Ford Canyon Trail

0.8 mi RT
easy
spring, summer, fall

The Ford Canyon Trail is a fantastic, kid-friendly hike through a picturesque canyon in the heart of Centerville, Utah. Towering trees and Rick’s Creek are the hike’s highlights. At up to 0.8 miles round trip with little elevation gain, this hike is great for beginners and children alike.

Trailhead

The upper trailhead for Ford Canyon is located at 1575 N. Ford Canyon Crossing in Centerville, UT (40.939102, -111.876192). This trailhead is actually located near the middle of the trail but provides a better starting point than parking along the busier lower access point on Main Street (40.938757, -111.879394). No off-street parking is available at either location. The trailhead can be reached from I-15:

Take Exit 319 on I-15 for Centerville/Parrish Lane.
Drive east on Parrish Lane/400 North for approximately 0.6 mile.
Turn left onto Main Street and continue 1.1 miles.
Turn right onto Carrington Lane and continue 0.1 miles.
Turn left onto Ford Canyon Drive, then immediately left again onto Ford Canyon Crossing.
Continue 200 feet to the trailhead on the east side of the road.
The lower trailhead is located at 1514 N. Main Street in Centerville, UT. To reach the lower trailhead, follow the above directions. Instead of turning onto Carrington Lane, proceed 100 yards further north on Main Street to the signed trail on the right side of the road.

The Hike

Due to the lack of off-street parking along the busy Main Street trailhead and better scenery in the upper canyon, hikers may want to begin the Ford Canyon Trail from the upper trailhead on Ford Canyon Crossing. A kiosk and trail map is located here, and plenty of street parking is available.

Begin hiking up the canyon on the trail along Rick’s Creek before arriving at a footbridge. Continue hiking up either side of the creek as the trail forms a loop, eventually arriving at another bridge a little further up the canyon. The trail on the north side of the creek is wider and provides easier walking while the south trail is a bit more rugged and overgrown. Picnic tables are available midway up the north side of the loop.

At the upper bridge, cross the stream and continue back down the other side of the creek. More adventurous hikers may continue up the canyon on a faint trail that travels along each side of the creek. Be cautious of poison ivy and poison oak throughout the canyon, and be respectful of surrounding property owners.

The upper loop is perfect for children and beginners with little elevation change and an easy round-trip hiking distance of about a half mile. The lower Ford Canyon Trail between Main Street and Ford Canyon Crossing is about 0.17 miles long for those hiking the entire length. The lower trail follows the stream a short distance before traveling through an open field and eventually down a driveway to Main Street.

Rules and Regulations

Dogs allowed on leash.
Clean up after pets.
No littering.
Special Considerations

Be cautious of poison ivy and poison oak in Ford Canyon. Signage at the upper trailhead helps hikers identify this natural hazard.
While the stream through Ford Canyon is generally quite small, it can be dangerous, especially during periods of heavy runoff. Watch children closely near the creek.