The quiet retreat of Millcreek Canyon is unique. Tucked between the endless traffic of Parleys and the busy highway of Big Cottonwood, Millcreek Canyon by comparison is narrow, natural, serene. Millcreek’s winding riverside road leads not to a town, nor a resort, nor even another road, but instead dead ends at a trailhead parking lot — a place where people travel specifically to enjoy nature.
Thus, it is a tragedy that Salt Lake County, the U.S. Forest Service, Millcreek City, various community councils and a group of engineers and contractors have drafted plans to turn upper Millcreek Canyon into just another busy road.
Using $20 million of federal FLAP grant funding plus an additional contribution of $5 million in local taxpayer money, the group’s design options range from adding a bike lane to the upper canyon road to nearly tripling the road width in certain areas. Their plans necessitate chopping down countless trees, replacing hillsides with unsightly retaining walls and even rerouting Millcreek stream in some sections.
With no regard for the creatures who live there and minimal thought for the countless people who use the upper canyon as a biking, hiking, and skiing trail for eight months of the year when the upper canyon road is closed, this group plans to forever change the landscape of upper Millcreek.
Admittedly, the group came together for good reason: to increase road safety and accessibility for canyon users. Yet the planned road expansion is entirely unnecessary because the safest and best way for people to enjoy upper Millcreek is not to add retaining walls that disrupt the natural scenery and wildlife habitat; not to widen the road in a way that would dangerously increase vehicle speeds; not to straighten the road and thus destroy the enticing curves of the road as a trail; not to reroute the beautiful springs and creek that were so recently restocked with native fish; not to add more vehicles, noise, and exhaust to this scenic spot; but instead to keep the upper canyon gate closed all year.
Closing the upper canyon to cars all year will allow canyon users to enjoy the natural setting they are seeking, and also let the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) grant funding to be used in ways that demonstrate good stewardship of Millcreek’s unique environment. The upper canyon pedestrian trail would need minimal improvements, leaving funds available for the heavily used lower canyon road. All canyon users would benefit from improvements to the lower canyon, including its inadequate bike lane, numerous potholes, crumbling road shoulder and unpaved parking areas for popular trailheads like Grandeur Peak, Porter Fork and Birch Hollow.
Funding could certainly be applied toward reducing overall car traffic up the canyon by adding a park-and-ride lot at the bottom of the canyon (perhaps where the glass recycling and virtually unused Mill Creek “Park” currently sit stuck between the roaring traffic of I-215, Wasatch Boulevard and 3800 South).
Another forethoughtful investment would be an e-bike rental station at the bottom of the canyon and at the upper canyon gate, providing a fun and easy way for people to access the upper canyon trails. Stocking e-bike rentals equipped with large carrier bins would allow canyon visitors to transport children, dogs and picnic supplies to the upper canyon sites, while adding bike racks with locks at the trailheads and picnic areas would ensure that bikes don’t go astray.
As the current stewards of Millcreek Canyon, we all are responsible for maintaining this pristine place for current and future users. Right now we have the opportunity to create something special: a pedestrian pathway for all people to enjoy, one that maintains the natural beauty of Millcreek’s unique mountain setting. Although this plan may be an extreme change from the current canyon road, it is significantly preferable to the alternate extreme of forever damaging the slopes, forests, springs and creek of the upper canyon with retaining walls and culverts.
All who care about Millcreek Canyon — whether you support making improvements to the lower canyon road, would like to see e-bike or park-and-ride options, or would like to preserve the road as it is now or as a pedestrian trail — should act now by providing feedback at slco.org/planning-transportation/millcreek-road-improvements.
Melanie Topham
Melanie Topham has been a lifelong hiker, trail runner, biker, skier, advocate and volunteer in the Salt Lake County canyons.
