Incorporated as a city in December of 2016, the city of Millcreek, Utah borders the capital city of Salt Lake City and encompasses beautiful and scenic views, a diverse population, an award winning and sustainable City Hall (to be completed in Summer 2023), and is known as a highly desirable part of Salt Lake County to live. Millcreek was named a Monarch City for it’s dedication to planting pollinator plants in its streetscapes and encouraging neighboring cities and residents to create a habitat by planting native milkweed plants which produce needed nectar for the monarch butterfly.
Skating and Food Trucks at Millcreek Common
Millcreek Common is the new town square for the city of Millcreek. Residents of Millcreek voted to build a new City Hall for the new city, and create a community space for events and entertainment. Millcreek Common will be home to a state-of-the-art and sustainable City Hall with a climbing wall located on the side of the building. This will be the first public building in the nation with an attached climbing wall available to the public. City Hall will also be home to a public market on the ground level and will hold various farmer’s markets throughout the year.
In addition to the new building and climbing wall, Millcreek Common is home to Utah’s largest outdoor skating ribbon. Ice skate rentals are available every day of the week during the winter, and roller skate rentals are available from May thru October. Pizza Nono and Normal Ice Cream are making a permanent home on Millcreek Common, and Thursday nights have a rotating lineup of food trucks to enjoy on the Common. Enjoy fire pits in the winter months and a splash pad with shade pavilions during the summer months.
Millcreek Canyon
Located on the East side of the Salt Lake valley, Millcreek Canyon is in the Wasatch Mountain range and a popular recreation area in all seasons. Millcreek Canyon is maintained by the U.S. Forest Service and does have a fee of $5 per car to exit the canyon. This fee is in place to help preserve and maintain the canyon.
Residents enjoy a variety of activities in Millcreek Canyon. Mountain biking is allowed on the upper trails of Millcreek Canyon on even-numbered days, and allowed on the lower trails on all days. Many residents and neighbors enjoy road bicycling up and down the canyon. Those bicycling on the road are subject to the same rules as drivers, and drivers should be aware of bicyclists headed both up and down the canyon.
Millcreek Canyon is a popular destination for hiking and for bringing your dogs. Dogs are allowed in the canyon every day of the week since Millcreek Canyon is not considered a watershed canyon like Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons. However, dogs must be leashed on even numbered days and are allowed off-leash on odd numbered days – dogs must be leashed in all developed areas, trail heads, roads, and picnic areas on all days. The top half of Millcreek Canyon is closed from November 1 thru July 1 to vehicle traffic
There are many popular trails in Millcreek Canyon including:
Desolation Trail to Salt Lake Overlook – this trail is located on the south side of the canyon just passed Millcreek Inn and can be found at the Desolation Trail head. This is a moderate hike with several switchbacks that lead to beautiful views of the Salt Lake Valley. This trail is very popular in the summer months. Many would be surprised to know it’s just as busy in the winter months with snowshoers.
The Pipeline Trail is a family-friendly trail that is easy for kids and has several access points – including the Rattlesnake, Elbow Fork, Church Fork, and Burch Hollow trailheads.
The Dog Lake/Big Water Trail is a popular trail with both hikers, dog lovers, and mountain bikers. You’ll find access to this trail at the top of the canyon at the Big Water trailhead. This is a moderate hike that will lead you to Dog Lake and has stunning colors in the fall.
The Alexander Basin Trail is another popular trail that is filled with wildflowers and scenic views of the Millcreek ridgeline. It is located on the south side of the canyon and you can access Gobblers Knob from this trail. Be forewarned, this is a steep hike!
Millcreek Canyon also has numerous picnic sites that are available for reservations beginning in March for the summer season. One of the most popular picnic sites is Church Forks with a stream and waterfall that run next to the picnic sites. Many of the sites are available for reservation with other picnic tables available as first come-first served. Most picnic sites have a fire pit and access to nearby restrooms.
Visit Shred Row
Utah is known for the “Greatest Snow On Earth”! If you’ve ever had the chance to ski or snowboard at one of our world-class resorts then you know how gnarly it can be to shred our pow. If you’re looking to gear up, buy discount lift passes, try the latest skies or snowboards then you’ll want to take a visit down 3300 South in East Millcreek – affectionately known as “Shred Row”.
You’ll be able to find all the latest in ski, snowboard, skate, hiking, camping, watersports and more outdoor activities within the multiple stores lining 3300 South. Many of these stores have been in business for decades and are not only locally owned businesses, but leaders in the outdoor snow-sports retail business. Drop in and get geared up to shred the greatest snow on earth!
