Saturday, January 3, 2026

Dimple Dell Regional Park: Overview

 Dimple Dell Regional Park is a large, 630 acre park in Sandy that offers more than 15 miles of trails in a scenic gully. It features sand dunes, scrub oak forests, a gully with a creek that now flows more often, wildflowers and wildlife. This pretty gully is a wonderful oasis on the east end of the city, just below the foothills. There are several major and minor trailheads to access the multitudes of trails within the park. We have been coming here for years and have covered most of it, but still have a little bit left to explore.

As of 2020 the county is working with various water rights to allow the creek to flow “year round” through the park and below. This not only beautifies the park, but also will help to recharge the ground water below the gully and surrounding areas. Which is a win win situation for everyone.

This is a stub article. Click the links for more detailed information per trail.

The county has split it up by trails. There are also now 7 major trailheads, and several neighborhood connectors as well. Then of course when we started exploring it, I had mentally split it up into 3 sections. East, Middle, and West. I can’t decide which is the best way to cover it all, so I think I will split it into the 3 ideas  and let you decide.

By Trail
By Trailhead
By Section

By Trail


The county has determined there are 4 main trails throughout the canyon (1-4), a long trail that skirts the west end (5), and and an additional 6 loops (6-11).

There are also quite a few access trails (dark blue) as well as connector trails some recognized by the county (light blue) and quite a few that are not.  As shown in the official trail map, online version on the Salt Lake County page (outside link).

Honestly, it is quite the web of trails. Even the main official trails sometimes switch from wide, flat, woodchip lined, to thin, rocky and dirt. It took a few tries to really get my bearings and think I am following the right path. They are getting better at signage, but it is still a little confusing and frustrating sometimes.


I added some stuff to the map that I hope will help clear things up a bit.

Green letter dots are major trailheads with amenities. Blue letter dots are neighborhood connectors that the county map indicates (I added the dots to be able to reference them). Purple letter dots are additional neighborhood connectors I have found. And yellow numbered dots are points of interest. All of these are rather approximate locations, particularly the points of interest.

1: Dimple Dell Trail (AKA North Rim Trail above 13th East).


East of 13th East


West of 13th East
  • This is the only trail that traverses the entire park from the west end to the northeast end. The Upper Section stays to the top/north side of the canyon (hence North Rim)
    • 5.2 Miles out and back between the (E) Wrangler Trailhead and (A) Mount Jordan Trailhead.
    • An additional ~2 miles between the (E) Wrangler Trailhead and the (G) Porter Rockwell Trailhead.
    • 4.8 miles total (one way)
    • Access via (A) Mount Jordan Trailhead, (B) Granite Park Trailhead, (E) Wrangler Trailhead, (G) Porter Rockwell Trailhead, as well as several neighborhood connector trails.

  • (We have only done the west half, and just a smidge of the east side so far). This trail stays pretty much along the middle slope of the north side of the canyon.
    • 3 miles one way. 6 out and back.
    • Access via (E) Wrangler Trailhead or (A) Mount Jordan Trailhead.
3: Mountain View Trail.

  • This trail connects all 3 trails from the top, (1) North Rim, Middle, (2) Sego Lily, to the bottom (4) Dry Creek Trail. As the name implies, it offers great views of the mountains.
4: Dry Creek Trail.

  • This trail is at the bottom of the gully, and as you can imagine, follows Dry Creek.
    • From what I can find it is about 3.1 miles one way between the (E) Wrangler Trailhead to the west and connecting to the (2) Sego Lily Trail to the Northeast.
    • loop options with the Mountain View Trail from the east from the the (C) Dimple Dell Road Trailhead and from the west from the from the (E) Wrangler Trailhead looping with the (3) Mountain View Trail, as well as a few neighborhood connectors.
    • Now that Dry Creek is flowing almost year round, this trail could use some additional bridges, signs and other improvements. Of the 4 main trails within the gully it has the most splits, and least signage and I struggle trying to stay on the main path. I'm not really sure if we have ever done the full official trail.

  • This trail skirts the west end of the park, and otherwise really isn't in it.
    • Currently a paved ~11 mile trail between Pioneer Avenue in Sandy and Minute Man Drive in Draper, just skirting by the park on the west end. We have done a couple sections, but not the full thing yet.
    • Access via (G) Porter Rockwell Trailhead, or various other points outside of Dimple Dell Park including Draper City Park.

