Deaf Smith Canyon: New Find

On my search for new canyons and trails my friend Todd brought me to Deaf Smith. I'd never even heard of this place before. Not much of a trailhead, just a deadend on a residential road up off of Wasatch Boulevard between Big Cottonwood Canyon and Little Cottonwood Canyon. The first part of the hike takes you up into the foothills, then you have to walk on a driveway/road to get into the canyon. I'll say upfront that this canyon trail is an exploratory trail. The first section of the trail is easy to see and well defined, but soon enough the trail starts deadending here and there and one must climb rocks and cross the stream to reconnect and find the next section of trail. There are a few climbing routes, old and not much used it appears. We hit a couple sections where we had to climb up and over rock faces and though it was very exposed, the hand and foot holds were generous. It's a nice little canyon, just go prepared to explore your way up it.

Ferguson Canyon: Salt Lake Hike

All I can say is that this has been a great week for groovy new canyon finds! I attended a hiking presentation at REI last week where I bought the book from the presenter. (Will leave book unnamed) With the book I found the trailhead, but after that all his beta was wrong. There is no way the author hiked this trail. Though the book says it's an easy hike it is actually quite challenging. The trail is primarily a boulder path once you pass the 1/2 mile mark, and it climbs and climbs. There is over 1000' of elevation gain in the first mile. The highlights of this hike are the waterfalls!! One after another. The air is cool and fresh and wet. Boulders the size of 20" televisions make up the path, but it follows the stream up this narrow canyon. My GPS says it was about 2 miles to the top where the trail leads up and out of the canyon to the north, then crosses over to a lookout point down into Big Cottonwood Canyon. Phenom views from here as well as great views in the first portion of the trail. Granite bubbles make for well used climbing walls along the route and an interesting granite cave in the first 1/2 mile. Loved the trail! Take a walking stick.

Hiking Neff Canyon

First time ever to Neffs Canyon. Great little trailhead with plenty of parking. Just a small jaunt through a residential area to get to it. Only had 2 hours for the trail. Trailhead sits at 5585', we went for 1.8 miles to the Mt. Olympus Wilderness Boundary at 6650'. Todd and I both loved the canyon. A new find for both of us, the trail was steep in places. The first section has been widened for vehicle access. Very rocky in spots. Narrow canyon and the weather was great, so even though we were truckin' it on snow a bit there was no wind. Great views of Antelope Island and some funky rock formations higher up the canyon walls. This is where Mt. Olympus spring water comes from. Trucks take the water from Neffs canyon to a bottling facility in Salt Lake. This canyon will be beautiful in the summer and more so in the fall when the leaves fill in then change color. Lots of deciduous trees. Dogs are permitted as this is not a watershed canyon. Supposed to be 5.5 miles RT. We'll see. Definitely a canyon to get into again.