Recently renovated to make it more accessible for walkers and bikers, a loop trail connects the popular hiking destinations of Mueller Park Canyon in Bountiful and North Canyon in North Salt Lake. Nature enthusiasts find themselves on the back side of Pyramid Peak (Cave Peak) surrounded by mountains within a few miles from the trailhead. Though hikes out and back in both canyons are possible, the hike up one canyon and down the other is incomparable. Hikers and bikers can arrange pick-up at one canyon or the other or simply complete the loop by traveling a few miles along Bountiful Boulevard back to their start point. Before the renovation, the loop required traveling all the way to Rudy’s Flat, a camping destination a few miles from Elephant Rock (Big Rock). The renovation created a shortcut cutting out length and less accessible parts of the trail with switchbacks to make the over a 1,000 feet of elevation gain more gradual and easier. 

The best place to start the trail is at the Mueller Park Trailhead. Parking is limited at the trailhead, but street parking is available just down from the trailhead. The trailhead starts at the first bridge crossing on Mill Creek before the entrance to the picnic area and immediately begins with four switchbacks which get you up in the air with awesome views of the valley within a half a mile. Horseback riders, bikers, walkers, and runners all love this trail so be aware of places to step to the side to allow others to pass. After the elevation gain within the first mile, the trail levels and hugs the side of the mountain with slight downhills into the cool creeks followed by breathtaking vistas as the trail winds back out to the saddle. Views of the big gray rock which resembles an elephant mark the endpoint for many there-and-back people. The Mueller Park section of trail has many springs, boardwalks, and bridges. The Bridge right before the rock has been reported as flooded with the heavy spring runoff. Snow often lingers in this north-facing section of the trail during spring. When you come to the fork right next to Elephant Rock, take a break and slide down the mountain a bit to scale the famous rock. It feels like being suspended at the edge of a large canyon with views of several cities and the Great Salt Lake. To continue to loop, go back the short distance to the fork and continue up the mountain. You can access Rudy’s Flat and lengthen the loop, but if you want the new trail that takes you straight to the North Canyon descent, avoid going to the flats. In this section, you are more likely to find solitude, as well as stunning mountain views. The trail leads you to the North Canyon road that bisects Bountiful Boulevard where you can bike or walk back to the Mueller Park road. The mountain trail from canyon to canyon takes three to four hours to hike, so arranging a ride at the other end may be best. If riding a bike, however, it is easy to take the paved streets back to where you started. For nature lovers, the beauty and novelty of this one-way trail is a must.