Hiking - Escalante Cross 5/4/23

Itinerary:

Carpooling - 9:00 am

Trailhead - 9:20 am

Hike - 9:30 am - 11:30 pm

Drive: Spanish Oaks Campground, Spanish Fork (On Google Maps, “Escalante Cross” takes you to a neighborhood dead end. Instead, type “Spanish Fork Reservoir”and park in the UPPER PARKING LOT. You then hike the pavement camping ground road up to where the pavement ends at a small loop. You will see a dirt trail with a trail marker and multiple hikes listed on marker. Escalante Cross Trail is one of the ones listed. This is your official Trailhead start point)

Activities: Hike Escalante Cross/Dominguez Hill - 1.7 mile, out and back trail near Spanish Fork, Utah. Come celebrate both Cinco De Mayo AND May the Force Day with us! We will have Star Wars treats and salsa tasting. Dirt hike with the Escalante Cross at the top. Use trail markers and AllTrails App to lead you to the cross. It does zig you away from the cross up the canyon until you reach a wooden bench then zags you back toward the cross. No fees. Bathrooms at lower reservoir parking lot. Cell service. This is a lower elevation hike. Great to do with kids. Some steep parts. On the two steep hills, I prefer to take groups not up and then down the steep shale rock but instead to the left on the deer trail that runs along the left side of the hill and then meets up with normal hill. Use the rock croppings before the cross for great valley view group photo pics.

Great Pavillion you park next to at the Upper Parking Lot. Since you end the hike here, we did a Star Wars & Salsa Tasting here (celebrating 5/4 & 5/5). I would recommend a picnic with the family at this newer, clean pavilion with great reservoir and valley views. All Trails Trip Report.

Gear: T-shirt, long sleeve fleece, light waterproof jacket, hiking pants/shorts, gloves, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, camelback or regular back pack, 1-2 Liters water, 3-4 snacks, hiking shoes/boots.