Hidden Oaks Trail (Snell Canyon)

Stats

Length:	6.00 miles
Difficulty:	Strenuous
Estimated Hike Time:	4 Hours
Trail Type:	Out and Back
Elevation Low:	5,289 feet
Elevation High:	8,044 feet
Total Elevation Gain:	2,755 feet
Optimal Season:	Mid Spring to Late Fall
Best Access Point:	Spanish Fork

Summary

A beautiful hidden gem of a hike that goes from mild to wild...literally!

Hike Images

Overview

This hike is a wonderful hike that will take you from the Spanish Oaks Campground to the top of Snell Canyon with awesome views of the surrounding mountains and Utah Valley.

Directions

gps coordinates of trailhead:

40.069067, -111.599103

Trail Information

Detailed Description: The Trail starts out using the same trail head as the Escalante Cross trail. There are two parts of this hike, the Lower Canyon and Upper Canyon.

Lower Canyon: The hike itself starts going slightly down and once you get to the bottom of the ravine it will start to climb through scrub oak and maple trees. After about a quarter mile the trail will split, one looping back toward the mouth of Snell Canyon then other continuing up. Take the trail to the right, there is a marker here as well. The lower canyon is extremely well marked. Not only is the trail well defined you will also see wooden markers along the way. The trees here form a canopy through the walk making it a lot cooler (both in temperature and in scenery). If you are traveling in the fall, you will see both raspberries and ground grapes (Oregon grapes), or wild spearmint. After about a mile, you will come to a rock cliff and if you are not paying attention you may keep hiking along the bottom of the cliff. This actually is the wrong trail and will lead you to a dead end. The trail actually turns and climbs the opposite side of the mountain (see map section below). This will lead you to the Upper Canyon.

Upper Canyon: The two switchbacks are pretty steep, climbing close to 300 feet in a 1/10 of a mile. Volunteers from Spanish Fork have done well with improving this part of the trail by cutting away vegetation and . From the top of the switchbacks you will see a great view of Utah Valley starting in Spanish Fork all the way to Mt Timpanogos. After you get to the top, the trail will level out and follow the bottom of the canyon again. At this point you will notice that the trail pretty much disappears and you will be following the ravine and you will have to do some bushwhacking to get through. There are a few side ravines on the west side of the canyon here that will lead to a saddle up on top. From here you will see the southern half of Utah Valley such as Woodland Hills, Payson, and Utah Lake. You could hike down Flat Canyon on the other side which will dump you out near the east side of Salem. The upper canyon is three quarters of a mile longer and you will go a lot slower. If you are hiking early in the season you will run into snow on the trail. I have run into this late into May and early June. Make sure you step lightly since some of the snow will be deep and soft and you will sink up to your waist in some places if you are not careful. From here you will wind around the ravine for another half a mile and from here you will start head to the top of the pass. You will see this get closer as the skyline starts to get lower on the horizon. You will also start to see a lot more aspen as you climb. At the top you will see Thurber Canyon, Highway 6 and Spanish Fork Peak on the on the east and north, and looking south you will see Loafer Mountain, Santaquin Peak, and Tower Mountain. There is a road right below that will lead to to the translator station atop Tower Mountain.

Additional Info: Make sure you bring bug spray, especially in the summer months. The canyon winds from Spanish Fork Canyon is strong enough at the trailhead that there are few mosquitoes, but further up in this canyon there is a natural wind breaker and the bugs will be thicker here. Since this canyon is north facing, it doesn't get a lot of sunlight and stays most year round, especially around the rock falls and melting snow banks.

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Posted By: Adam Gilbert

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