Adams Canyon

Adams Canyon is a Davis County hiking treasure which follows an abundant stream for much of the hike and ends with a stunning 40 foot waterfall.  Be prepared to get your feet wet on this hike because you must cross the stream to even get to see the plunging waterfall.  Good news is the stream is wide and not deep.  Some type of water shoe is advisable so you don't have to hike back in wet shoes. You will not want to miss seeing this waterfall!!

Adams Canyon is a very popular hiking trail and yet very poorly marked.  Somebody must be trying to keep this place a secret.  The trailhead is located just off highway 89 and east of Oak Hills Drive in Layton, Utah.  There isn't a right turn off 89 onto Oak Hills Drive to reach the trailhead so you will need to drive about a quarter mile beyond the sign for Oak Hills Drive and take a small frontage road to backtrack towards the trail parking area.  Nothing really there to let you know you are in the right place.  How rude!!

 

The trail begins by climbing a series of very sandy switchbacks.  Please stay on the trail . . .  there is evidence of erosion problems.  This portion of the trail could be very hot on a summer afternoon.  The trail also meets up with the Bonneville Shoreline trail before heading into Adams Canyon (a favorite of mountain bikers).  At this point you begin to follow Holmes Creek for the rest of the way to the waterfall.  Total round trip distance for this hike is 3.8 miles. 

After about 1.5 miles you will cross a footbridge and the trail becomes a little steeper.  The next obstacle is a giant slab of rock that blocks the trail and you must climb up and around this giant to connect back with the trail.  No big deal.

Adams Canyon is dog friendly, but please be courteous to other hikers and keep dogs on leash and take out the poop.   Here is an enthusiastic canine hiker.

There were several other good sized waterfalls on the trail to keep you entertained.

But of course, the main event is the 40 foot waterfall at the end of the trail!

Enjoy!!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

 Wildflower of the Week

This wildflower is a Utah Milkvetch also known as Locoweeds.  Too pretty to be called Locoweeds.  Look closely at the flower petals, they remind me of butterfly wings. You can't miss these bright colored flowers, they are everywhere on the foothills and benches this time of year.  Milkvetch are part of the pea family.

For myself I hold no preferences among flowers

so long as they are wild, free, spontaneous!"

Ed Abbey

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

******Miles hiked tally

beginning March 22, 2013
Beginning of this Blog

269.4