Hike of the week: Adams Canyon | The Salt Lake Tribune

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Directions • Adams Canyon is a fairly steep, strenuous hike with an awesome waterfall payoff located about 30 minutes from Salt Lake City.

To get there, take Interstate 15 north to Highway 89 (exit 324). Take a right on 1200 North, which is a stop sign just north of Oak Hills Drive, then a right again for the frontage road.

Follow it to the dirt parking area. Entrance to the hike is a labeled opening in a chain link fence.

The path starts out steep and sandy, then drops down into the canyon and runs parallel to the north fork of Holmes Creek, where the trail is cooler and shadier. Just more than a mile in, it crosses the creek and becomes steeper and rockier, with some light scrambling.

Near the two-mile mark, the trail rounds a sharp bend to reveal a beautiful 40-foot waterfall surrounded by a flat area that makes it possible to get very close to the falls by crossing the creek — though absolutely avoid crossing if the water is high.

Stand in the cool mist created by the fall, then head back, but keep a sharp eye out for the easy-to-miss creek crossing. Adams Canyon

Hiking time • 3 hours

Round trip miles • 3.6 miles

Elevation gain • 1,505 feet

Difficulty • Moderate

Trail head restrooms • No

Dogs allowed • Yes

Bikes allowed • Yes, but area is very steep