Mill D South - Lower Trail

 The Mill D South Lower Trail is a newer trail they built between the upper and lower parking lots for Mill D South (AKA Cardiff Fork) in Big Cottonwood Canyon. The trail features a beautiful mixed forest, wildflowers, a creek, a pretty meadow and lovely canyon views.

This newer trail parallels the Cardiff Fork Road between trailheads, and includes a nice short boardwalk over Big Cottonwood Creek and through the Cardiff Meadows.

My walking group includes a mix of abilities. And it has been hot, so this year we are experimenting with higher up trails to see how some of the non hikers do. I was a little concerned about this one, but everybody made it!

Quick Details:

Length: It is about a mile up. We did about a 2 mile loop with the road, and a little bit of exploring.
Trail Type: Out and back, loop.
Difficulty: Its a pretty mild climb. DR3.
Elevation Gain: About 350 feet.
Restroom: Flush toilets at the lower trailhead, vault toilets at the upper.
Dogs? No. Big Cottonwood Canyon is protected watershed.
Other Info: This is now a fee area. $10.00 for a 3 day pass.

To Get Here:

From Wasatch BLVD, drive 8.9 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon Road. The trailhead parking lot is on the right. The trail is at the southeast corner, next to the restrooms.

Heading up Big Cottonwood Canyon (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP)) It looks like we are starting to get some fall color.

The canyon (PSP).

Entering the Town of Brighton (PSP).

The Trail:

Heading down the trail.

Big Cottonwood Creek. There was a beaver dam and pond here, but the boardwalk project scared it/them off.

This new bridge is the beginning of the boardwalk through the Cardiff Meadows.

Big Cottonwood Creek.

Reed and Benson Ridge and Kessler Peak above the bridge.

Boardwalk.

Into the woods.

Some paintbrush.

Forest.

With the peaks.

Oh sad! They cut down the twin trees that acted as a little archway! Looking at the pieces it does look like they might have been a little sick though. But, I’m still a little sad.

It looks like they are clearing out quite a few trees through here. I imagine they will start gathering the materials into slash piles eventually. More on that in a minute.

Jordan Pines campground. It is a big group campground. There are 3 sites to accommodate big groups. We have stayed in this particular site, but we prefer another one. For smaller groups, Spruces Campground is just a smidge to the north.

Crossing the road to the campground.

Continuing along.

Yellow flowers.

Forest.

The first switchback.

As far as switchbacks go, they are quite mild.

Goldenrods.

The 2nd switchback.

Forest.

A burned slash pile.

An unburned slash pile. So, slash piles are piles of wood (including sick trees they have cut down and chopped up) and other debris that forest service workers gather to burn when conditions are favorable. This thins out fire fuel, which helps prevent forest fires from spreading rapidly.

Another burned one.

Kessler Peak.

Large fallen tree.

Forest.

On the hill.

More forest.

You can’t see him, but there was a squirrel high up in these trees that kept throwing stuff at us (we stopped for a rest). At first we weren’t sure if he was throwing stuff at us, or just eating and it was dropping below… but it started to feel pretty deliberate after a minute.

Forest and another slash pile.

It’s really pretty through here.

Another slash pile.

The 2nd set of switchbacks are also super easy going (and super quick).

Cardiff Road below.

View down.

Closer.

Several slash piles.

Forest.

More slash piles.

I love this forest.

Holy mother of slash piles. That thing is massive! Elise said she wants to be invited to the bonfire when it happens LOL.

More slash piles.

An aspen getting a jump on the fall color change.

Forest.

Rose hips.

More forest.

Severed twin trees. Either it fell on it’s own, or the forest service determined that only that half was not good. But, it doesn't look like a clean cut.

Up to the upper trailhead, AKA The Summer Trailhead. This was our intended destination today. However you can continue up to Donut Falls from here.

Elise asked if it was far to see water, and it is not so we took her to that. Just a slight detour.

Mountain ash.

Mill D South.

It fans out here in the runoff season. Now there are just a couple streams to the side.

Panoramic.

Downstream.

Yellow flowers.

Upstream, overflow area again.

Geranium leaves always seem to be the first to start the fall change.

The creek again.

Ridge and skies.

The small upper lot.

Well, one of our friends was starting to struggle, so we decided to head back down using the summer road. No worries at all! We are just happy to get her up in the mountains to enjoy the cool, fresh air, and lovely woods. I am proud of her for making it up this far with us.

Mixed forest.

Heading down Cardiff Road. It is a dirt road up here.

More geranium leaves getting in on the fall change.

Continuing down.

Mixed forest.

Silhouettes on the other side.

More dirt road.

Hitting the private cabin area. It looks like a few are for sale.

We found a random fireweed hanging on.

Down canyon.

Now the road is paved.

Cute yellow flowers.

Mixed forest.

More geranium leaves changing color.

Lots of yellow flowers.

Toadflax.

Across the canyon looking at Mill D North.

A little patch of paintbrush.

Continuing down.

Down to the Cardiff Meadows.

Quick panoramic.

Up canyon.

The bridge over Big Cottonwood Creek.

Again, there used to be a little beaver pond here, but the boardwalk construction scared the beaver away.

The dam was about here. I guess without a beaver to maintain it it eroded away?

Downstream.

Upstream again.

Back to the parking lot.

Heading back down the canyon (PSP).

Fading light (PSP).

Todays path. Up on the right, down on the left.

That was fun. I enjoy my walking group, and I am glad we have decided to come up the canyons and enjoy the forest and fresh air. The trail is quite pretty, there were even some wildflowers left to enjoy. It was pretty quiet tonight, we only passed by a few other people. 7 Squirrels today.

As for difficulty, it is a pretty mild climb. DR3.

Dogs are not allowed in Big Cottonwood Canyon so be sure to leave Fido home for this one.