Utah Hike of the Week: Monrovian Park in central Utah

This hike follows along a babbling brook into a stunning canyon in one of Utah’s less-visited areas.

Directions •Take Monroe's Main Street south to the end of town, where it bends southeast near a parking area and map kiosk just north of 800 South. Here the road becomes Monroe Canyon Road. Follow it southeast into the canyon, where it winds between the cliffs. The spur road to Monrovian Park is about 2.8 miles from the map kiosk, and it is signed. Take that spur about a quarter-mile to the parking area, where the road ends at a gate.

Hike • Pass through the gate and walk southeast on the wide trail that runs southwest of the creek. Soon you will see a bridge to the picnic area to the east. Leave the main trail, which is washed out by the river just ahead, and cross the bridge to continue on the footpath that follows the stream on the east. It will rejoin the main trail after about a tenth of a mile. Walk on the trail as it continues south along the east side of the stream, over scree piles and in and out of groves.

I turned back after just 0.6 mile because the trail was no longer clear under the snow. But U.S. Geological Survey maps and satellite images show the trail continuing south another 1.2 miles before it turns northeast into another drainage and rises another mile or so to switchbacks that lead to a network of ATV trails. There appears to be much to explore in this area.