Terraces - Elbow Fork Trail

The Terraces - Elbow Fork Trail shares the same parking area as the Bowman Fork Trail, and both offer two fun and easy options for local Salt Lake residents. At the early fork you will head straight to access the Terraces Trail, and one of the nice things about this hike is the shade from the tall pine trees as well as its north facing aspect that make it perfect on a hot summer day. The lush vegetation covering the ground along this trail gives the hike a Northwestern feel with thick groves of healthy forest lining the entire south side of Millcreek Canyon. You don't get many views until you are near the crest because of the heavy coverage, but once you are at the top you can see west down the valley and south toward Mount Raymond and the ridgeline separating Millcreek from Big Cottonwood Canyon. There are some wildflowers during the summer months, but there aren't nearly as much as on the nearby Bowman Fork Trail. Just like most hikes in the Wasatch, it's somewhat steep, but it has much cooler temperatures than a lot of other nearby choices. Mountain biking is not allowed on the lower south side of the canyon, which allows hikers to relax a bit, and dogs are allowed off leash on odd numbered days. There are bathrooms and picnic tables at the upper parking lot, and overflow parking exists at the base of the road that leads to the upper lots.