Hard Hikes Near Provo

Timpanogos Cave Trail · American Fork Canyon

~3 mi round trip  ·  1,092 ft  ·  3-4 hrs with the tour  ·  Ticketed  ·  Dogs: not allowed

A steep paved climb to a cave entrance, and the only hike on this list where the trail is a prerequisite for a timed ticket rather than the destination itself. Dogs are not permitted on the trail.

What that number describes: The paved 1.5-mile trail from the visitor center to the cave entrance at 6,730 ft, and back. The Park Service describes it as strenuous.

Season: Seasonal operation and the cave tour is ticketed and timed. The hike up is the qualifying event -- you have to be at the entrance for your slot.

Y Mountain Trail · Provo

~2.2-2.4 mi round trip  ·  ~1,100 ft  ·  1.5-2 hrs  ·  No fee  ·  Dogs: on leash

The short, steep, relentless climb to the letter above campus -- 1,100 feet in about a mile. The small trailhead lot fills fast. Portable restroom at the trailhead, no water.

What that number describes: The trailhead at the end of E 820 N up to the Y and back. Continuing past the Y toward the ridge is a longer trip.

Where sources disagree: About 1.1 miles each way, but published round trips run 2.2 to 2.4 miles depending on whether the measurement stops at the base or the top of the Y.

Season: Exposed and hot in summer; go at sunrise. Usable in winter with traction.

Silver Lake (alpine) · American Fork Canyon

~4.5 mi round trip  ·  ~1,200-1,450 ft  ·  3-4 hrs  ·  Forest Service fee area  ·  Dogs: on leash

An alpine lake at around 9,000 feet under White Baldy and the Pfeifferhorn, and one of the genuinely spectacular places in the range. Easy walking through aspen for the first half, rockier and steeper for the second.

What that number describes: From the north side of Silver Lake Flat Reservoir, about 2.3 miles one way into the Lone Peak Wilderness. Distinct from the flat loop around the reservoir itself.

Where sources disagree: Gain is in the range of 1,200 to 1,450 feet depending on whose track you believe. And the name is shared by four different lakes -- see the Silver Lake Flat entry.

How this one sorts: the figure used for ordering is the midpoint of the published range shown above, not a published number in its own right.

Season: Alpine Loop access closes for winter. The stream crossing runs high in early season, and the Forest Service posts changing conditions for this site through the season.

Loafer Mountain Trail #098 · Payson Lakes, Nebo Loop

5.8 mi one way (trail length)  ·  Almost 2,100 ft over the upper five miles (agency)  ·  Half day  ·  Ticketed  ·  Dogs: on leash

The big climb at the north end of the byway: tall pines and a stream, then switchbacks the Forest Service built to ease the grade and stop erosion, gaining almost 2,100 feet to a view the agency calls definitely rewarding. Stay on the new tread. Open to motorized use. The Forest Service names no fee for this trailhead and our byway guide could not confirm a byway-wide structure, so the fee is unstated.

What that number describes: Forest Service published trail length, measured ONE WAY from the fenced gravel trailhead just north of Payson Lakes. The gain is the agency's own figure for the upper section: almost 2,100 ft in the five miles past the Bennie Creek junction, so it slightly understates the whole trail. This is not a round-trip outing distance; the hikes on this site's own guides are measured round trip, so this row sorts short against them. The section linked in page states the same figure and says so in those words.

Season: On the Nebo Loop byway, which closes for winter and opens on snowpack rather than a date. Editorial estimate of the season, not a live condition.

Grandeur Peak from Church Fork · Millcreek Canyon, Salt Lake County

6.5 mi round trip  ·  About 2,580 ft  ·  4-5 hrs  ·  Forest Service fee area  ·  Dogs: rules vary by segment

The standard Salt Lake summit for someone who has done the Y or Rock Canyon and wants more: forest, then rock, to about 8,290 feet, with no scrambling. Millcreek runs its own canyon pass and does not honor America the Beautiful or Uinta-Wasatch-Cache passes. Dogs are off leash on odd-numbered dates and leashed on even ones, so the rule changes by the calendar.

What that number describes: From the upper parking lot of the Church Fork picnic area to the summit and back, as our Millcreek front guide publishes it from AllTrails. When the picnic-area gate is closed you park on the canyon road and walk in, which adds distance.

Season: AllTrails does not recommend this route in winter, citing nearby avalanche terrain and steep snow- and ice-covered sections. The upper canyon road rebuild runs into 2027 per our guide; confirm access.

Lake Blanche · Twin Peaks Wilderness, Big Cottonwood Canyon, Salt Lake County

6.7 mi round trip  ·  About 2,700 ft  ·  4-6 hrs  ·  Ticketed  ·  Dogs: not allowed

The lake below a sharp peak that ends up as phone backgrounds, with Lake Florence and Lake Lillian nearby. More climbing than most families do in a season of Utah Valley hikes. Designated Wilderness and watershed both: no bikes or drones, no dogs, no wading. Our guide says the trailhead is not among the fee areas AllTrails lists and to follow the signs at the lot.

What that number describes: Out and back along the south fork of Mill B Creek to the lake, as our Cottonwood family hikes guide publishes it from AllTrails.

Season: AllTrails lists June through October and says it is not recommended in winter because of nearby avalanche terrain.

Kyhv Peak · Provo

~7.5 mi round trip from Rock Canyon Trailhead  ·  ~2,750 ft  ·  3-4 hrs  ·  No fee  ·  Dogs: on leash

The peak on the skyline directly above Provo, renamed in 2022 and still widely listed under the old name. Steep and sustained, with the whole valley below you the entire way up.

What that number describes: From the Rock Canyon Trailhead, as AllTrails' crowd-measured route records it: about 7.5 miles round trip and about 2,750 feet of gain. The ROAD of the same name is a separate feature; shorter approaches from the road exist when it is open.

Where sources disagree: Four different features carried the retired name, and the guide sorts out all of them: the peak, the road, the overlook and the trail. The US Board on Geographic Names renamed the peak Kyhv Peak in September 2022; the old name still appears on some maps, apps and older signage.

Where these figures come from: this guide — the dedicated Kyhv Peak page does not publish them.

Season: Kyhv Peak Road closes in winter, which removes the short approaches entirely.

Dry Canyon · Lindon & Orem

~5.7 mi round trip  ·  ~2,900 ft  ·  2-4 hrs  ·  No fee  ·  Dogs: on leash

The most convenient hard workout in the north valley: a sustained climb up the west face below Timpanogos with the whole valley opening behind you. Orem's 2000 North and Lindon's 200 South are the same road, which is why directions to it name two different cities and both are right.

