Bell Canyon Waterfall

Tis the season for hiking to waterfalls. With the snow melting and the water flowing, spring is the perfect time to check out the local waterfalls.  Bell Canyon waterfall is a beauty! 

The Granite trailhead for this hike is located on 3470 East Little Cottonwood Road in Sandy.  It is just a half mile hike to the lower Bells Canyon Reservoir which is a really nice hiking destination in and of itself.  Bring your fishing rods to the reservoir - it is catch and release.   But today it was all about waterfalls.

Once you reach the reservoir you will see a utility road on the left.  Follow this road for about 100 yards and you will find a small sign pointing the way to Bells Canyon.  From here you walk through a lovely meadow with nice views of the mountains ahead.  In less than a mile you will come to a sturdy foot bridge crossing a pretty stream.  From here the trail gets quite a bit steeper and is scattered with good sized granite rocks.  You will definitely get a stairmaster workout the rest of the way to the falls.  The tricky part is knowing where to turn off the main trail to find the falls.  The waterfall is found several yards to the left of the main trail.  You will come to a giant pine and well marked up aspens at the turn off plus you will ear the roaring sound of the falls.

The hike to the waterfall is almost exactly 5 miles with an elevation gain of 1310 feet.

Enjoy a snack

Bells Towers

Nice view of the valley from the falls

I have been experiencing a little knee pain recently after hiking.  I know, I know something like this was bound to happen to me sooner or later.  I was just hoping for much, much later.  So I googled "help for knee pain while hiking" and here are some really helpful suggestions.

1. Take shorter steps going downhill and make your own mini switchbacks when possible.
2. Use trekking poles to reduce impact on the knees.
3. Slow down! Taking your time going downhill is safer and less damaging to the knees. (I like this one)
4. Use "Superfeet" insoles for hiking boots.  (I want to try this product)
5. Walk backwards at times. (I do this occasionally) 
6. Wear a knee brace.  I did use a knee brace this week and it really did help!
7. Glucosamine and chondroitin are supplements for joints.

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 Wildflower of the Week

This wildflower covered the meadows and open areas on our hike in Bell Canyon this week.  It is called Desert Groundsel and is a member of the sunflower family.  Even though it has desert as part of its name this wildflower can be found from high desert valleys to the alpine tundra.

Taking pictures of butterflys on the wildflowers.

For myself I hold no preferences among flowers

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

Ed Abbey

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******Miles hiked tally

beginning March 22, 2013
Beginning of this Blog

274.4