The Salt Lake City foothills have dozens of popular trails that people hike time after time. But there are still lesser-known trails out there that see very little traffic. The Miners Trail in Emigration Canyon is one such place. The Miners Trail is a 4.8-mile round-trip hike that follows an old jeep road once used by prospectors. The path has since become narrow and overgrown and is more singletrack now. It begins in Burr Fork near homes on Pinecrest Canyon Road and ends at a ridge overlooking Red Butte Canyon and the Salt Lake Valley.
The trailhead is marked by a sign that states, “Attention Big Game Hunters! Archery-Only Hunting Area.” There are a few spaces for cars and the trail is found on the left by a metal gate. From there, the trail parallels the road south through scrub-oak forest for 0.70 miles where it makes a sharp turn at a large overlook with views of the Wasatch Mountains. Here the trail heads northwest.
After the big turn, the path becomes more interesting. Rock outcrops sprout out of the hillside to the right, and big views of the Salt Lake Valley and surrounding mountains spread out to the west. About 1.5 miles into the hike, you’ll see a jumble of boulders and small cliffs on the right that are covered in trees. This is where an old mine can be found. Explore at your own risk because abandoned mines are never a safe place to linger.
Two miles into the hike, the trail enters heavy timber of old-growth evergreens – a nice place to find shade. From here, the trail becomes much more steep as it heads due west, crosses a small stream, and goes straight up the mountainside. Loose dirt and rocks make footing a bit slippery here, and at times, the trail becomes difficult to follow as it is overgrown and winds through heavy brush.
At the top, you enter a small meadow at a saddle overlooking Red Butte Canyon, which stretches out to the west down to Salt Lake City. This is the end of the hike as described here, but more trails can be hiked to the left (down into Red Butte Canyon) or to the right (up to another, higher ridgeline with more viewpoints.)
As far as hikes in the Salt Lake area go, the Miners Trail is pretty good. The views are there, you can take your dog, and chances are you won’t have to elbow your way through lots of other people. This is one of those rare, urban hikes that few know about.
Getting There: To get to the Miners trail from Salt Lake City, go east on 800 south past the Zoo and This is the Place Park until it enters Emigration Canyon. Drive up the canyon for about seven miles to where it splits at a fork. Go left onto Pinecrest Canyon Road for 1.7 miles where you’ll find the trailhead at a parking pullout on the left.