8 Best Hiking Trails In Millcreek Canyon Utah

Are you looking for the best hiking trails in Millcreek Canyon from a local who’s explored the canyon in depth? Let’s dive into the list, but first, a little bit about the canyon.

Millcreek Canyon sits within minutes of the city of Millcreek (a suburb of Salt Lake City) and truly feels like the “locals’ canyon”. Visitors often overlook it, but with eight trailheads and 20+ hiking trails, it’s a great spot for everything from short hikes to canyon overlooks and a couple of mountain peaks. You’ll also spot several Boy Scout camps and even a unique restaurant that’s still on my bucket list!

This canyon is worth visiting year-round. In winter (starting Nov 1st), the upper canyon road closes to vehicles, turning the area into a playground for skiers, sledders, and snowshoers!

Best Hiking Trails in Millcreek Canyon

Here you’ll find my favorite hikes in Millcreek Canyon! These hikes are listed in order as you drive up the canyon. Get ready to check them off your bucket list!

Even though I love every hike on this list, here are my absolute favorites to help you narrow down your choices:

1. Pipeline Trail to Salt Lake Overlook

This hike starts at the first trailhead in Millcreek Canyon and is a perfect after-work jaunt! Within minutes, you’ll see the trail split: the path to the right is the original, steeper route. For a more gradual climb, continue straight onto the newer switchbacks.

This hike offers a breathtaking view of the Salt Lake Valley and Millcreek Canyon. As you hike, you’ll pass sections of aging water pipelines, steel and concrete remnants that tell a quiet story of the area’s past. If you’re curious about their history, check out this in-depth article.

2. Grandeur Peak

This hike begins at the Church Fork Picnic Area, where there’s a very small parking lot at the end of the road. Most likely, you will have to park on the street and walk up to the picnic area.

Grandeur Peak is a Wasatch classic and easily one of the best hikes in Millcreek Canyon! I find myself completing this hike at least once a year!

In the Spring, you’ll find multiple waterfalls flowing through the picnic area, while the final stretch opens to lush hillsides, sweeping mountain vistas, and a panoramic summit. Autumn brings an array of vibrant colors and is perfect for leaf-peepers.

Lastly, Winter offers a quieter experience with generally low avalanche risk. Microspikes are highly recommended when it’s icy, but after a fresh snowfall, snowshoes are better.

3. Desolation Trail To Salt Lake Overlook

This rewarding hike climbs through a quiet old-growth pine forest to one of the Millcreek Canyon’s best overlooks. At the top, you’re greeted by a panoramic view of Millcreek Canyon, the Salt Lake Valley, and distant mountain ranges stretching across the horizon.

I personally love the steady, consistent incline of this trail; it’s the perfect kind of workout. My pro tip? Pack some snacks. The view from the top is absolutely “snack-worthy.”

4. Mount Aire

Mount Aire begins at the Elbow Fork Trailhead in Millcreek Canyon, where the road takes a sharp, 90-degree turn. The hike itself is short but steep and pays off spectacularly at the summit. As the high point on the same ridgeline as Grandeur Peak, you can trust that the summit views are absolutely worth the effort!

As always, come prepared with water, snacks, and sunscreen. If you’re out in the evening, watch for moose or deer grazing nearby.

A seasonal note: in winter, the gate closes, making the trailhead accessible only by foot. This adds extra distance (and effort) to your hike, but rewards you with solitude.

5. Dog Lake

That makes it one of the only lakes in the Wasatch where your pup is welcome to take a swim!

The trail itself winds through lovely aspen and pine groves and is dotted with wildflowers in the summer. Just remember: dogs are only allowed from the Millcreek Canyon side.

6. Murdock Peak

Note: I first hiked Murdock Peak in 2023, before the 2025 construction project began. We had to park 3/4 mile down the road from the trailhead because it was full. I’m eager to see the improvements when the road reopens!

Murdock Peak remains one of the most underrated trails in not just Millcreek Canyon, but perhaps the entire central Wasatch range. The hike is a fairly steady climb culminating with a steep final push to the summit. The reward? Absolutely breathtaking 360-degree panoramic views of the Wasatch Range and the Wasatch Back, which is home to Park City.

For an especially magical experience, visit in autumn when the trail is illuminated by brilliant golden aspens!

7. Pipeline Trail

The Pipeline Trail runs the length of the lower part of Millcreek Canyon and is just over 7 miles long from the Salt Lake City Overlook to Elbow Fork Trailhead. It can be accessed from three different trailheads and can make for all sorts of different outings!

• Rattlesnake Gulch Trailhead
• Church Fork Trailhead
• Burch Hollow Trailhead
• Elbow Fork Trailhead

How you want to hike this depends entirely on you! The section to the Salt Lake Overlook is probably the most popular, but there’s another lesser-traveled section that is perhaps my favorite! Keep reading to learn more!

8. Pipeline Trail: Burch Hollow to Church Fork

This is my personal favorite section of the 7.5-mile-long Pipeline Trail! It begins at the Burch Hollow trailhead and connects with Church Fork. My family and friends love this hike, especially in the autumn! It is relatively flat and arguably the easiest section as well!

However, there is one particular section where a wooden fence has been anchored to prevent erosion! This happens to be my favorite photo-op on this trail!

Millcreek Canyon Hiking Tips and FAQs

Millcreek Canyon is part of the Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest, with the Forest Service managing the land. It’s very important to follow the rules and Leave No Trace principles to ensure the continued preservation of this beautiful canyon.

Millcreek Canyon Overview

• The canyon road is 9 miles long, while the canyon itself is about 13 miles long
• The road closes at 5 miles at the upper gate on Nov 1st every year
  • In Winter, the road past the gate is groomed once a week and is open to skiers, sledders, and fat tire bikes!
• Dogs are allowed!
• Most trails are multi-use, and mountain biking is popular on the Pipeline Trail.
• There is a $5 daily fee you must pay on the way out
• Log Haven is a fine dining restaurant located in the canyon and requires advanced reservations
• Millcreek Inn is also located in the canyon and is a venue for special events
• There are several picnic sites in the canyon as well, including Church Fork.

Millcreek Canyon Dog Rules & Days

Dogs have to be on leash on even-numbered days. and in developed areas, such as picnic grounds, roads, and parking lots.
Dogs can be off-leash on odd-numbered days only!
My advice? Always bring a leash, just in case you forgot what day it is (happens to me all the time)!

Are Dogs Allowed?

Yes, dogs are allowed! In fact, this is one of the big reasons locals love hiking in Millcreek Canyon!

Are there bears in Millcreek Canyon?

There are Bears in the canyon. The Wasatch Mountains are Black Bear country (no Grizzlies), but sightings are rare. I have hiked over 1000 miles in the Wasatch and have never seen a bear. Carrying a bear spray isn’t required, but I recommend it, especially if hiking solo or in the evening.

Do you have to pay to go up Millcreek Canyon?

Yes, and you pay on the way out. It’s $5 daily, or $50 for an annual pass. For seniors, it’s $3 or $30 respectivley. National Parks Annual Passes are not valid here.

So, should you visit Millcreek Canyon?

Absolutely, but with so many hiking trails to explore near Salt Lake City, Millcreek Canyon will likely fly under your radar, so it comes down to how much time you have. Living along the Wasatch Front, exploring this canyon is a no-brainer. But for visitors, if your schedule is tight, even a scenic drive up the canyon can give you a nice taste of the landscape!