What that number describes: The common out-and-back day-hike version from the paved lot at the end of Dry Canyon Drive. Forest Service trail #049 continues far past this for miles, which is why some trip reports sound like a different hike.

Where sources disagree: Trail #049 runs 0.6 miles to the Curly Springs junction, another 1.9 to Little Baldy, a quarter mile more to the Big Baldy saddle, then north 2.2 miles to the Battle Creek trail and a final 0.8 to the Timpooneke Road. Reports describing that connector are not describing the day hike.

Season: Largely exposed -- go early. The name is only mostly accurate; in wet years there is water in the creek.

Slate Canyon · South Provo

3.7 mi one way (7.4 mi out and back)  ·  ~3,300 ft for the full canyon  ·  Half day  ·  No fee  ·  Dogs: on leash

The quiet one, mostly because it does not lead anywhere obvious -- no waterfall, no lake, no summit at a reasonable distance. A steady climb up an old road bed through oak, then pine, then aspen and meadow. Carries reliable springs, which is unusual on this side of the valley.

What that number describes: Slate Canyon Trail #061 out and back: the Forest Service describes it heading east for 2.7 miles then climbing north for another mile to meet Slide Canyon Trail #062.

Where sources disagree: Quoted at 3.7, 7.5, 7.7 and 9 miles depending on which endpoint and which direction is being measured. The dedicated guide covers all four figures and where each comes from.

Season: Starts from the valley floor, so it is reachable when the canyon roads are closed -- which is exactly why south-side locals use it for conditioning.

Grandeur Peak west face · Wasatch Boulevard, Salt Lake County

4.6 mi round trip  ·  About 3,310 ft  ·  3-5 hrs  ·  No fee  ·  Dogs: rules vary by segment

The short, brutal way up Grandeur: more gain than the Church Fork route in less distance, with little shade. It starts outside Millcreek Canyon, so no canyon fee, but Cascade Way is resident permit parking only. The Pipeline Trail makes a flatter way down. Our guide states no dog rule for this trailhead.

What that number describes: From the Parleys Crossing area near 2900 South Wasatch Boulevard to the summit and back, as the section 'The west face' in our Millcreek front guide publishes it from AllTrails. SAME SUMMIT as the Church Fork row, by the shorter, steeper route.

Season: AllTrails lists it as open year-round and it is popular for snowshoeing; poles and traction earn their weight on the steep, gravelly footing.

Big Baldy · Above Lindon and Pleasant Grove

7.2-7.5 mi round trip from Dry Canyon  ·  About 3,320-3,331 ft  ·  5-7 hrs  ·  No fee  ·  Dogs: on leash

The bare 8,700-foot shoulder at the south end of the Timpanogos massif, and the hard next step after the Y. Narrow tread along cliff bands, CCC-era terraces near the saddle, then loose rock on the descent. Our guide treats it as the training hike for Timpanogos.

What that number describes: Out and back from the Dry Canyon Trailhead at the top of Dry Canyon Drive in Lindon, on Dry Canyon Trail #049 to the saddle and then onto the bald summit. Sorts on AllTrails' 7.2 mi and 3,320 ft, which our guide prints first; Hiking Project's 7.5 mi and 3,331 ft is in the label.

Where sources disagree: Our guide prints both measurements of the same route: AllTrails 7.2 mi and about 3,320 ft, Hiking Project 7.5 mi and 3,331 ft. Neither is picked as correct.

Season: AllTrails lists April through October as the best months. After fall storms the loose upper third holds snow and ice while the canyon below is dry; our guide suggests traction or a turnaround at the saddle until spring.

Big Baldy via Battle Creek · Pleasant Grove

9.9 mi round trip  ·  About 3,520 ft  ·  6.5-7.5 hrs  ·  No fee  ·  Dogs: on leash

The quiet way up Big Baldy: past the county's most-hiked short waterfall in the first mile, then far fewer people, on a climb AllTrails calls relentlessly uphill. With a ride arranged, up Battle Creek and down Dry Canyon makes a point-to-point day; the two trailheads are about 12 minutes apart by car.

What that number describes: The longer approach from the Battle Creek trailhead at Kiwanis Park, past Battle Creek Falls and up to meet the Dry Canyon trail north of the Big Baldy saddle, as the section 'The Battle Creek approach' in our Big Baldy guide publishes it from AllTrails. SAME SUMMIT as the Big Baldy row, by the other trailhead.

Season: Same seasonal limits as the Dry Canyon route. Our guide relays AllTrails reviewers' reports of overgrown sections and stinging plants above the falls.

Neffs Canyon · Millcreek front, Salt Lake County

7.4 mi round trip (or a 1.3 mi loop)  ·  About 3,560 ft (loop: about 420 ft)  ·  5-6 hrs  ·  Ticketed  ·  Dogs: rules vary by segment

The quieter long climb on the same front as Olympus and Grandeur, with a short family loop at the bottom for anyone who does not want the 3,500-foot version. Salt Lake City's brochure lists Neffs Canyon among the places dogs are allowed. Our guide states no fee for this trailhead.

What that number describes: The full Neffs Canyon trail out and back, as our Millcreek front guide publishes it from AllTrails. The same section lists a 1.3-mile Neff's Canyon Loop with about 420 ft that works for families; this row sorts on the full canyon.

Season: Our guide publishes no season for Neffs; editorial estimate, not a live condition.

Mount Olympus · Mount Olympus Wilderness, Holladay, Salt Lake County

7.2 mi round trip  ·  About 4,180 ft  ·  5-7 hrs  ·  No fee  ·  Dogs: rules vary by segment

The mountain directly above Holladay: about 4,180 feet in 3.6 miles each way, a steeper average than the Timpanogos trails, then hands-on scrambling above the saddle on a section AllTrails says is not well marked. Outside Millcreek Canyon, so no canyon fee. Salt Lake City's brochure lists the trail as dog-friendly; the scramble is not dog terrain.

What that number describes: From the Mount Olympus Trailhead at 5425 South Wasatch Boulevard to the summit and back, as our Millcreek front guide publishes it from AllTrails, which rates it strenuous. The saddle-to-summit section is Class 3 scrambling.

Season: AllTrails recommends starting as early as possible in summer heat, and says traction is required whenever snow or ice is present.

