Am I really the first person to review this trail? Because I see people here all of the time. It's…read moreprobably one of the more well-used trails in Millcreek Canyon, and for good reason: it provides a nice little workout, some easy level terrain cruising, and a nice payoff view at the end.
Do take the time to familiarize yourself with Millcreek Canyon, the rules, the trails, the trailheads, the fees, and more. It's super close to SLC and it's well used, and it's got a few things you need to know. As a basic primer, though, know that dogs are allowed up here off leash on odd numbered days, you have to pay a nominal fee to use the canyon, and the trail system winds around and connects up with other trails, other canyons, and can go by different names. Just have a map handy and you'll be just fine.
Rattlesnake Gulch itself is just that: a gulch on the north side of the road that carves up the middle of Millcreek Canyon, and it's the southern exposure. It's one of the first areas that is freed up from snow in the winter as it's low enough in elevation to not get too terribly snowpacked. The trailhead sits on the north side of the road, at roughly 3/4 of a mile after you pass the fee station.
Strictly speaking, the Rattlesnake Gulch portion of this hike is only about .7 miles long. It runs straight up the belly of the gulch through somewhat steep terrain, with good maple and oak cover, until finally meeting up with the Pipeline Trail (listed separately here on Yelp). Most people who do this hike, though, don't just end at the Pipeline Trail, they head west on the Pipeline Trail and take it to the bend that overlooks the Salt Lake Valley. This portion is nearly flat, but totally exposed to sun. You can technically continue down the trail from there further, but most folks stop. The views are incredible, but for my money, the best views are near dusk when the last sun hits the canyon walls just across from you.
To do that entire portion--from the trailhead, up Rattlesnake Gulch, and to the overlook on the Pipeline Trail, is about 1.8 miles each way. That makes it a lovely after-work 3.6 mile adventure that shouldn't take much longer than 1.5-2 hrs depending on how long you sit there and gaze.
I did just that the last time I was here. I came up the Gulch, hit the Pipeline, and then just gazed at the overlook. It's amazing the insights you can get when you just listen. I just sat there and let the wind hit me, watched the sun eek out its last few rays of the day, and I looked at the city below. I thought about a lot of things, about trails, about the paths we take, and about trees. I thought about Rattlsenake Gulch, and how it sounds scary, and it's a lot of work to climb up, but I thought about the payoff. I thought about how we go through long, hard times that hurt, but that when we do hard things that scare us, if we just picture the destination we can take the courage we need to get from point A to point B. We can get from where we are to where we want to be. And when we do get to where we want to be, it's really worth it. Join me at the overlook, ya?
