Located just a short drive from Salt Lake City, Millcreek Canyon offers a quick escape into the natural beauty of the Wasatch Mountains.
During the summer months, the canyon’s picnic areas come alive with family gatherings and outdoor meals, while it’s trails attract hikers and mountain bikers alike.
When winter arrives, the canyon transforms into a hub for cross-country skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, fat biking, and even sledding, making it a year-round destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Dogs:
Access for dogs to the canyon is managed on an even-odd day system.
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Trails Utah continues to work with the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest to plan for and maintain trails in Millcreek Canyon. Below you’ll find a list of trails built by Trails Utah in Millcreek Canyon and an interactive Google Map to help you explore the rest.
Below are the trails that Trails Utah has helped to build or modify in Millcreek Canyon.
Click here to see a trail map and list of 23 trails sprinkled throughout the stunning Millcreek Canyon.
If you’re looking forward to hiking all of these trails, you’ll have to do it this year. Millcreek Canyon is scheduled to close for close to two years beginning in Spring of 2025. More info on the Millcreek Canyon Road closure below.
Become a member today and help us cover the costs outside of the physical trail building!
Millcreek Canyon Road will be closed for nearly two years to expand the road, create a bike lane, and add new parking lots.
Anticipated construction timeline: Spring 2025 – Fall 2026
Salt Lake County, Millcreek, and the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest (UWCNF) are collaborating with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to enhance a 4.6-mile stretch of Mill Creek Canyon Road in Utah.
This project, focusing on the area between the Winter Gate parking lot and the Upper Big Water Trailhead, aims to improve user safety, access to recreational areas, and water quality, which has been impacted by erosion and poor drainage. The enhancements will be made by expanding the road up to 24 feet, creating a bike lane, and add new parking lots.
Visit the FHWA Millcreek Canyon Road project page if you would like to read more about the environmental assessment report, biological resources report, cultural resources, and “finding of no significant impact” evaluation.
While this trail closure will effect many of Millcreek Canyon’s trails, we are working with them to figure out a way to bypass the construction, thereby keeping a handful of the upper trails open. Make sure to follow our Instagram and/or Facebook pages as that is where we will be posting updates.
Construction is anticipated to take place during the available construction seasons in 2025 and 2026. During this time the road will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians.
Major thru trails are anticipated to remain open with a road crossing at Elbow Fork. There will be a winter shutdown of construction activities allowing for ski grooming and pedestrian access on the roadway from mid-December to late-March.
In addition to the Millcreek Canyon Road closure next year, there are also some active trail closures in Millcreek Canyon until the end of August 2024.
The following Millcreek Canyon trails will be closed on a rolling basis from July 11, 2024, from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm Monday through Thursdays, until August 30, 2024.
The trail closures are implemented to ensure public health and safety while crews perform tree cutting and felling along the trails as part of fuels reduction management to mitigate wildfire risks.
With so many trails to choose from, this shouldn’t hinder your plans too drastically. That being said, if there is a specific trail you are wanting to visit, we recommend calling the Salt Lake Rangers District (SLRD) before heading up the canyon to get the most up to date information.
SLRD phone #: (801) 733-2660
While grants cover the costs of hiring trail builders and doing the hands on work, costs like putting this Millcreek Canyon resource together and working with our partners to determine what other trails are needed in Millcreek Canyon are not.
Consider supporting Trails Utah through donations or becoming a sustaining member.