Timpanogos Traverse (Timpooneke to Aspen Grove) · Mount Timpanogos Wilderness

14.3 mi point to point over the summit  ·  About 4,370 ft  ·  9-12 hrs  ·  Ticketed  ·  Dogs: on leash

Timpanogos as one crossing instead of an out-and-back: up the gentler Giant Staircase from Timpooneke, down past the Aspen Grove waterfalls. Our guide's point is that it is not shorter than either out-and-back; it is new ground the whole way. Only the car left at Timpooneke needs the weekend timed-entry ticket.

What that number describes: Point to point over the summit, Timpooneke up and Aspen Grove down, as our traverse guide publishes it from AllTrails. Our guide also gives about 11 miles for the crossing via Emerald Lake without the summit, built from a Forest Service and an AllTrails figure, which this row does not sort on. A ONE-WAY TRIP NEEDING TWO CARS; it shares its summit with the Timpooneke, Aspen Grove and Summit Trail rows.

Season: AllTrails lists June through September; the Forest Service warns snow covers the Timpooneke and summit trails until mid-summer. The Alpine Loop closes for winter, which ends the shuttle.

Mount Timpanogos · American Fork Canyon / Aspen Grove

~14-16.7 mi round trip  ·  ~4,400-5,600 ft  ·  8-12 hrs  ·  Forest Service fee area  ·  Dogs: on leash

The valley's defining objective and the one people most often underestimate. Timpooneke is gradual and basin-to-basin and usually busier; Aspen Grove is steeper and passes the waterfalls and Emerald Lake.

What that number describes: Timpooneke from a ~7,360 ft trailhead: ~14-15 miles and ~4,400-4,700 ft. Aspen Grove starts lower at ~6,900 ft and runs ~14-16.7 miles with ~4,900-5,600 ft, steeper, with waterfalls and the lake.

Where sources disagree: Two trailheads, two genuinely different mountains' worth of numbers, and the guide tabulates them side by side rather than averaging them into one misleading figure.

Season: A snow-free window that is shorter than most people assume, and the Alpine Loop closes for winter. Timpooneke parking requires a recreation pass every day, plus a Recreation.gov timed-entry ticket for arrivals between midnight and noon on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, July through October.

Mount Timpanogos via Timpooneke · American Fork Canyon

~14-15 mi round trip  ·  ~4,400-4,700 ft  ·  8-12 hrs  ·  Ticketed  ·  Dogs: on leash

The gradual route, starting higher at roughly 7,360 feet and climbing the Giant Staircase in benches and pitches rather than one grind, through Timpanogos Basin with its wildflowers and mountain goats. Scout Falls early on makes a worthy turnaround on its own.

What that number describes: The midpoint of the round-trip range our Timpanogos guide publishes for the Timpooneke route. A midpoint is a sorting device, never a claim; the label prints the full range. This is ONE OF TWO ROUTES UP THE SAME MOUNTAIN and is carried separately because choosing between them is the real decision a hiker makes.

Where sources disagree: Our own guide publishes both figures as ranges and says in its own words that sources vary, because GPS tracks differ, people measure from different parking spots and the summit spur gets counted inconsistently.

How this one sorts: the figure used for ordering is the midpoint of the published range shown above, not a published number in its own right.

Season: Snow covers the trail until mid-summer and the Alpine Loop closes for winter. Timpooneke parking requires a recreation pass every day, plus a Recreation.gov timed-entry ticket for arrivals between midnight and noon on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, July through October.

Box Elder Peak · Lone Peak Wilderness, American Fork Canyon

~10.5-11.5 mi round trip from Granite Flat  ·  ~4,300-5,000 ft  ·  Full day  ·  Forest Service fee area  ·  Dogs: on leash

The clean pyramid north of Timpanogos that most of the valley has looked at without learning its name, at 11,101 feet. No official trail reaches the top: the last climb is a steep, loose ridge in the Lone Peak Wilderness. A big summit with a fraction of Timp's crowd and no weekend ticket.

What that number describes: The usual route from Granite Flat Campground: the Deer Creek-Dry Creek trail to the saddle north of the peak, then the hiker-made path up the north ridge. Both sort numbers are MIDPOINTS of the ranges our guide publishes from trail apps, so this row is derived:true. Distinct from the Box Elder Trail #044 row, which circles the peak and never reaches the summit. The Alpine route from the Dry Creek Trailhead is longer with closer to 6,000 ft, and our guide gives it no distance.

Where sources disagree: Trail apps put the Granite Flat out-and-back anywhere from about 10.5 to 11.5 miles and 4,300 to 5,000 ft, depending on the exact line on the ridge. The final climb is not on an official trail, which is why measurements spread.

How this one sorts: the figure used for ordering is the midpoint of the published range shown above, not a published number in its own right.

Season: July through September for most people; snow can hold on the upper mountain into June. Granite Flat Campground's season sets the practical limit on the canyon side.

Mount Timpanogos via Aspen Grove · Aspen Grove, American Fork Canyon

~14-16.7 mi round trip  ·  ~4,800-5,600 ft  ·  8-12 hrs  ·  Forest Service fee area  ·  Dogs: on leash

The steeper, prettier route: long switchbacks up Primrose Cirque with waterfalls visible for much of the ascent, opening into Hidden Lakes and then Emerald Lake at roughly 10,380 feet. Shares a trailhead lot with Stewart Falls, which makes parking competitive.

What that number describes: The midpoint of the round-trip range our Timpanogos guide publishes for the Aspen Grove route, which the guide identifies as the Mount Timpanogos Trail #052. A midpoint is a sorting device, never a claim. THE SAME SUMMIT as the Timpooneke row, by the steeper trailhead.

Where sources disagree: Our own guide publishes both figures as ranges and names the reasons sources disagree.

How this one sorts: the figure used for ordering is the midpoint of the published range shown above, not a published number in its own right.

Season: Snow covers the trail until mid-summer; the snowfield at Emerald Lake is the recurring hazard. Alpine Loop closes for winter.

Provo Peak · East of Provo

~3 mi RT high trailhead, ~13 mi RT from the valley  ·  ~6,800 ft from the valley  ·  10-12 hrs from the valley  ·  No fee  ·  Dogs: on leash

At 11,068 feet, the mountain filling the skyline directly east of the city. The west ridge is a climber's path more than a graded trail, with real exposure near the top.

What that number describes: The Slate Canyon approach from the valley floor, which is the version most people can actually start from. From the west ridge trailhead at the top of Kyhv Peak Road it is about 1.5 miles up and roughly three miles round trip. NOTE: the dedicated Provo Peak guide publishes no distance or gain figure at all -- these numbers are read from this site's lesser-known-hikes guide, named in figuresFrom.

