Deuel Creek Hike: Centerville

I have a goal this summer to increase my knowledge base of the Davis County trails. Saturday I hit trail #2 for the season - Deuel Creek North and South. Attached is a map photo so you can get an idea of the layout of the trail. This trail will be a 5 star trail in the summer when the leaves fill in. It wanders right next to Deuel Creek which is a spring-fed creek and thus runs year-round. Obviously spring run-off increases the flow, so you have the soul music of water along the route. The primary difficulty of the route is getting to the trail head. There is currently no great approach to the trail head kiosk so you end up walking up a road, across a Forest Service bridge, along part of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and then up a mountain just to get to the trail head. Once you hit the trail though it is beautiful and levels out nicely. There is some scrambling over rocks, but people of all ages were successful in this group - kids, dogs, older folks.

Directions to trail head as of summer 2010: Park at the Bowl Area on 850 E. 100 S. in Centerville. It is at the base of the foothills along a neighborhood road. Head 2/10 of a mile up the dirt road then the trail transitions onto an undefined foot path that heads east to the bridge. The bridge is a F.S. bridge and part of the Bonneville Shoreline trail. At .3 miles you must head straight east up a foothill vs continueing on the obvious trail. The obvious trail is the B.S. trail. Continue to the top of the foothill where you will then see the ATV track to the right. From here you can see the trailhead kiosk to the left that starts the Deuel Creek hike. This is the trail head for South Deuel.

For summer hikers you should note that the canyon is full of poison ivy and long pants are suggested. Poison Ivy does not bother dogs, I'm told. Dogs are allowed on the trail without leashes-if they are well behaved.

At 1.17 miles South Deuel loops around and turns into North Deuel. If you wish to continue straight the trail goes on for 4.5 miles with a handful of campsites and bridges along the way. Found a rope swing that was good fun also.

The loop for North Deuel is not marked. The return trip is more exposed. Mahogany Flat sits another 1/10 of a mile along North Deuel. Nice little camp spot with a great view, but right on the trail. Fires are allowed from Oct - April. Practice Leave No Trace camping. North Deuel empties out right near the dirt road which you descend to where you parked.