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BOUNTIFUL — If you’re looking for an easy hike with a trail mostly covered in shade and a beautiful view to boot, Elephant Rock is the hike for you.
Located up Mueller Park Canyon in Bountiful, the hike to Elephant Rock is about 6.5 miles roundtrip and takes about 3 to complete at a moderate pace with some picture-taking breaks. The trailhead is located at the base of the canyon.
The trail is fairly wide, which is nice since hikers will likely need to move out of the way multiple times for bikers making the journey to the top and back down. It seems to be a popular trail in the area, and it was pretty crowded Saturday morning. However, that doesn’t keep it from being a pleasant experience.
Even in decently hot weather, the trail stays fairly cool as it is covered in shade most of the time. The hike to the top is a gradual incline and isn’t very difficult, although it may still leave hikers feeling pretty tired at the end due to its length. All in all, it is a very family-friendly outdoor adventure.
The trail is lined with beautiful yellow wildflowers, which only add to an already beautiful pathway. Just off the path are some manmade teepees, which are fun to stop and see.
The top of the trail offers a bench to sit and enjoy a beautiful view of Bountiful, the Great Salt Lake, and of course, a giant rock that is supposed to be shaped like an elephant's ear. I would recommend bringing about 1 liter of water and a snack.