Where sources disagree: The clearest segment problem on the list: a three-mile round trip or a thirteen-mile round trip depending entirely on which trailhead you use. Same summit, entirely different day. Be certain which one a trip report is describing before you use its timing.

Where these figures come from: this guide — the dedicated Provo Peak page does not publish them.

Season: Kyhv Peak Road closes in winter. Once it does the short route is gone and the mountain has to be climbed from the valley floor, which is a serious winter objective rather than an afternoon.

Shingle Mill Trail #057 · South Fork, Provo Canyon

2.0 mi one way (trail length)  ·  Not published by the land manager  ·  Part of a half day  ·  Ticketed  ·  Dogs: on leash

The steepest finish of the three South Fork trails: past the Packard Canyon junction it becomes steeper and harder to follow, marked only now and then by carsonite posts or cairns, with grades to 40 percent, up to the ridge. With Packard Canyon and Big Springs Hollow it closes a loop. Our coverage states no fee regime for its trailhead.

What that number describes: Forest Service published trail length, measured ONE WAY from the South Fork of Packard Canyon #058 junction, 2.5 miles up that trail, to the ridgeline junction with Big Springs Hollow #059 and Rock Canyon-Dry Fork #060b. The approach is additional. This is not a round-trip outing distance; the hikes on this site's own guides are measured round trip, so this row sorts short against them. The section linked in page states the same figure and says so in those words.

Season: Starts in the South Fork of Provo Canyon; the high ridge it climbs to is snow-bound in winter. Editorial estimate, not a live condition.

Bear Canyon Trail #179 · American Fork Canyon

2.1 mi one way (trail length)  ·  Not published by the land manager  ·  2-3 hrs  ·  Forest Service fee area  ·  Dogs: on leash

Short and steep the whole way, climbing switchbacks from Mutual Dell through dense fir to the Timpooneke Road. Trailhead parking sits inside Mutual Dell, a private camp, in spaces specifically allocated for Bear Canyon users.

What that number describes: Forest Service published trail length, measured ONE WAY from Mutual Dell to the Timpooneke Road. The hard rating is read from the Forest Service's own published grades of 15 to 25 percent rather than from a difficulty rating, which the agency does not publish. This is not a round-trip outing distance; the hikes on this site's own guides are measured round trip, so this row sorts short against them. The section linked in page states the same figure and says so in those words.

Season: Alpine Loop access closes for winter. Crosses several intermittent streams and springs that run in early season.

Timpanogos Summit Trail #054 · Mount Timpanogos summit ridge

2.2 mi (Forest Service trail length)  ·  Well over 1,000 ft  ·  1-2 hrs of a longer day  ·  Forest Service fee area  ·  Dogs: on leash

The broad but increasingly exposed ridge both routes share, finishing at the stone shelter hut. Not technical and no ropes needed, but the footing is talus, cairns matter, and most people who get into trouble on Timp do so descending it tired.

What that number describes: The final ridge only, as our Timpanogos guide publishes it: 2.2 miles per the Forest Service, from just west of Emerald Lake to the summit. THIS IS NOT A HIKE ON ITS OWN -- it is the shared finish of both routes above, carried separately because it is where the outing changes character and where most trouble happens.

Season: Rock and talus with steep drop-offs on both sides and hard funnelled wind; not a place to be in a thunderstorm, in the dark, or past your energy reserve.

Nebo Peak Trail #116 (Mount Nebo Trail) · Mount Nebo Wilderness

2.27 mi (trail length; reached from #117 or #118)  ·  Not published by the land manager  ·  Part of a full day  ·  Ticketed  ·  Dogs: on leash

The rugged wilderness trail to Mount Nebo's south summit: switchbacks to the ridge, the Willow Creek junction, then north along the main ridge. The upper portion is rough and narrow, horses are not recommended past the Willow Creek junction, and the Forest Service warns of cold weather at these elevations even in midsummer. Inside the Mount Nebo Wilderness: motorized equipment and bicycles prohibited. The Forest Service names no fee for this trailhead and our byway guide could not confirm a byway-wide structure, so the fee is unstated.

What that number describes: Forest Service published trail length for the ridge trail to the south summit. It has no trailhead of its own; the approach on Nebo Bench #117 or Willow Creek #118 is additional and not counted, so this figure badly understates the day.

Season: Summit ridge reached from the Nebo Loop or Mona; editorial estimate, not a live condition.

Mud Springs Trail #173 · North Fork, American Fork Canyon

2.6 mi one way (trail length)  ·  Not published by the land manager  ·  2-3 hrs  ·  Forest Service fee area  ·  Dogs: on leash

The steep alternative for North Fork loops: a stiff climb to the Tibble Fork Trail, then a series of steep ups and downs through meadows to the Ridge Trail. The Forest Service says most of it is deeply trenched from use in wet conditions, and it is under the spring wet-trail closure with fines for violators.

What that number describes: Forest Service published trail length, measured ONE WAY from its junction 0.9 miles up Mill Canyon #040, past the Tibble Fork #041 junction at 0.7 miles, to the Ridge Trail #157. The walk up Mill Canyon to its start is additional. The hard label is read from the agency's 'climbs steeply' and grades to 30 percent. This is not a round-trip outing distance; the hikes on this site's own guides are measured round trip, so this row sorts short against them. The section linked in page states the same figure and says so in those words.

Season: Alpine Loop and North Fork access close for winter, and the trail is under a spring and early-summer wet-trail closure. Editorial estimate, not a live condition.

Teat Mountain Trail #202 · Spanish Fork Canyon, end of the Red Narrows

3.28 mi one way to the top (trail length)  ·  Not published by the land manager  ·  2.5-3.5 hrs  ·  Ticketed  ·  Dogs: on leash

Straight north from the highway to the top of Teat Mountain, site of a Forest Service radio repeater, through scrub oak and sagebrush, with a view over Jocks Canyon and Long Hollow. Limited parking at a roadside trailhead. Open to motorized use.

What that number describes: Forest Service published trail length, measured ONE WAY from US-89 at the end of the Red Narrows, about fourteen miles past the Thistle turnoff, to the top of Teat Mountain. The hard label is read from the agency's 'relatively steep' on a trail that heads directly uphill. This is not a round-trip outing distance; the hikes on this site's own guides are measured round trip, so this row sorts short against them. The section linked in page states the same figure and says so in those words.

Season: The Forest Service publishes no season for this trail; editorial estimate, not a live condition.

