Sunday, August 9, 2015

Lambs Canyon to Lambs Canyon Pass ( 4.5 miles round-trip, easy)

Description: This is a beautiful hike on a well-maintained trail, easy to get to from Salt Lake City, and no fee to pay.  I have hiked the Millcreek Canyon side of this trail (Elbow Fork)  many times, but this was my first hike from the other side.  Another hiker described this trail as "almost magical," and it has a different, very pleasant feel to it.  It is shaded much of the way, goes along a small stream for quite a while, has some great views near the top, and the trail does not have a lot of roots, almost no rocks, and is just one of those trails where you can't resist seeing what is around the next bend!  I did this hike on August 7, and there were patches of delicious ripe raspberries along the way!  There are several geocaches along the trail, although most of them are just far enough off the trail to make it a challenge.    Rain was in the forecast, but I did not let that stop me.  Two minutes after I started hiking, the first drops fell, then the drizzle turned into a downpour at the top, then the rain abated enough going down to get my camera out and snap a few pics.  I saw only one other person, a runner that had started from the Millcreek side.

Trailhead:  From Salt Lake city, drive about 7.7 miles up Parleys Canyon (I-80) and take the
Lambs Canyon Exit. From here, go to your right, and drive up the canyon 1.5 miles. The trailhead is on your right, and would be easy to miss if it were not for the restrooms and small parking area on the left.
(GPS coordinates: N 40* 43.275' W 111* 39.475.')  Once you park your car, the trail sign across the street will be obvious.  The trail is easy to follow, and you don't have any decisions to make until you get to the sign at the top, 2.23 miles from the trailhead.
(GPS coordinates N 40* 42.373' W 111* 40.540.') At the pass, you can go back down the way you came, or continue straight, and end up at Elbow Fork in Millcreek Canyon,  (2 miles from the sign at the top), or hike along the ridge. (Left goes to Millvue Peak, right goes eventually to Grandeur Peak).
Maximum Elevation: 8115 Feet
Ascent: 1636 Feet
No dogs allowed

Geocaches:
 Out on the Lamb: http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC30KXX_out-on-the-lamb?guid=8c267dd0-d5e7-4af3-97d0-3ab77c3bd73b
Two Trails Diverged in a Yellow snow wood...: http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC4A6XM_two-trails-diverged-in-a-yellow-snow-wood?guid=024a4bee-8ca2-4afb-b6d0-eb35002ea965
Always up for a Pone Tree Cache #6: http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC4A6WY_always-up-for-a-pine-tree-cache-6?guid=74fe074c-5c5f-4136-b83a-db33fa6f506b
#46: http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC4A6WC_46?guid=1898b08c-8f5c-4b1e-a5b3-304ad0230954
The sign at the top of the trail.

Delicious wild raspberries along the trail.
(Considerably slows the hike, but well worth it!)

This pine tree was over 150 years old.

How can you resist a trail like this?!

Bridge near trailhead.

Trailhead sign.