Tales From My Trekking Poles: Salt Lake Valley Overlook-Desolation Trail

This is a fun little hike that I have been doing for 50 years. It is easy, and makes a nice trail run. Dogs are allowed, which could be a plus or a minus. I won some new carbon fiber trekking poles at a drawing at Recreation Outlet last week, so I got to try them out. I estimate that my old poles have about 3000 miles on them, and I may keep track of the mileage of my new ones!
To get to the trailhead drive 3.2 miles up Millcreek Canyon from Wasatch Blvd. Just past Millcreek Inn on the right, you will see South Box Elder Picnic area. This is where you park.
The trail starts to the right of the restrooms. (gps coordinates N 40* 41.848' W111* 44.403') A sign says it is 2 miles to the Salt Lake Overlook, but this is a lie; It is actually 2.4 miles. Maybe they added some switchbacks since the sign was made? A short distance up the trail, you will see a wooden sign that says Thaynes Canyon straight ahead, and Desolation Trail to the right. Go to the right, up the switchbacks. The trail is easy to follow, and has a lot of shade from Pines and Maple trees, and some scrub oak at the lower portions. At 2.4 miles you will see the lookout. (gps coordinates N40* 41.345' W111* 44.583') As I approached the lookout, three Elderly ladies asked me where I parked, and when I told them, they said, "Oh Dear, we are going the wrong way, we wanted to go farther up the trail!" I was a little worried about them, but I didn't see anything on the evening news about missing Elderly hikers, so I guess they made it!
If you are a geocacher, there is a geocache that you must do; It is called Bill's Arch. Click on this link to see some close-up pictures: http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC12FVB_bills-arch?Submit6=Go . I found this with my son in 2008. It was my 600th geocache find. I was amazed that I had been hiking past this for so many years and did not know it was there. Even if you are not a geocacher, if you are observant, you can see it. As you go back down, in less than one mile, you will come to a gulch. If you look in front of you, you can see the arch in the distance. (See picture below) There is not an actual trail up to it, but after you cross the gulch, you will come to a spine of rock. If you are ambitious, you can climb uphill about 100 feet, and get to the arch. It is not an easy climb, but it is pretty cool. If you do not want to take the exact same trail back to your vehicle, you can take a slight detour; at one of the switchbacks you will see a wooden sign pointing to Thayne's Canyon. You can take that, and have a nice, easy straight hike down the canyon. I think it is actually slightly shorter because you avoid some switchbacks.