Slide Canyon Trail #062 · Above the Y, east Provo

3.4 mi one way above the Y  ·  Not published by the land manager  ·  Half day to full day  ·  No fee  ·  Dogs: on leash

The Forest Service's name for the primary access to the Y Monument, and by its own account one of the most heavily used trails in the county -- but almost nobody keeps going. Above the Y it narrows to single track and links the two canyons that bracket south Provo.

What that number describes: Forest Service published trail length, measured ONE WAY from the top of the Y Monument to the Slate Canyon #061 junction, with a further 1.1 miles published from there to Squaw Peak Road. This is not a round-trip outing distance; the hikes on this site's own guides are measured round trip, so this row sorts short against them. The section linked in page states the same figure and says so in those words. This row is the continuation ABOVE the monument and is deliberately not the Y hike itself, which this site carries separately as Y Mountain Trail.

Season: No water above the monument, and the exposure that makes the Y punishing in July does not improve higher up.

Willow Creek Trail #118 (Mona side of Mount Nebo) · Southeast of Mona, Mount Nebo Wilderness

3.41 mi one way to the ridge (trail length)  ·  Not published by the land manager  ·  Full day  ·  Ticketed  ·  Dogs: on leash

The Mona-side way up Mount Nebo, which the Forest Service calls one of the steepest trails in the area: a very steep, narrow lower mile through conifer and aspen, then a steady climb to the ridge below the south summit. The agency recommends four-wheel drive for the last of the road. Inside the Mount Nebo Wilderness: motorized equipment and bicycles prohibited. The Forest Service names no fee for this trailhead.

What that number describes: Forest Service published trail length, measured ONE WAY from the end of Forest Road 161 southeast of Mona to the Nebo Peak #116 junction on the ridge. The agency adds about 1.5 miles from that junction to the south summit, which is not counted here. This is not a round-trip outing distance; the hikes on this site's own guides are measured round trip, so this row sorts short against them. The section linked in page states the same figure and says so in those words.

Season: Reached from Mona by a rough Forest Service road; editorial estimate, not a live condition.

First Hamongog Trail #200 · Lone Peak Wilderness, above Draper

3.64 mi one way (trail length)  ·  Not published by the land manager  ·  Full day  ·  Ticketed  ·  Dogs: not allowed

The gentler of the two Hamongog approaches, running to the Second Hamongog trail and its meadow. Shares the Ghost Falls trailhead with Jacobs Ladder.

What that number describes: Forest Service published trail length, measured ONE WAY from the Ghost Falls trailhead to the Second Hamongog trail and meadow. The agency's text describes reaching the meadow from the Alpine City side while its directions route from Draper; the trail runs the boundary, so both readings hold and the published Draper access is the one used here. Not a round-trip outing distance; this site's own guides are measured round trip, so this row sorts short against them.

Season: High-elevation alpine wilderness; little to no trail maintenance, per the Forest Service. Dogs: Draper City bars dogs from the Corner Canyon watershed, which covers everything above the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, and this trail starts inside it (draperutah.gov, checked 2026-09-30). Since July 1, 2020 the Orson Smith gates on Corner Canyon Road stay closed, so the Ghost Falls trailhead is reached on foot.

Jacobs Ladder Trail #187 · Lone Peak Wilderness, above Draper

3.8 mi one way (trail length)  ·  Not published by the land manager  ·  Full day  ·  Ticketed  ·  Dogs: not allowed

The mountaineering approach to the Lone Peak Cirque and summit from the Draper side, starting 50 yards east of the Ghost Falls trailhead at the Jacobs Ladder sign by Lone Rock. Wilderness rules bind: no bikes, group limit 15 with eight or fewer recommended.

What that number describes: Forest Service published trail length, measured ONE WAY from the Ghost Falls trailhead to the Lone Peak Cirque. The very-hard rating is the Forest Service's own wording -- extremely steep, long, and rugged. THE TRAILHEAD IS IN DRAPER, SALT LAKE COUNTY, not Utah County; it is carried here because this site covers Salt Lake and beyond as a region, and the row says so rather than implying a Utah Valley trailhead.. Not a round-trip outing distance; this site's own guides are measured round trip, so this row sorts short against them.

Season: High-elevation alpine wilderness. The Forest Service warns these trails receive little to no maintenance and advises carrying map and compass. Dogs: Draper City bars dogs from the Corner Canyon watershed, which covers everything above the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, and this trail starts inside it (draperutah.gov, checked 2026-09-30). Since July 1, 2020 the Orson Smith gates on Corner Canyon Road stay closed, so the Ghost Falls trailhead is reached on foot.

East Ridge Trail #038 · American Fork Canyon high country

4.23 mi one way (trail length)  ·  Not published by the land manager  ·  Part of a full day  ·  Forest Service fee area  ·  Dogs: on leash

A steep, arduous, rugged and remote alternative to the Ridge Trail, and the Forest Service says not to underestimate it. Motorcyclists are asked to ride it only from Mill Canyon toward Pole Line Pass and to use the Ridge Trail for loops.

What that number describes: Forest Service published trail length, measured ONE WAY between its two junctions with the Ridge Trail #157. The standard approach is 6.8 miles along the Ridge Trail from the Summit Trailhead, not counted here. Its 25-45 percent grades are the steepest the Pleasant Grove district publishes. This is not a round-trip outing distance; the hikes on this site's own guides are measured round trip, so this row sorts short against them. The section linked in page states the same figure and says so in those words.

Season: Alpine Loop access closes for winter. Editorial estimate of the season, not a live condition.

North Peak Trail #089 (Mount Nebo) · Monument Trailhead, Nebo Loop

4.49 mi one way to Wolf Pass area (trail length)  ·  Not published by the land manager  ·  Full day  ·  Ticketed  ·  Dogs: on leash

The shortest trail to the top of Mount Nebo, per the Forest Service: a steady climb along a fence line and ridge with steep, rocky switchbacks to North Peak, then Wolf Pass and a rocky scramble along a narrow ridge to the summit. The trailhead holds four or five cars; park at the Monument Trailhead. Inside the Mount Nebo Wilderness: motorized equipment and bicycles prohibited. The Forest Service names no fee for this trailhead and our byway guide could not confirm a byway-wide structure, so the fee is unstated.

What that number describes: Forest Service published trail length, measured ONE WAY from the North Peak trailhead on the Mona Pole road, an eighth of a mile north of the Monument Trailhead, over North Peak to Wolf Pass. The scramble from Wolf Pass to the summit is non-maintained and not counted. The Mount Nebo row is the mountain; this row is the trail. This is not a round-trip outing distance; the hikes on this site's own guides are measured round trip, so this row sorts short against them. The section linked in page states the same figure and says so in those words.

