Here is the hike we just did today. It was ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!!
Drove up Millcreek Canyon, parked at the Birch Hollow portion of the Pipeline Trail, started walking WEST for less than 1/8 of a mile. At that point you'll see a sign and a trail that starts up the mountain heading NorthEast. That is the Birch Hollow Trail. We wanted to get some elevation walking in so we took that trail, which has about 6 switchbacks before you get to a beautiful little overlook area. We stopped there, then went back down and continued heading WEST on the Pipeline Trail. That is 1.6 miles from the Birch Hollow parking lot and the intersection of Grandeur Peak Trail and Pipeline. When we got to the intersection, head down the trail through the Church Fork area, passing SEVERAL BEAUTIFUL WATERFALLS along the way!!! It's absolutely gorgeous!!! Then we stayed on the road and walked back up to our car which took us only 30 minutes to get to. I know Lana isn't fond of walking along the road but right now it's really nice to do that hike as a loop. The road is much shorter than taking the trail back, plus you have to see all the beautiful waterfalls in Church Fork. This hike today was mostly level or downhill, except for the first part that we did which was probably 1/4 of a mile up to the scenic overlook area on that Birch Hollow Trail portion. We started on the trail about 9:15 am then got to the Road at 11:10 - almost 2 hours since we took lots of great photos of the waterfalls! It took only 30 min. to walk up the road and back to our car, passing another pretty waterfall across from Log Haven. It was fantastic!!! This is where I'm going to have my local Saturday hikers go this weekend. Do the loop! You see a lot of things that you can never really see when you are driving up the canyon.
