In recent years, there has been a flurry of new trail building in the Bountiful and North Salt Lake mountains. These trails bring to view hidden gems that were always there but unknown because of the difficulty of traveling the unmarked deer trails to access them. One such gem is a short, family-friendly hike featuring a moss-covered spring in Mueller Park Canyon at the top of 1800 South in Bountiful. It’s about 1.5 miles from the park entrance. 

Once 1800 South crosses Bountiful Blvd, it becomes Mueller Park Rd. A good starting point for the hike is the small parking lot next to a bridge over Mill Creek and the gate to the picnic area. Since the additional trails have been created, walkers are allowed to walk up the road to access the additional scenic trails in the canyon. One of the purposes of all the trail building is to take pressure off the ever-popular Elephant Rock trail that begins across the bridge. On high-traffic days, parking can extend down Mueller Park Road on the sides. 

The hike begins by continuing on the road beyond the gate. Shortly, hikers pass the Kenny Creek trailhead on the left and the picnic grounds on the right. The upper portion of the picnic area contains a large, rock gazebo which is about a half a mile into the hike. Continue walking a short distance until the paved road ends at the water treatment plant. Cross the wooden footbridge across Mill Creek on the right.

The last section of the hike is up winding trails through the towering firs, maples, brush and flowers. Fir trees can be seen along the way whose trunks exceed three feet in diameter suggesting that they are more than 100 years old. The larger creek as well as a few smaller creeks can be heard along the trail. The trail is on the north-facing side of the mountain so snow can linger in patches as spring progresses. A walking stick might be helpful though the trail is not particularly steep. Be watchful, as bikers and even horses may be sharing the trails. After several switchbacks and meandering trails mossy springs will be on the right. The water runs summer and winter allowing verdant, green moss to survive the high-desert-mountain climate. The destination looks like a fairy village complete with many miniature waterfalls. Someone has placed a handful of gnomes on the rocks complementing the effect. A tall fir tree has fallen over the area bridging the spring. 

Continuing in the same direction on the trail, hikers eventually connect to the original Elephant Rock Trail which could allow a loop hike to the parking area. Turning around, however, allows for a kid-friendly three-mile hike over accessible terrain. Though this spot doesn’t have a name yet, it suggests all kinds of fanciful names: Fairy Falls, Hobbit Springs, Moss Hill Springs, or maybe Mossy Springs.