Season: High alpine terrain reached from the Nebo Loop, which closes for winter. Editorial estimate, not a live condition.

Sterling Hollow Trail #008 (Spanish Fork Peak) · Spanish Fork Canyon, below Spanish Fork Peak

4.51 mi one way to the summit (trail length)  ·  Not published by the land manager  ·  Full day  ·  Ticketed  ·  Dogs: on leash

The direct way up Spanish Fork Peak, the mountain behind Mapleton: Wind Rock Ridge through thick scrub oak to a 10,193-foot summit with a panoramic view the Forest Service says makes the effort worthwhile. With a car at each end, it pairs with the Right Fork Maple Canyon trail.

What that number describes: Forest Service published trail length, measured ONE WAY from the trailhead on US-6 about six miles up Spanish Fork Canyon to the top of Spanish Fork Peak (10,193 ft). The very-hard rating is read from the agency's words: extremely rough and steep, physically demanding. This is not a round-trip outing distance; the hikes on this site's own guides are measured round trip, so this row sorts short against them. The section linked in page states the same figure and says so in those words.

Season: The Forest Service publishes no season for this trail; editorial estimate, not a live condition.

White Pine Hollow Trail #111 · Monument Trailhead to Tinney Flat

4.7 mi one way (trail length)  ·  Not published by the land manager  ·  Half day  ·  Ticketed  ·  Dogs: on leash

A descent from the high country to Tinney Flat: a steep drop into a narrow, scenic hollow of conifer and aspen, a growing stream past Sullivan Canyon, then a rugged last mile of stream crossings past layered rock walls and a waterfall visible on the west side. Good drinking water and shade at the campground, per the agency. Hikers and horses only. The Forest Service names no fee for this trailhead and our byway guide could not confirm a byway-wide structure, so the fee is unstated.

What that number describes: Forest Service published trail length, measured ONE WAY from Privateer Mine Road, about 1.25 miles north of the Monument Trailhead, down to Tinney Flat Campground. The hard label is read from the agency's steep drop and 'fairly rugged' last mile with numerous stream crossings. This is not a round-trip outing distance; the hikes on this site's own guides are measured round trip, so this row sorts short against them. The section linked in page states the same figure and says so in those words.

Season: On the Nebo Loop byway, which closes for winter and opens on snowpack rather than a date. Editorial estimate of the season, not a live condition.

Second Hamongog Trail #186 · Lone Peak Wilderness, above Draper

5.1 mi one way (trail length)  ·  Not published by the land manager  ·  Full day  ·  Ticketed  ·  Dogs: not allowed

Climbs into a rarely visited and remote corner of the Lone Peak Wilderness that the Forest Service still calls quite beautiful, with access to Lake Hardy and the Deer Creek-Dry Creek area. A route for people comfortable navigating an indistinct tread.

What that number describes: Forest Service published trail length, measured ONE WAY from the First Hamongog junction into the upper Wilderness. The Forest Service flags it as difficult to follow, which is the operative fact rather than the mileage. Not a round-trip outing distance; this site's own guides are measured round trip, so this row sorts short against them.

Season: Rarely visited and remote; the agency calls the tread difficult to follow, so navigation rather than the calendar is the limiting factor.

Right Fork Maple Canyon Trail #007 · Maple Canyon, Mapleton

5.19 mi one way (trail length)  ·  Not published by the land manager  ·  Full day  ·  Ticketed  ·  Dogs: on leash

The scenic climb above Mapleton: shaded by box elder, Douglas fir and aspen low down, then wild meadows around Maple Canyon Lake under the walls of Spanish Fork Peak, then switchbacks to a ridgeline with views over Utah Valley and east beyond Strawberry Ridge. Closed to motorized vehicles.

What that number describes: Forest Service published trail length, measured ONE WAY from about half a mile up from Whiting Campground, past Maple Canyon Lake, to Spanish Fork Peak and the Sterling Hollow #008 junction. The hard label is read from the agency's 'very steep' and its warning of numerous loose rocks. This is not a round-trip outing distance; the hikes on this site's own guides are measured round trip, so this row sorts short against them. The section linked in page states the same figure and says so in those words.

Season: The Forest Service publishes no season for this trail; editorial estimate, not a live condition.

Holman Trail #039 · North Fork, American Fork Canyon

5.2 mi one way (sum of three published segments)  ·  Not published by the land manager  ·  Half day  ·  Forest Service fee area  ·  Dogs: on leash

A long climb from the Holman Trailhead past Tibble Fork to the Ridge Trail, shared by hikers, horses, bikes and motorcycles, with grades from 5 to 35 percent. The Forest Service says the dirt road to the trailhead is not recommended for passenger cars, asks for care in high water, and closes the trail to all but hikers in the wet season.

What that number describes: The Forest Service publishes this trail as three segments (2.6 mi to the Holman Ridge-Cabin Flat #172 junction, 0.5 mi to the Old Trench Road, 2.1 mi to the Ridge Trail #157) and no single total; 5.2 is their sum, measured ONE WAY from the Holman Trailhead on Forest Road 085. Arithmetic on published figures, not a midpoint, so derived stays false. This is not a round-trip outing distance; the hikes on this site's own guides are measured round trip, so this row sorts short against them. The section linked in page states the same figure and says so in those words.

Season: Under the spring and early-summer wet-trail closure; the Forest Road 085 access needs high clearance. Editorial estimate, not a live condition.

Big Springs Hollow Trail #059 (to the ridge) · South Fork, Provo Canyon

5.4 mi one way to the ridge (trail length)  ·  Not published by the land manager  ·  Half day to full day  ·  No fee  ·  Dogs: on leash

The full Forest Service trail above Big Springs Park, which the agency calls very steep and scenic: 1.5 miles to the Big Springs-Shingle Mill link and 3.9 more to the ridge between Provo Canyon and Rock Canyon. Our South Fork guide says Provo Canyon is free, so the trail costs nothing to use. Respect the private property around the South Fork.

What that number describes: Forest Service published trail length, measured ONE WAY from the Big Springs Hollow Trailhead to the ridgetop junction with Shingle Mill #057 and Rock Canyon-Dry Fork #060b. THIS IS NOT the Big Springs Hollow family loop, which is a separate row here and turns back long before the ridge. This is not a round-trip outing distance; the hikes on this site's own guides are measured round trip, so this row sorts short against them. The section linked in page states the same figure and says so in those words.

Season: Starts in the South Fork of Provo Canyon; the high ridge it climbs to is snow-bound in winter. Editorial estimate, not a live condition.