  • This trail allows you to do a loop along both sides of the creek in the west section of the park.
    • About 4.15 mile loop.
    • Access via (G) Porter Rockwell Trailhead or you can connect up to the (E) Wrangler Trailhead with just a little bit extra. Can also be accessed via a few neighborhood connectors.
  • This a a pretty, easy, interpretive trail almost smack dab in the middle on the north side of the park. Aside from the interpretive signs that help you learn about local plants and other things, Flanders Point itself offers a bench with an amazing view.
    • .67 mile loop from the neighborhood connector on (o) Flanders Road
    • Slightly longer 1.26 mile balloon from the (E) Wrangler Trailhead.
    • Access via (E) Wrangler Trailhead, or (o) Flanders Road (connector). There are a couple longer and shorter options from other trailheads or neighborhood connectors as well.
8: Primrose Loop Trail.

  • Another easy loop trail on the north side of the park. Almost directly in the middle as well.
    • about 1.34 mile balloon from the (n) Highland Drive Neighborhood Connector.
    • Access via (E) Wrangler Trailhead (longer) or (n) Highland Drive (connector).
9: Dry Creek Loop Trail.

  • A nice loop close to the middle on the south side of the park. It could use more signs, as it is a messy web of trails.
    • I would guess about a 1.5 mile balloon. We cut it a bit short and did 1.37 miles.
    • Access vie (m) Dimple Dell West (connector).
10: Fox Point Loop Trail.

  • This is another fun loop on the north side, where the big elbow bends to the north.
    • The loop itself is about 1.2 miles from the Aqueduct Trailhead.
    • Access from (B) Granite Park Trailhead (about or mile or so extra), or the shorter option (h) Aqueduct Trailhead (connector).
11: Centennial Loop Trail.

  • This is a nice easy loop on the south east side of the canyon right at the big elbow where the canyon shifts to the north. 
    • About 7/10ths of a mile loop.
    • Access from (C) Dimple Dell Road Trailhead.
    • Shortest access to (13) Dimple Dell Pond with just a little bit extra walking.
    • Site of the former (15) Dimple Dell Amphitheater is along the loop.
    • Also access to (16) Old Park Headquarters.
12: Bonus Overlook: Sunrise Point.

  • This is a super short hike to a lovely overlook with w nice view of the gully.
    • About .34 miles out and back.
    • Access from (A) Mountain View Trailhead

By Trailhead


The 7 major trailheads that offer dedicated parking and (likely) some amenities as well. I added some lettered green markers for clarity. I also took a couple of screen grabs from google maps to show you what they look like.

A: Mount Jordan Trailhead:

  • AKA Dimple Dell East Trailhead: 3013 East Mount Jordan Road
B: Granite Park: 

  • 2775 Grouse Creek Circle (I have not used this one yet).
    • Amenities
      • Parking (paved)
      • Restrooms
      • Water
    • Trail access
      • (1) Dimple Dell Trail (AKA North Rim Trail) from south, or southeast via connectors.
C: Dimple Dell Road Trailhead: 

  • 2879 Dimple Dell Rd.
    • Additional access from (16) old park headquarters at 2598 Dimple Dell Road, meh, not recommended.
    • Amenities
      • Parking (not paved)
      • Restrooms (oddly offset, about 350 feet away, but paved). I think they are year round, but I am not 100% sure.
      • Equestrian Parking
      • ADA Parking (paved, but through a dirt lot)
      • Water
    • Trail Access
D: Badger Cove Trailhead (new as of 2024):

  • 1690 Badger Cove. The county map has not been updated to include the updated trailhead yet, but my crappy one has it.
    • Amenities
      • Parking (paved)
      • Restrooms (flush, they look like they should be year round, but I have yet to confirm that).
      • ADA Parking
      • Picnic Tables
      • Water
    • Trail Access
E: Wrangler Trailhead:

  • 10401 South 1300 East. Two trail access points here, east and west. 
    • This appears to be my preferred trailhead, as going through my posts to put this together I noticed I tend use it more often than the others.
    • Amenities
      • Parking (not paved)
      • Restrooms (year round, flush)
      • Equestrian Parking
      • ADA Parking (paved, but through a dirt lot)
      • Picnic Tables
      • Water
    • Trail Access East:
    • Trail Access West:
      • (1) Dimple Dell Trail: West
      • (4) Dry Creek Trail
      • Connect to:
        • (6) Dimple Dell Loop.
        • Other further options
F: Lone Peak Park:

G: Porter Rockwell Trailhead:

Alternate Trailheads: 

These additional trailheads have no amenities, and are mostly neighborhood connector trails. Most do not offer anything other than street side parking. Use your own discretion and pay attention to signs for parking.


