day hike to elephant rock in bountiful - October 22, 2024
Elephant Rock in Bountiful https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/big-rock-via-elephant-rock-trail Get to know this 10.9-km out-and-back trail near Bountiful, Utah. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 6 min to complete. This is a very popular area for cross-country skiing, hiking, and horseback riding, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. The Mueller Park trail is the quintessential easy-access trail. From neighborhood to trailhead in 500 feet, you can hit this trail before work, after work, or on a long lunch break. Your reward comes in the form of a riparian area, tranquil backcountry, a birds-eye view of Bountiful below, and a mix of hardwoods and conifers. Mueller Park Trail is extremely popular in the summer. This trail winds across and up the mountain, keeping the elevation gain manageable. The thick scrub oak provides anchors for the snowpack, so avalanche danger ranks low. But perhaps the biggest plus of this trail is how quickly you exit the city and the resulting views. The trailhead is well marked and easy to find. Start by crossing the bridge. The trail passes next to Mill Creek for the first few hundred feet where it then begins to wind up the hill. The trail makes four wide sweeping .5 mile switchbacks as it climbs this north face of the mountain. After climbing the first .5 mile you'll be rewarded with views to the west of Bountiful and the Great Salt Lake; and again at .70 mile. At .75 mile the trail leaves the switchbacks and rounds the corner of the mountain heading south and east as it hugs the curves of the mountain. As it makes this turn you can look east and see the large grey blob of rock you're headed for: Elephant Rock. The trail continues to the east maintaining elevation between 5500 and 6000, winding in and out along the silhouette of the mountain as it leads toward Elephant Rock. The trail crosses a couple springs and bridges along the way. At 3.5 miles, the trail forks. By going straight and toward the front of the mountain, you will hit Elephant Rock; by heading up the mountain to the right/ south, you will head toward Rudys Flat and North Canyon. To return, follow your same path back. Options: Mueller Park Picnic Area, just east of the Mueller Park trailhead, closes during the winter months. Mill Creek runs through the picnic area.
| Level: | NTD |
| Miles: | 6.8 |
| Vertical: | 1000' |
| Route: | Out & Back |
| Pace: | Slow |
| Organizer: | Philip Nelson |
| Date: | Tue Oct 22 2024 |
| Meeting Place: | Mueller Park Trailhead |
| Meeting Time: | 9:00 am |
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