Bowman Fork Trail to White Fir Pass

Another fun hike in Mill Creek Canyon is Bowman Fork Trail. While Winter and I only hiked up to White Fir Pass with our friends the evening we ventured out, the trail continues on to Gobblers Knob and Mt. Raymond. The adventure started off on the wrong foot, but ended up with a great view and easy hike back down the trail. All the “dog moms” and Winter, Lucy, and Nobie got a great hike in. It is 3.5 miles round trip to White Fir Pass with 1,300 feet of elevation gain (per All Trails).

Bowman Fork Trail

Fair warning, know where you are going before you head into Mill Creek Canyon and always send your friends the meet up location. Don’t just trust whatever maps service you use. Winter, Myself, Nobie and his mom all started the hike at Porter Fork Road. Lucy and her mom started the hike at the actual trail head about half a mile up the road in Terrace Picnic Area. We all mutually waited 20 minutes at the “trail head” for the other people and doggos to show up before starting our hike. Of course we were all in different spots and didn’t know it. Eventually we all headed up the trail separately and didn’t end up meet up until we got to White Fir Pass.

BUT, on to the trail description for those who are here for that. When you start at Porter Fork Road the first mile of the hike is on the road. You meet up with the real trail about 0.25 miles into it. When you start at Terrace Picnic Area, you get right into the trail. The ACTUAL trail follows a creek for the first 1.25 miles. The dogs loved running in and out of the water chasing each other and playing. The creek is overgrown in areas making it even more fun for the pups who played a fun game of hide and seek. There are also several creek crossings and typical forest service bridges over the creeks. Winter managed to get her paw stuck between the planks on one of them, thankfully I was able to get her unstuck before she started to freak out.

The trail turns away from the creek and the next 0.5 miles to White Fir Pass are steep elevation gain. The views at the pass are great! You can see Gobblers Knob and Mt. Raymond. Because we started our hike in the evening we didn’t venture any farther up the trail. I do plan to be back and hike up to Mt. Raymond. True to myself, I couldn’t resist a chance to have a photo shoot with Winter. And of course Nobie and Lucy’s moms’ were all about it as well.

Before you go

The actual Bowman Fork trail head is located in the Terrace Picnic Area. Instead of taking me there Google Maps took me to the Porter Fork Road gate. While this does get you to Bowman Fork Trail, it is not the correct/official trail head as I learned and adds about a mile to your hike. So lesson learned… Don’t let your GPS fool you into parking in the wrong spot for this trail head.

Mill Creek Canyon does charge a fee per vehicle. It is just $5 and they do offer a year pass as well! You pay on your way out of the canyon. Fair warning… don’t forget your wallet. I 100% forgot mine on this hike. Luckily my friend bailed me out and paid the fee for me because I have yet to break down and get the annual pass.

A huge plus to this canyon as well is they allow dogs off-leash on ODD days. So for example: 2/13, 2/15, etc. you can have your dog off-leash. EVEN days the trails require dogs on leash, and they allow mountain biking on these day as well. Another convenient benefit is toilets at each trailhead. The canyon has TONS of hiking options year-round, and even more during the summer and fall seasons when the winter gate is open!

Enjoying all of Winter and my adventures? Check out more hiking and trips we have taken on our archives page! More hikes in Mill Creek Canyon and across Utah are also featured here!