Little Baldy Trail #033 · Timpanogos front, above Lindon and Orem

6 mi one way (trail length)  ·  Not published by the land manager  ·  Full day  ·  No fee  ·  Dogs: on leash

Carries the Great Western Trail along the front of Mount Timpanogos, over a ridge and into the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. Open to hikers and horses only -- the Forest Service does not list it for bikes, unlike several trails it connects to.

What that number describes: Forest Service published trail length, measured ONE WAY from the Dry Canyon #049 junction along the Timpanogos front, tying into the Bonneville Shoreline Trail 4.4 miles in. The junction itself is 2.5 miles up Dry Canyon, so that approach is additional and is not counted here. This is not a round-trip outing distance; the hikes on this site's own guides are measured round trip, so this row sorts short against them. The section linked in page states the same figure and says so in those words.

Season: Exposed traverse along the mountain front; the Dry Canyon approach is the same hot, dry climb that limits Dry Canyon itself.

Box Elder Trail #044 · Lone Peak Wilderness, American Fork Canyon

7.5 mi one way (trail length)  ·  Not published by the land manager  ·  Full day  ·  Forest Service fee area  ·  Dogs: on leash

The serious undertaking in this canyon: a steep circumnavigation of Box Elder Peak into a seldom-visited corner of the Lone Peak Wilderness. Wilderness rules bind -- no mechanized or motorized equipment including mountain bikes, group size capped at 15 with eight or fewer recommended, no cutting switchbacks.

What that number describes: Forest Service published trail length, measured ONE WAY from Granite Flat Campground around Box Elder Peak to the Deer Creek-Dry Creek trail #043. The very-hard rating is read from the Forest Service's own words, 'wild and rugged', and its warning that the trail receives little to no maintenance. This is not a round-trip outing distance; the hikes on this site's own guides are measured round trip, so this row sorts short against them. The section linked in page states the same figure and says so in those words.

Season: High-elevation alpine terrain reached off the Alpine Loop, which closes for winter. The Forest Service warns the trail receives little to no maintenance and advises carrying map and compass.

Timpooneke-Chris Flat Trail #151 · Mount Timpanogos north and west faces

8.5 mi one way (sum of published segments)  ·  Not published by the land manager  ·  Full day  ·  Ticketed  ·  Dogs: on leash

The long traverse around Timpanogos from the Timpooneke Trailhead to Chris Flat above Pleasant Grove: Julie Andrews Meadow, big fir along ridges and ravines with views of the North Peak and Woolly Hole, then meadow and grassland over Utah Valley and Utah Lake. Motorcycles are prohibited past the second road crossing. It links to the Grove Creek trail.

What that number describes: The Forest Service publishes this trail as a chain of segments (1.3 mi to Bear Canyon #179, then 1.4, 1.5 and 3 miles between Timpooneke Road crossings, 0.6 to Grove Creek #048 and 0.7 to Chris Flat) and no single total; 8.5 is their sum, measured ONE WAY from the Timpooneke Trailhead. Arithmetic on published figures, not a midpoint. This is not a round-trip outing distance; the hikes on this site's own guides are measured round trip, so this row sorts short against them. The section linked in page states the same figure and says so in those words.

Season: Alpine Loop access closes for winter. Timpooneke parking requires a recreation pass every day, plus a Recreation.gov timed-entry ticket for weekend and holiday arrivals before noon from July into October.

Fifth Water Trail #015 (full trail) · Diamond Fork, Spanish Fork Canyon

9.62 mi one way to Strawberry Ridge (trail length)  ·  Not published by the land manager  ·  Full day  ·  Forest Service fee area  ·  Dogs: on leash

Past the hot springs, the Fifth Water trail keeps going: a jeep road a mile above the pools, Rays Valley Road, then little-used miles past old beaver dams and across the Center Trail to Strawberry Ridge. Starts at the Three Forks Trailhead, a Forest Service day-use fee site. Open to motorized use.

What that number describes: Forest Service published trail length for the whole trail, measured ONE WAY from the Three Forks Trailhead to Strawberry Ridge. The hot springs outing (about 2.5 miles each way) is a separate row, Fifth Water Hot Springs; this row is the full trail beyond it, whose upper 4.5 miles the agency says are used far less. This is not a round-trip outing distance; the hikes on this site's own guides are measured round trip, so this row sorts short against them. The section linked in page states the same figure and says so in those words.

Season: The Diamond Fork road is gated seasonally and the closure moves with conditions. Editorial estimate of the season, not a live condition.

Nebo Bench Trail #117 · Mount Nebo Wilderness, Nebo Loop

11.32 mi one way (trail length)  ·  Not published by the land manager  ·  Full day, one way  ·  Ticketed  ·  Dogs: on leash

A beautiful but demanding traverse of Mount Nebo's east slopes, through basins and meadows that carry remarkable wildflowers at the right time of year, descending through oak and maple into Salt Creek Canyon. The Forest Service warns that about five miles in it sees less use and can be hard to follow across the meadows. Inside the Mount Nebo Wilderness: motorized equipment and bicycles prohibited. The Forest Service names no fee for this trailhead and our byway guide could not confirm a byway-wide structure, so the fee is unstated.

What that number describes: Forest Service published trail length, measured ONE WAY from the south end of the Monument Trailhead lot to the Andrews Ridge trailhead on Forest Road 048. The agency says to plan a full day one way. This is not a round-trip outing distance; the hikes on this site's own guides are measured round trip, so this row sorts short against them. The section linked in page states the same figure and says so in those words.

Season: High alpine terrain reached from the Nebo Loop, which closes for winter. Editorial estimate, not a live condition.

Lone Peak · Lone Peak Wilderness, above Alpine and Draper

Roughly 11-13 mi round trip by either main route  ·  About 6,000 ft between the valley and the summit (relief, not a measured route gain)  ·  Full day  ·  No fee  ·  Dogs: rules vary by segment

The pale, blocky summit that ends the skyline north of Utah Valley, at 11,253 feet, and the one hikers here call the hardest day. No dogs from the Draper side, which is inside the Corner Canyon watershed. The Forest Service lists no permit or fee for a day hike.

What that number describes: The summit as an outing, by either the Jacob's Ladder route from Draper or the Hamongog route from Alpine's Schoolhouse Springs trailhead. The mileage sort number is the MIDPOINT of the 11-13 mile range our guide publishes, so this row is derived:true. No route gain is published; the 6,000 ft in the label is the guide's valley-to-summit relief. The Jacobs Ladder #187 and Hamongog rows describe trails on the way up, not the summit day.

