Spring Creek Canyon, Utah

Spring Creek Canyon, just south of Kanarraville, is a gorgeous canyon hike that transitions from wide valley to deep narrows. The six mile round trip is scenic throughout, offering views of the meandering stream, eroding sandstone, and towering trees growing within the canyon. My first hike there was with Tom on a blustery morning in the beginning of April and I was immediately impressed though the clouds and high canyon walls shadowed much of the vivid colors that I would see on my later trip. Still, moments of sun that reached into the canyon revealed glowing orange walls, fantastic carved shapes in the rock, green conifers growing on ledges, and hints of the coming spring season. When I returned three weeks later with Terry there was both more blue in the sky and more green in the leafed-out trees and blooming plants, adding to the appeal. In addition, that hike was done in the afternoon which allowed a warmer, softer light into the canyon, illuminating different features and highlighting contrasts between the greening trees and warm colors of the sandstone.