polite than that haha. Time had gotten away from me, so, we double timed it to get back out as soon as we could. This is one of the many reason I don’t like hiking in private areas.

The neat pavilion again.

Weather station.

The creek below, and the old road that is part of the Red Butte Skyline Trail above.

Trees.

Squirrel!

The moose statue in the creek.

Back to the main loop. The shortest, and easiest route back is to the left along the "easiest walking direction" main loop.

Little bit of a sunset.

Little bit more of a climb, but not too bad.

One of two little observation points through here.

Which is closed due to winter conditions. We joked that this was just so they didn’t have to shovel it. I mean, it is completely fenced, so there really isn’t much of a risk here. Then I thought, well, what if someone really had a cartoonish flailing slip, I guess that might send them over the railing, so yeah, one of the cardinal rules. Cover Your Ass.

Lots of bird nests.

The other observation point.

Another fun pavilion.

The ridge above. I am not 100% sure, but I believe this is the red butte the garden and creek are named for.

Continuing along.

Flashfire Sugar Maple. It is quite pretty, still hanging on to it's fall color.

Cute archway.

The courtyard.

The Four Seasons Gardens. We didn’t really get to explore that last time either. Well, maybe next time.

Excerpt from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

And outside, at 5:03. I feel bad that we had pushed 3 minutes past closing, but I noted, there were still a good 40-50 people milling around the gift shop, not to mention a few people just… casually milling about in the garden on our way out. So, we are assholes, but not the last assholes today.

Mountains to the west.

Fun topiary.

The entrance.

The building.

The Natural History Museum of Utah next door.

Mount Van Cott again.

Fading sunset.

The Natural History Museum again. It has been a minute since we have been there. I think we need to come back soon.

Little more sunset as we head back (PSP).

Downtown Salt Lake City (PSP).

Cute old mansion with fun decorations (PSP).

Trolley Square (PSP). I seem to remember they decorated a bit more in previous years.

Well that was fun! Even with a frustrating hour in traffic, which stole my daylight! But hey, I guess we just need to come back some time! I am also sad we didn’t get to explore the art some more, but meh, we accomplished what I really wanted to do today. The trail was pretty much deserted, so that was nice. I am going to take a squirrel due to the kind of confusing map and trail system. 9 out of 10 squirrels.