Hiking Willard Canyon

To the West you have a great view of Willard Bay, and to the East, the trail leads up to cascades (and a waterfall if you can make it). The hike is straight-forward – after crossing the creek from the parking area, you will hike up a short yet steep hill, before crossing a bridge and following the creek as far as you can make it. This trail is dog-friendly, but I wouldn’t bring little kids due to steepness. The best time to hike here is late Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Directions

WARNING: THIS HIKE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC DUE TO PRIVATE PROPERTY ISSUES.

Trail Info

Distance: 2 miles RT

Elevation gain: 900 ft

Time: 1-2 hours, depending on how long you play in the creek

Dog friendly? Yes, off leash

Kid friendly? Not for little ones due to steepness and slick rocks

Fees/Permits? None

The parking area is on the left marked by these boulders.

Cross the creek, then follow the trail uphill.

The first 1/2 mile is on the steep side but not bad.

When you reach the old mining road, turn right, continuing into the canyon.

At 0.75 miles the road narrows to a single hiking path.

Cut through the boulder field.

Then cross the 1st bridge. Right after will be a 2nd bridge, this time more rickety.

The trail winds its way up the canyon, a little steep at times, but there is always a well-traveled path.

Old pipes everywhere. You’ll see trails going off in different directions, but stay on the trail that follows the base of the creek.

Old mining and water equipment everywhere.

Just around the corner from that triangle support are the nice cascades! There is actually a waterfall around the corner from this, but the rocks had a layer of ice on them, the water was too cold for me to climb up on here, and I wasn’t able to climb up the wall on the left to look down. So I called it the end here for me on this day. Maybe in the middle of summer I would go back and walk up through here. I bet it would feel refreshing, but might also be slick.