Where sources disagree: Our guide says published route figures disagree because they start from different trailheads, and that the Forest Service's 3.8-mile Jacob's Ladder length starts at a parking spot that has been gated since July 1, 2020.

How this one sorts: the figure used for ordering is the midpoint of the published range shown above, not a published number in its own right.

Season: Summer and fall per the Forest Service; snow often lingers until midsummer. The true summit is a hands-on scramble on broken granite with long drops.

Mapleton-Sawmill Hollow Trail #013 · Diamond Fork, Spanish Fork Canyon

12.78 mi one way (trail length)  ·  Not published by the land manager  ·  Full day  ·  Ticketed  ·  Dogs: on leash

The long one: an easy old road at first, a quick jump up a small hill, then a steeper trail to the Great Western Access Trail on the ridge. Open to motorized use. The neighboring Sawmill Hollow Campground is a Forest Service day-use fee site; the agency does not say whether the trailhead itself is.

What that number describes: Forest Service published trail length, measured ONE WAY from Sawmill Hollow on the Diamond Fork road, about a mile before Springville Crossing, to the Great Western Access Trail. The hard label is read from the length and the agency's note that it steepens after an easy start. This is not a round-trip outing distance; the hikes on this site's own guides are measured round trip, so this row sorts short against them. The section linked in page states the same figure and says so in those words.

Season: The Diamond Fork road is gated seasonally and the closure moves with conditions. Editorial estimate of the season, not a live condition.

South Fork of Packard Canyon Trail #058 · South Fork, Provo Canyon

About 13.5 mi one way (sum of published segments)  ·  Not published by the land manager  ·  Full day  ·  Ticketed  ·  Dogs: on leash

A climb from the upper South Fork to the Shingle Mill junction and Windy Pass, then a long run south to the Little Valley road. Published grades run 10 to 40 percent. The agency asks users to respect private property around the South Fork. Our coverage states no fee regime for this dirt lot.

What that number describes: The Forest Service publishes this trail as segments (0.25 mi of road, 2.5 mi to Shingle Mill #057, 2.2 mi to Windy Pass, 8.6 mi to the Little Valley road #618) and no total; 13.55 is their sum, measured ONE WAY from the dirt lot 4.2 miles up South Fork Road. Most users stop at Shingle Mill or Windy Pass, about 5 miles in. This is not a round-trip outing distance; the hikes on this site's own guides are measured round trip, so this row sorts short against them. The section linked in page states the same figure and says so in those words.

Season: Starts in the South Fork of Provo Canyon; the high ridge it climbs to is snow-bound in winter. Editorial estimate, not a live condition.

Ridge Trail #157 · Alpine Loop summit, American Fork Canyon

15.7 mi one way (trail length)  ·  Not published by the land manager  ·  Half day to full day  ·  Forest Service fee area  ·  Dogs: on leash

The backbone of the American Fork Canyon trail system, in the Forest Service's word, linking the loop routes across the northern half of the district with good views throughout. Shared by hikers, horses, bikes and motorcycles on any given day. The Summit Trailhead is a Forest Service day-use fee site.

What that number describes: Forest Service published trail length, measured ONE WAY from the Summit Trailhead on the Alpine Loop north toward the Alta and Brighton area. Nearly everyone uses only the stretch from the Summit Trailhead to the Mill Canyon #040 junction, which the agency calls the most popular; past Mill Canyon it grows progressively harder with steep grades and exposed sections, which is why this row files the whole trail as hard. This is not a round-trip outing distance; the hikes on this site's own guides are measured round trip, so this row sorts short against them. The section linked in page states the same figure and says so in those words.

Season: Alpine Loop access closes for winter. Editorial estimate of the season, not a live condition.

Mount Nebo · South Utah County

Long -- varies by trailhead  ·  Varies by trailhead  ·  Full day  ·  No fee  ·  Dogs: on leash

The highest peak in the Wasatch Range, at the far south end of the county, and a genuinely full day from any trailhead. The Nebo Bench trail runs the east slopes at around 9,000 feet through basins that carry serious wildflowers at the right time of year.

Where sources disagree: Even the summit height is contested: 11,877, 11,928 and 11,933 feet are all defensible, because two of them are the south summit and two are different survey data. The Forest Service's own wilderness, ranger-district and byway pages all use 11,877, which is the south summit on the old survey.

Season: Reached from the Nebo Loop byway, roughly 24 miles from Payson to the signed Nebo Bench turning. The byway closes for winter.

Grove Creek Canyon · Pleasant Grove

Not published for this canyon alone  ·  Sustained canyon climb; no figure for this canyon alone  ·  Half day  ·  No fee  ·  Dogs: on leash

Battle Creek's longer, harder sibling two canyons north: a trail climbing a narrow canyon on a ledge, with a waterfall partway up and a cliff-edge stretch that thrills older kids and unnerves some adults. It connects on top with Battle Creek for a loop locals treat as a half-day.

What that number describes: The ledge trail climbing from the Grove Creek Drive trailhead. Our Battle Creek guide publishes around eight miles and well over two thousand feet for the GROVE CREEK AND BATTLE CREEK LOOP, which is both canyons joined on top, not this one on its own. That figure is why the difficulty here reads hard, and it is deliberately not printed as this row's distance. Fee and leash are read from our Pleasant Grove guide, which records the trailhead as family- and dog-friendly; no posted rule on the upper trail was verified for this row.

Where these figures come from: this guide — the dedicated Grove Creek Canyon page does not publish them.

Season: A valley-floor front-range trailhead like Battle Creek's two canyons south, so it is reachable all year. Our coverage does not describe winter conditions on the ledge section, and a cliff-edge stretch under snow is a different proposition from the same stretch in June.

Pittsburg Lake Trail #035 · Mineral Basin, American Fork Canyon

No distance published by the land manager  ·  Not published by the land manager  ·  Half day  ·  Forest Service fee area  ·  Dogs: on leash

A short steep climb to an alpine lake ringed by cliffs and fir. Open to mountain bikes and expressly not recommended for them by the agency, on account of the rock and the grade. A historical cabin near the lake is to be left exactly as found.

What that number describes: The Forest Service publishes grades of 15 to 35 percent for this trail but no length, so this row carries none rather than an estimate. The hard rating is read from the published grade range, the steepest in the district inventory.

Season: Reached off the 085 Mineral Basin Road, rough two-track four-wheel-drive dirt the Forest Service says should not be attempted in a passenger car. Road status governs the season, not the trail.