Dry Creek to City Creek Out-and-back

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This route gets you from the University to City Creek to Memory Grove. The first three miles involve gaining elevation going up the Dry Creek Trail. The course has rolling terrain for the next mile, then a good climb. Rollers continue for another mile then the trail heads downhill for most of three miles until joining the City Creek trail where it converts to road, or return to the University for an out-and-back.

Winter running will most likely require spikes. Don't run around (run through) muddy stuff to preserve the trail corridor.

To start, leave central campus and head towards the hospital and North Campus Dr, then up to the Jewish Community Center. Turn left on the street going to the center, but go above to the upper parking lot and to the fence with a walk-through.

Head up the hill and follow the road to the turn; keep heading up Dry Creek but don't follow the horseshoe turn. The Dry Creek Trail is singletrack, so it's easy to follow. There will be a hairpin turn just a mile up, then it's half a mile to the top and the first view of the valley.

The trail contours along the topography, with another half-mile climb from mile 3.5 to 4. At mile 5, you begin the descent for the next three miles. If you like downhill, you'll enjoy easy to moderate running with lots of turns. When you get to the horseshoe, you can link up to the City Creek to Memory Grove trail or turn around and head back the way you came.

There are lots of flowers during spring to early summer.