Uinta National Forest - Mill Canyon Peak Loop - Member Hike

Hike Name:	Uinta National Forest - Mill Canyon Peak Loop
Country:	United States
State:	Utah
Nearby Town:	Salt Lake City, UT
Rating:
Directions:	From Salt Lake City go south on I-15 23 miles to exit #284 (SR92, Timpanogos Cave National Monument). Go east on SR92 for 6.5 miles to the mouth of American Fork Canyon. Continue on SR92 through Timpanogos Cave National Monument (there is a fee station) for 5 miles to a fork in the road. Turn left onto the Tibble Fork road and follow it 2 miles to the Tibble Fork parking lot. This is the parking lot for the trailhead. Walk up the dirt road at the east end of the parking lot for about 0.25 mi to the bridge over the American Fork River. Cross the bridge and turn right on the far bank and follow the trail to Mill Canyon. Turn left onto the Mill Canyon Trail.
Total Hike Distance:	18.00 miles
Hike Difficulty:	Moderate to Difficult
Permit Required:	No
Hike Type:	Roundtrip, Loop Hike
Hike Starts/Ends:	Tibble Fork Reservoir
Trails Used:	Mill Canyon Trail, Holman Ridge Trail, Great Western Trail, East Ridge Trail.
Backcountry Campsites:	Yes
Backcountry Water Sources:	Streams, Lakes, Springs
Management:	U.S. Forest Service
Contact Information:	Uinta National Forest Pleasant Grove Ranger District 390 North 100 East Pleasant Grove, UT 84062 801-342-5247
Best Season:	Spring, Summer, Fall
Users:	Hikers, Bikers, Horses, ATVs
Road Conditions:	Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads
Hike Summary:	This trail rewards the hiker with some demanding climbs, magnificent vistas of the Wasatch Range as well as distant views of the Uinta Mountains, and a great opportunity to observe wildlife. Once across the river, the Mill Canyon Trail (#40) commences immediately to climb into Mill Canyon from 6500’ elevation to 7200’ over the first 2 miles (it’s actually a gradual incline with two relatively steep sections). The mouth of the canyon is mostly a maple forest, which means that this is a blaze of color in the fall. At mile 2, the trail comes to a junction in a meadow alongside Mill Creek. Warning – Mill Creek is often your last chance to stock up on water, so make sure you top off all of your containers. Turn to the left onto the Holman Ridge-Cabin Flat Trail (#172) and shift into a lower gear – this trail climbs 1100’ in one mile passing from the grassy meadow at the bottom, through the timber into the oak scrub at the top. You will be rewarded for your efforts with very expansive views of the Wasatch Mountains. In a thick stand of trees, the trail joins the Holman Trail (#39), where you will turn to the right. Follow the Holman Trail 0.5 mi and up another 400’ to the junction in a small meadow with the Old Trench Trail (#181). Turn left onto trail #181 and continue climbing for another 0.5 mi and up another 500’ to an elevation of 9200’. At that point the trail pretty much levels out for a breather of one mile across the largely open face of the ridge. Then it climbs another 300’ and ends at a junction with the Ridge Trail (#157 – this is part of the Great Western Trail). Turn left onto the Ridge Trail and follow it through a saddle and down 700’ on the other side. The trail will pretty much level out at 8800’ for the 2.5 mi hike to Sandy Baker Pass. It is a very pleasant trail with lots of trees and great views. You will pass by Forest Lake 600' below you, where this is a primitive campground. At Sandy Baker Pass, turn right onto the Pot Hollow Trail (#37). This trail descends 400’ over the 0.5 mi across an open oak scrub ridgetop. At the junction with the East Ridge Trail (#38) turn right and follow the East Ridge for 3.5 miles. The trail will duck in and out of the forest and go around three ridges, each time climbing 100’ to 200’ and then dropping down again. After the third ridge, the trail goes straight up the mountainside about 400’ but it’s no use thinking this is the final divide, because it isn’t. Once again the trail will drop down on the other side so you can do yet another 400’ climb around another ridge. On the far side of this ridge, however, the trail initially drops about 100’ and then it climbs 900’, at first it goes straight up the mountain and then it turns to switchbacks. Finally, it goes over the top of the ridge and across the face of the mountain before it crosses the divide at the top of Mill Canyon. Just after crossing the divide, the East Ridge Trail comes to a junction at Rock Spring. Turn left onto the Ridge Trail (#157) and follow it 2 miles to a trailhead. The trail along this part is on a ridge top and descends all the way, dropping down 1200’. At times the trail is pretty churned up by dirt bikes so one must pick your steps carefully to avoid stumbling or sliding in the loose rock and sand. At the trailhead, keep to the right and walk through the parking area. At the far side you will see a spring draining into a horse trough. This is Mill Spring, the source of Mill Creek. The trail into Mill Canyon (#40) is just past the horse trough. Follow this trail 3.5 miles to the bridge over the American Fork River. The trail stays in the timber all the way, and is a long series of switchbacks over the first 2 miles as it descends another 1000’.