Note: * means it listed on the official main map with a lettered blue marker that I have added. Otherwise it is another neighborhood connector trail I have found (purple). I imagine there are probably quite a few more neighborhood connectors throughout, but these are what I have found. Again, starting northeast to southwest (with a few out of order ones I have since found, sorry about that).

h: Aqueduct Access*:

i: Dimple Dell Road (North)*:

  • Off of Dell Haven Ln (I have not used this one). 
  • If this is the access that I am thinking, it is now signed as a private road with no trespassing.  Please let me know if I am mistaken. The county is not particularly quick to update maps (notice they have not added the new Badger Cove TH).
    • Dry Creek Trail
j: Dimple Dell (East)*:

  • 2542 Dimple Dell Rd. (absolutely nowhere to park, so pedestrian or bike access. I have not used this one yet).
k: Sego Lily Drive:

  • 2124 Sego Lily Dr. (I have not used this one yet).
    • (1) North Rim Trail
    • (10) Fox Point Loop
l: Ashley Ridge Road:

  • 2026 Ashley Ridge Road (I have not used this one yet).
m: Dimple Dell (West)*:

n: Highland Drive:

o: Flanders Drive*:

  • 1671 E 10380 S (parking along Edge Cliff Dr.)
p: Serpentine Way*:

q: 10415 South*:

  • 1138 East 10415 South (I have not used this one yet).
    • (1) Dimple Dell Trail
    • (6) Dimple Dell Loop
r: White City Trail South*: 

  • 798 East Carnation Drive (I have not used this one yet).
    • White City Trail where it crosses over the gully.
    • There are some desire trails down to the (1) Dimple Dell Trail
s: 7th East*: 

  • About 10059 S 700 East. (I have not used this one yet). I don’t see a good place to park, other than the nearby (F) Lone Peak Park. 
    • (1) Dimple Dell Trail
    • (6) Dimple Dell Loop
t: 10195 South*:

u: Bell Canyon Drive:

  • 10025 Dimple Dell Road. (I have not used this one yet). Parking looks a little iffy, so pedestrian or bikes are best here.
    • (12) Sunrise Point
    • (2) Sego Lily Trail
v: Edge Cliff Drive:

  • 1420 Edge Cliff Drive. (I have not used this one yet).
    • (1) North Rim Trail
    • (2) Sego Lily Trail
w. 13th East West:

  • 10462 South 1300 East. (I have not used this one yet). It looks to me that there is easier access by hopping the fence from the nearby business parking lot (currently a Credit Union). There is no street parking, you can take your chances parking at one of the nearby businesses, but at your own risk. I have no idea how tow happy they are.
    • (1) Dimple Dell Trail
    • (6) Dimple Dell Loop Trail

By Section

When we first started to explore the park again, we split the park up into three sections. 

  • East, which can also be considered Northeast. Basically the section between (A) Mount Jordan Trailhead and (C) Dimple Dell Road Trailhead or the big elbow, the part that makes an almost perfect right turn from south to west. 
  • Middle, Between (C) Dimple Dell Road Trailhead and (E) Wrangler Trailhead, or the elbow down to 13th East. 
  • And West: (E) Wrangler Trailhead to Porter (G) Rockwell Trailhead, or 13th east and west.


Delimited by the thin purple line that I added to the main map.

East 

I feel like I need to come back and re-do some of the trails in this section. We did most of them on our first couple of trips before I really got the hang of the park... so there may be some updates.

    • 13: Dimple Dell Pond
    • 14: Muir-Poulsen Historic Home (I just noticed this on the map and have yet to explore it).

2020


2023
    • 15: Former site of the Dimple Dell Amphitheater. Removed sometime in 2020 (using google earth it is there 10/2019 and gone 5/2020). I guess I got lucky and caught it just about a month shy of it being removed. I am not sure why they tore it out. My best guess is it was likely a hotspot for vandalism, and well, we don't really use these small amphitheaters much anymore, even if there seems to be one in just about every park in Utah. 

    • 16: Old Park Headquarters (now vacant).

Middle

    • 17: Pipeline Scar (I guess not so much a feature as just a thing that is there).
    • 18: 13th East Tunnel

West

    • 18: 13th East Tunnel
    • 22: 7th East Underpass.
    • 23: Sandy City Dog Park
Alright. I think that about covers it, and them some haha. I hope it is helpful. I love Dimple Dell. It is one of my go to spots when I cannot think of anything else, or when the weather is not our best friend for the day.   
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