Rock Canyon is a spectacular canyon in Provo Utah that is popular with trail runners and hikers. It is beautiful in the winter!
It is located directly behind the Provo Temple. Right from the parking lot, you get a view of Utah Lake.
Here are some summer views taken in Rock Canyon.
The mountains right near the entrance are very impressive and look beautiful dusted in snow.
It was snowing off and on during my hike so all of the branches were snow flocked.
The misty clouds and snow limited visibility, but it was sure beautiful!
There is another gate you come to almost right away. If you turn around you can still see Utah Lake.
There are very few junctions on this trail. You can head straight up along this trail to the Rock Canyon overlook and campground (5.7 miles) or you can go 2/3 of the way along this trail and then head left to the top of Kyhv Peak, formerly Squaw Peak (7.3 miles). Of course you can also go up as high as you like and then turn around.
When you are nearly a mile up you start crossing bridges. Sometimes this time of year the trail just goes near them.
This is such a pretty hike!
When you get near the top, the trail winds a bit to the right and you curve around to a stunning overlook. Normally you could look down at Provo and Utah Lake, but the snow limited the view. It was still impressive.
If you go an additional 15 feet you can have an expansive view in the opposite direction. There is actually an additional peak that curves up above center of this photo, but it’s mostly shrouded in the clouds.
I hiked up with my trail sled for extreme sledding on the way down.
Here is a little video clip:
Stats: Distance – 5.7 miles round trip (can turn around at any point to make it shorter)
Approximate hiking time – 2 to 4 hours
Elevation gain – 1722 feet
Difficulty – Moderate
Trail – well maintained trail of dirt and rocks
Bathrooms – At Trailhead
Seasons to hike – Year Round (micro-spikes required in winter)
Permits needed – None
Pets allowed – Yes
Other hikes nearby are the Top of the “Y”, Provo River Parkway, Dry Canyon, and Springdell Cascade.