Jordan River Parkway Trail
The Jordan River is a tributary that runs into the Great Salt Lake and is host to wildlife and unique birds. For many years the trail diverted across a bridge to the Taylorsville side of the river which left Millcreek with no access to the trail. The city of Millcreek recently started on an addition to the Jordan River Parkway Trail which will be accessed from 3900 South and will connect via bridge to the rest of the trail.
Climb Indoors at Momentum Climbing Gym
Looking to get some energy out of the kids who are always climbing all over the furniture? Now they can climb indoors and work out that energy! Momentum Indoor Climbing Gym is perfect for climbers of all ability levels and all walks of life. Momentum Millcreek offers the first 15 meter speed wall in America! Even Olympic climbers stop by Momentum to get a climb in and train. You’ll find some of the most consistently steep climbing of any gym.
Momentum offers 40,000 square feet of climbing terrain with over 180 routes and over 100 boulders! Momentum Millcreek offers fitness classes to its members, including yoga and youth programs – summer and winter camps, and a youth climbing club.
Parks
Millcreek and Salt Lake County offer a variety of parks for families, picnics, and more. Here are some of the best parks to enjoy a picnic, walk the dogs, play on the playground, or fly a kite with the mountains as your backdrop!
Big Cottonwood Regional Park (4300 S 1300 E)
Known as a regional park due to the different play areas, Big Cottonwood Regional Park has a fenced-in baseball diamond with four different playing fields. The complex also has bathrooms and a concession stand. There is a separate baseball diamond with bleachers on the opposite side of the park. Plus, a playground area for kids. You’ll find a running trail, picnic tables with and without grills, and a large pavilion that can be rented and has tables, an amphitheater, horseshoe pits, and restrooms nearby.
Canyon Rim Park (3100 S 2900 E)
Canyon Rim Park has a trail for walking or running, a baseball diamond, covered picnic areas, and plays host to Millcreek’s Venture Out concert series in the summer. The park is quite expansive in the middle of the Canyon Rim neighborhood, which you wouldn’t expect surrounded by so many residents, and is surrounded by many mature trees. This is a busy park – especially during soccer and football seasons where many teams will have their practices, and because it is surrounded by residential housing. There’s also a horseshoe pit that is available on a first-come, first-served basis. You can rent the pavilions for your party through the Salt Lake County Parks & Rec department.
Evergreen Park (2266 E Evergreen Ave)
Evergreen Park is located adjacent to the Millcreek Library and Seniors Center. The park is host to Millcreek’s 4th of July festivities which has several family friendly activities. The park’s playground has a Cinderella carriage in it which was left after an update to the playground. There is now a large pumpkin in the park’s play area as well. This is a dog-friendly park, although dogs do need to be on leash at all times.
Fortuna Park (4610 S Fortuna Way)
Located at the base of Mount Olympus, this park may be small but boasts of great views of the valley. Much of the playground equipment does need to be updated and there are not bathrooms available at this park. You will have amazing views and it’s a great park to visit at sunset.
Ski Resorts
Ok, so the ski resorts are not located directly in Millcreek – you probably figured that out by now. However, you’ll quickly be able to get to the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon in approximately 30 minutes (depending on traffic headed up the canyon) to ski and snowboard at Brighton Ski Resort and Solitude Mountain Resort. About 15 more minutes down Wasatch Blvd will lead you to Little Cottonwood Canyon where you’ll be able to ski at Alta and snowboard or ski at Snowbird. Living in Millcreek allows you fast access to just about anywhere in the valley with easy access to I-15 and I-215.
Parley’s Trail
Millcreek’s slogan is “Connected to Nature” and it’s clear that Millcreek is connected to nature with multiple hiking, biking, and walking trails. The Parley’s Trail is an east-west pedestrian and cycling multi-use pathway that runs along I-80 and the S Line railway car in Sugarhouse. While technically not in Millcreek, it is just outside the city limits in neighboring Salt Lake City and can be picked up at Tanner Park on the North side of Millcreek/South end of Salt Lake City near the mouth of Parley’s Canyon.
The pathway runs East along I-80 then South along I-215 allowing for expansive views of the Salt Lake Valley. If you take the pathway East and then South you’ll be in Millcreek and can gain access to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail which can lead you into Millcreek Canyon. The pathway is popular with bicyclists who access the pathway from Wasatch Boulevard in Millcreek, which runs along the eastern edge of I-215. Some of the best views of the valley can be had from Wasatch Blvd – especially at sunset.