Red Butte Garden: Six Bridges Trail

 Red Butte Garden is a massive garden on the University of Utah complex. It features 5 miles of trails in a 21 acre garden. The Six Bridges Trail is a short trail that offers views of Red Butte Creek. We did that last winter, but didn’t have the best lighting, so I convinced my friends to check it out with me on our Blooming with Pride adventure. 

Quick Details:

Length: Less than a half mile loop, but you need to go about a quarter mile along the main loop to get to the beginning. So a total mile balloon.
Trail Type: Out and back, loop option, loop de loop, balloon.
Difficulty: DR3. It is pretty easy going. The main trail is paved and can be done out and back, DR2.
Elevation Gain: Not sure. I guess about a story.
Restroom: Nearby
Dogs? No.
Other Info: Fee Area $18 per person.

To Get Here:

The trail picks up at the far northeast corner of the main Garden Area, off the main loop.

The Trail:

I managed to convince my friends to do the short Creekside Trail, then return via the Six Bridges Trail. I told them it was super short and flat, so they decided to trust me haha. This turned out a little better than the time I convinced another group of friends to go up the Twin Lakes Trail

The Meadow.

With loads and loads of vetch.

And something else.

Milk weed.

Bench in the meadow.

Caution Poison Ivy. We have seen warning signs for poison ivy before, but this may be the first time it was accompanied with actual poison ivy! Yikes. The other places I have seen signs include Hidden Hollow and Corner Canyon, places I don’t tend to do this time of year.

Anyway, yup this confirms it. We definitely have poison ivy here in the valley.

Pretty forest.

Another warning about Poison Ivy.

Before my friends got too grumbly at me, we reached the top of the Six Bridges Trail. Phew! One staircase down, then the rest is paved. (The stairs can be avoided by doing the Six Bridges Trail out and back).

The trail below. See, it is paved. I think my friends were happy to see that.

We kept hearing some weird clicking noises. We all started guessing what it might be, Kerrie suggested it sounded like a cicada, but didn’t think we had them here.

Eventually Ashley spotted one. It took a moment to find where she was pointing, but here it is.

Digital crop.

And, we all learned something new today. We DO have cicadas! But they are annual cicadas, and do not have the crazy broods like the cicadas out East.

According to what I found we have over 30 species of annual cicadas. This one is likely an Okanagana, they are the most common in the state. They feature black bodies with distinct red or orange stripes. Well, that certainly fits what we can see here!

They emerge in late May and early July, with above ground life cycle lasting only a few weeks to a month. They are found near the canopies of native maple and oak trees in the foothills. So, check, check check. hah.

I distinctly remember hearing the same noise at my old house in early summer, I just never actually saw one of them there.

Well that was fun! Not many trails bring you up into the canopy to see such things. And I think miss Ashley wins the good eyes award for the day!

The connector bridge. I don’t think it counts as one of the bridges.

Red Butte Creek below.

Fun stone slab benches.

The top bridge. So I guess we will go backwards, Bridge #6.

The creek below it.

Analog Beaver Dam downstream.

Bridge #5.

Looking back on it.

Bridge #4.

The creek below.

Again.

Looking back at bridge #4.

Spider webs like what we saw at not too far Avenues Meadow Trail.

Bridge #3, plus another connector bridge to the Creekside Trail.

Dedication Plaque.

“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.”

Looking back at Bridge #3.

Immediately hitting Bridge #2.

Looking back the the Creekside Trail  connector bridge.

Looking back at Bridge #2.

The creek again.

Forest.

Down to the bottom, or 1st bridge. Wewt.

Looking back to it. It’s a double.

Trailhead sign.

Well that was a fun little side quest for the day! I am glad I got to see it with better lighting. It is quite wild in there! I always enjoy trails that follow creeks. Also, for such a busy event we only saw a couple other people, so that is always nice. Plus, I am glad my friends who can't really hike got to do a little hike with us. Even if it was super easy. 10 out of 10 squirrels.

As for difficulty, the main Six Bridges Trail is paved and pretty flat, DR2. The Creekside Trail above it is pretty flat as well, but not paved. DR3.

 

Dogs are not allowed in Red Butte Garden.