Wardsworth Canyon Trail
Length: 7.4 miles - Out n’ Back
40.19555, -111.39178
Wardsworth Canyon Trail is easy walking (excellent mountain biking), with the exception of a few short but steep side-skirts from the stream where flooding has washed out the original trail. Overall, the trail extends along and parallel to the Wardsworth Creek, a year-round flow with numerous pools to temp the angler. the stream contains mostly Cutthroats and Brown trout. Keep your eyes out for beaver dams after the first couple of miles. Wardsworth Canyon trail intersects Dry Canyon cutoff(128 and 128A). After the 128 intersection the Wardsworth trail is no longer being maintained. - Forest Service
Ranger District - Spanish Fork (801-798-3571)
Best season to hike: Summer - Fall
To get to the trail head, Enter Hobble Creek Canyon and take the right fork just after the golf course. You will pass Jolley’s Ranch, Cherry Campground, and Balsam Campground. The trail head is about half a mile past Balsam Campground and on your left hand side. When the pavement turns to gravel, you have arrived. There is also a sign indicating “Wardsworth Canyon”.
Hiking, Horses, and Mountain Bikes are allowed on this trial. Please remember that Bikes yield to people, and all yield to horses.
This is a perfect hike to start early in the morning and enjoy your lunch alongside the rolling water of Wardsworth Creek. Even though this hike can be done in a couple of hours, you could spend the whole day in Wardsworth Canyon.
Use caution with smaller hikers as there are a few spots along the trial that have been washed out from the spring runoffs.
This is bear and cougar country. For the most part the noise from other hikers in the area may spook off the wildlife. But carry bear spray just to be safe. The day that we hiked this trail the Balsam Campground just down the road from this trail head was open when we started the hike, and gated off and closed after our hike due to bear activity.
This is one hike that we will be doing again and again. It’s also one of the first hikes that none of the kids really complained on. There was always something around ever corner that caught their eye and kept them curious to continue to explore.