These photos of red rock and arches look like Southern Utah, right? You might be surprised to learn this is actually in Utah County in Northern Utah. Red Ledges and Diamond Fork Arch are a red rock area located in Diamond Fork Canyon near Spanish Fork, Utah. They look especially beautiful covered in fresh snow.
It’s also beautiful with fall leaves.
This isn’t a large red rock wonderland like the five National Parks three to four hours south, but this is still a beautiful place and very different from most of Northern Utah.
This are is called Red Ledges Picnic Area and is in Diamond Fork just east of Spanish Fork. There are a few little holes and small arches we found hiking around.
We saw a few cairns, but there are a number of different ways to climb around. Toddlers could have a great time near the base of Red Ledges. I wouldn’t recommend young children have free reign to climb around, since there are some paths that are steeper or have little drop offs. I think big kids, teens, and adults should be able to navigate safely all over. When it was snowy, we used microspikes and the wetness made the sand stone mud pretty clumpy, so we had to keep kicking the clumps off our shoes.
It’s easier to climb around when the path is dry.
The highlight of the Red Ledges picnic area is near to the road towards the far right side of the parking area. There is a fairly large arch called Diamond Fork Arch. It is shaped kind of like a crescent moon.
It looks a little different depending on your viewpoint. This is an easy 30 foot walk from the parking area and can be viewed from your car if you park on the right side of the lot, so in that way it is accessible.
This is a place for canyoneering, so sometimes you can see rock climbers repelling from the arch.
Please only attempt this if you have the proper skills and equipment.
There are picnic tables and pit toilets. It would be a fun place for a picnic when the weather is a warm.
In the winter we had the place to ourselves mostly, but while we were there another couple came and a family came with sleds. The “sledding hill” is pretty small though.
We spent about 90 minutes and climbed all over, stopping to take photos. It is a fun little adventure, especially if you live within an hour’s drive.
Stats: Distance – 0-1 mile depending on how much you explore
Approximate hiking time – 0-120 minutes
Elevation gain – 0-60 feet
Difficulty – Easy/Moderate
Trail – sand, dirt, and rocks
Bathrooms – Yes
Seasons – Year Round
Permits needed – None
Pets allowed – Yes
Other red rock in Northern Utah is Devil’s Kitchen and nearby Grotto Falls. Other trails nearby are Fifth Water Hot Springs, Escalante Cross, and Dripping Rock Falls.
