Bell Canyon Reservoir

My friend Martha and I were determined to get a hike in this week.  Snow or no snow! (Thursday, January 9)  We started up Big Cottonwood canyon for Donut Falls, but the road became a little too hairy driving for me so we turned around and chose Bell Canyon Reservoir instead.  It was a good choice!   It snowed on us the entire time, but that just added an element of adventure to the snowshoe hike.  It is possible to enjoy the outdoors in almost any type of weather.

The trail to Bell Canyon Reservoir is just east of Wasatch Boulevard on Little Cottonwood Road (9800 South and 3400 East)  The easy access from the city make this trail very popular and well used year round.  We walked around the entire reservoir for a total of 2.2 miles.  I have never seen the reservoir completely frozen over and ducks love this place.

Fresh fallen snow along the trail - beautiful!

Snow makes the ordinary a little extraordinary!

 Christmas wasn't over yet on the mountain!

 

I came across this quote just today and yes snow is exhilarating!:

"Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather only different kinds of GOOD weather."    John Ruskin

These photos were taken of Bell Canyon Reservoir in January 2013.

Ducks on the water.

An ice cairn.

 

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******Miles hiked tally

beginning March 22, 2013

210.7

Elbow Fork Trail from the Terrace Picnic Area

Let's go take a hike!

And climb to the highest heights.

Let's go take a hike,

To where eagles are soaring!

Up through the evergreens.

Up where the air is clean.

Oh, let's go take a hike! 

I went to the movie "Saving Mr. Banks" last week and the Mary Poppins tune got stuck in my head so I made up some hiking lyrics.  (I won't get in trouble will I?)  Very good movie by the way.  I returned to Millcreek Canyon for another hike this weekend.  This time from the Terrace picnic area we chose the Elbow Fork trail to the left.  Again no snowshoes needed,  but you will definitely want some type of cleat on your boots.  The trail was icy and steep in some spots.  We decided to do this as a loop hike returning down Millcreek Canyon road to Maple Grove picnic area.  Maple Grove is where the road is closed and gated for winter use.  The total distance hiked was 4.8 miles.  I hiked Elbow Fork trail during the summer and I enjoyed it more as a winter hike.  Within a few minutes of hiking we reached the ridge and our first view of the Oquirrh Mountains.

 

The trail follows the ridge for quite a ways with nice views of Porter Fork before descending back into the beautiful forest.  I absolutely love the dense forest on this hike.

 

 This rock looked like a sharks head with mouth open to devour hikers - think JAWS!

More awesome views like this one of Grandeur Peak opened up as you make your way down the trail to Millcreek Canyon road.

The last few yards of this trail is quite steep but once you cross the footbridge you are back on the main road and back into civilization. We only saw two other hikers on the Elbow Fork piece of the trail.

Millcreek Canyon road is a very popular cross country ski trail and dog walk.  We saw dogs of every shape, size and breed loving every minute of their walk. 

 I also enjoyed every minute of my walk!

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******Miles hiked tally

beginning March 22, 2013

208.5