Conditions Right Now
Use sunset as your turnaround alarm.
Why Hike This
The opening switchbacks are sandy and exposed, which makes people think they picked wrong, and then the trail joins the Bonneville Shoreline and drops into the canyon where the creek and the shade start. From there it is a genuinely pretty walk to a 40 foot falls at the head of the canyon, with a log bridge and a few steep rocky pitches along the way. The trailhead has a restroom and a drinking fountain, which is more than most Davis County canyons offer.
The Trail
Creekside shade to a lovely falls - Davis County classic.
Pack Loadout (Moderate)
2 liters water, trail shoes, sun layer, snacks, small first-aid kit.
Getting There
Make it a weekend: Kaysville Ponds (Fishing, 2 mi) · Farmington Pond (Fishing, 6 mi) · Steed Pond (Clearfield) (Fishing, 6 mi) · Jensen Nature Park Pond (Syracuse) (Fishing, 7 mi)
More hikes nearby: Waterfall Canyon (Hike, 9 mi) · Frary Peak (Hike, 17 mi) · Ensign Peak (Hike, 19 mi) · Ben Lomond via North Skyline (Hike, 21 mi)
Quick Answers
- How long is the Adams Canyon hike?
- 3.5 miles round trip with 1512 feet of elevation gain.
- How hard is Adams Canyon?
- Moderate. Kid rating: 3 out of 5.
- When should I hike Adams Canyon?
- Best season: April-Nov.
- Why hike Adams Canyon?
- Because the payoff is a 40 foot waterfall at the back of a creek-lined canyon, only 3.5 miles round trip from a Layton neighborhood. The opening climb is hot and sandy and it puts people off, but the canyon itself is shaded and cool once you drop into it.