Millcreek Canyon Road Closure

The Millcreek Canyon Road Closure

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

Here’s how construction will play out:

Millcreek Canyon Road, from the Winter Gate to Big Water Parking Lot will be closed for the entire 2 years.
Everything from Millcreek Canyon Fee Station to the Big Water Parking Lot will be closed the 2nd year, from Spring 2026 – Fall 2026
There will be a winter shutdown of construction activities, allowing for ski grooming and pedestrian access, on the Millcreek Canyon Road from mid-December to late-March in 2025.

Trails Utah is working with the city and construction crews to create a connector trail at Elbow Fork. This would allow trail users to access all upper trails via the Upper Pipeline Trail throughout the year.

View our interactive map below for a visualization of the upcoming closures.

More information on the road closure

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.

The purpose of the project is 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 on creating a trail connector at Elbow Fork that would allow trail users to bypass the construction. This would thereby keep all trails above Elbow Fork accessible throughout this construction period.

Make sure to check back on this page periodically, subscribe to our newsletter, and follow our Instagram and/or Facebook pages as that is where we will be posting updates.

Improvements Timeline

The Millcreek Canyon Road Closure has been in the planning phase for years now, with construction set to begin shortly.

Here’s an overview of the construction timeline until now.

2021

Aug. - Oct. | Present scope of work, cost estimate, and timeline to local jurisdictions and partners 100%

Nov. 3 | Press conference and start identifying sources for $4.3M match 100%

Nov. 9 | Public Open House with FHWA Central Federal Lands Highway Division at Millcreek and 100%

Nov. 9 | Start of 30-day public comment period 100%

Week of Dec. 6 | Public comment period ends 100%

2022 | January - August

Consider public comments, Preliminary Design, environmental field surveys, technical analysis 100%

2023 | May - December

Pre-final design, final technical reports and NEPA documentation 100%

2024

Jan. - Mar. | Pre-final design, final technical reports and NEPA documentation 100%

Aug. - Nov. | Initiate construction. Prepare FLAP application for future phase: road improvements between Toll Booth and Winter Gate 95%

2025- 2026 | Two seasons of Construction

To find out what this construction means for Dog Owners, Mountain Bikers, and everyone else who loves this canyon, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter as we will be sending updates as soon as we hear of them!

The Millcreek Canyon Road Closure

More information on the road closure

Improvements Timeline

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