Granite Flats Campground Towards Alpine Deer Creek/Dry Creek Canyon

Waterfall on Dry Creek Trail between Granite Flats and Alpine

Granite Flats Campground Towards Alpine Deer Creek/Dry Creek Canyon Heading Northward

While hiking Dry Creek/ (Horsetail Falls) on the South side of the river of few months ago, I saw a big sign and a split off to another trail.   Of course I was curious, and a few weeks ago while driving through Granite Flats Campground I found the other end of this trail.  Deer Creek/Dry Creek Trail goes from Alpine to American Fork.  There is beautiful views of lots of pine covered mountains, 2 small waterfalls.  This is the trail to Box Elder Peak also.  We hiked the trail for 3 miles before we had to turn around.  It was a steep climb, but pretty.  I guess if you turn toward Box Elder peak you have to literally grab tree to tree and pull yourself up to the top because it is steep and you have to climb through a thick treeline.  If you are wondering,  what makes this canyon special enough for me to put the effort here, then one answer is the FLOWERS.  Many photographers take pictures of the upper areas of American Fork Canyon for the fields of flowers are so beautiful.  They were just starting, but there were many on their way. That and a cool waterfall, gorgeous views off tops of mountain tops make it a great trail.

So the trail from Granite Flats Campground has 3 main destinations.  1. Granite trail goes North West and still can get to top of Box Elder, but it has beautiful views of the Salt lake Valley.  2.  The second is the main route called Deer Creek/Dry Canyon and its goal is to get to Alpine and come down just under the Horse Tail Falls on the South side of the river.  3.  The third goal it to head towards Alpine on Deer Creek/Dry Canyon and then take a left and stay on the ridgeline up to the top of  Box Elder Peak for gorgeous views all around.

Here is a good website for more information about how the 3 trails merge.
  https://www.wasatchhiker.com/home/wasatch-trails/boxelder-drycreek

Our goal was to explore up this canyon for 2 hours or about 3 miles and we stayed on the Deer Creek/Dry Canyon trail.

 We started at the Granite Flats Campground and parked in the trail parking

The trail runs beside this little stream.  

Stream by Granite Flats Campground on Deer Creek Dry Creek North Canyon Trail to Alpine

The cute stream decided here on the trail that they trail was easier to run along than the riverbed.  it made for fun hiking getting from stone to stone. :)

I made a mistake and did these backward.  I told my hiking buddy that no one really looks behind, but then I messed up and filmed this in reverse, so we are going to go backwards, and start at the top and see the hike in reverse.  It is funner going down anyway then up, we are just going the wrong direction.

Gorgeous these look like a Twincrest Onion, but I am not sure that is correct. 

Here is the view from where we turned around.  You can see Box Elder Mountain the the west.  We hiked 3 miles and we are not yet to the meadow or to the turn off to box Elder Peak. If you look around and walk forward you can see quite a few wild flowers around on the trail.

I have always been intrigued by these Penstemon flowers  on the right, for they look like they have eyes looking at you, and a tongue sticking out.  :)

Waterfall on Dry Creek Trail between Granite Flats and Alpine

Go back from here and you can see the waterfall.  

Video of the Waterfall 

Above the tree line up here, so there are just lots and lots of different types of flowers to see. 

Towering Jacob's Ladder Flower

Lots and lots of Switchbacks to work the way up (or down for you :) the mountain here.

Stopping to admire these Morning Primroses still in bloom this morning.  

Buckwheat Flower

The trail is narrow at times, but it is well maintained and well defined.

Wild Roses Starting to come out.

W

Beach Pea

Forget Me Not Flowers in Canyon from Granite Flat Campground to Alpine

The first part of the trail was my most favorite part, but it was still a little disheartening when I realized that not only were we next to a road, but we had to cross it twice, AND there was parking spots about a half mile up the trail where we could have parked and saved ourselves some hiking.

Ragwort Flowers and Arrowleaf Balsamroot Flower. 

Sweet Pea Flowers and Bell Flower

If you liked this area and would like to see more, Click on the Google Earth Link

Granite Deer Creek Dry Canyon North Mountain Trail Google Earth Link

Then click on the little dude on the bottom and any blue line or Dot where you want to see more. 

You will notice some pretty sections of yellow flowers, and you will also notice how  close this trail is to 2 of my favorite hikes, 

SILVER LAKE

Link to Silver Lake American Fork

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and 

Silver Lake Glance

Link to Silver Lake Glance

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and

Silver Lake Flat Reservoir

Link to Silver Lake Flat

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and

Tibble Fork Reservoir

Link to Tibble Fork Reservoir

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and

Pine Hallow Loop Trail

Link to Pine Hallow

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Below are some of my favorite Hiking Essentials.  Check them out! Any pennies that come in from your support of this blog can help keep this blog going.

I have an older version of this Camelbak, but I love it.  I have taken it all over the world.  It has lots of good pockets and if something goes wrong with the water system  I just call them up and they send me a replacement.  I just love that about them.

For most women, big pockets and belts are not something we often have, but not having quick access to your phone while hiking can be frustrating. This awesome phone case straps on my shoulder straps of my backpack and gives me super easy access to my phone whenever I need it, while being easy to store. I LOVE this!
 
Below is my External GPS I use.  I use it with All Trails app on my phone and a Downloaded Offline Google Map of the area, and it helps me a lot while hiking.  Of course you always want a paper map, but this is awesome and SO helpful.

Hiking in the winter can be so much fun if you have the right gear.  I have these spikes that I carry in my backpack and when the trail gets slippery, I just slip these on and I am good!  Spikes are such a great asset to have on a trail.  I have watched people sliding and stressed out on these trails and they wish they had these for they make hiking in slippery situations no big deal, and a good pair of wool socks can keep feet warm, but yet keep the moisture off your feet.

I have a few pairs of hiking shoes and boots.  The Solomon's are great waterproof shoes, but my foot is just a little too small for these.  I then bought a pair of Northface hiking shoes.  They are great shoes also and I have lots of miles on these also.  These were a little too small for my feet, but no other complaints.  I only started looking for a new pair when I twisted my ankle one too many times and I wanted a light weight boot.  I decided on Hoka One One boots for how light weight they are, how waterproof they are, the AMAZING traction (I am shocked and ho well these grip slick rock areas),  and how cushy they are to walk in. It is like walking on a cloud.  I only have had issues with this boot that it does not help me with my pains from my bad feet in my shins or calf area.  I get this with other shoes, but I think a high top doesn't help.

A great set of hiking sticks that is good quality is so important to me.  It helps me so that I can use my arms to lighten the workout on my legs when climbing, and helps me have at least 3 points to stabilize me on hard climbs or descents.

A headlamp in the backpack is always an important thing.  Sometimes hiking in the dark is planned and it is so enjoyable to hike down a trail and see the city lights below or a gorgeous sunset. Sometimes though the hike just took longer than expected and it is crucial to have.  Sometimes you might just be lucky and run across a lava tube or a cave and that is also a blessing to have a nice bright headlamp that will do a great job.  This headlamp has been amazing.  They are super bright, and just plug into the wall to charge (just don't leave it too long plugged in.

I don't like to leave a trace while hiking, but sometimes nature calls, so these biowipes with a light shovel makes the mark I make quickly fade away.

Everyone has their favorite hiking snacks that give them just the right amount of energy to finish the trail. Here are some snacks that are most often in my backpack.  We love the Korean Barbeque Jerky that is so soft and delicious.  I have tried many energy bars, but Cliff bars are my go to for they seem to give me the most energy.