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Cottonwood Canyon "7 Sisters" Ridge, 2 August, 2026
Nine people started on the hike to the seven sisters: Kathy, Susan, Ralph, Stephanie, Ocean, Teresa, Deb, Kamren, and Dave P (leader). The weather was clear but with haze from wildfires. As the day progressed it got warm but a breeze kept the weather tolerable and there were patches of shade along the way.
We stopped to sample huckleberries on the way up. Numerous trees had blown down and been cut to clear the trail. There were still abundant wildflowers - paintbrush and coyote mint were particularly showy. There was a horse, dog, and tent near Coldwater Spring.
At the wilderness sign and intersection with the trail to Cottonwood Canyon, two hikers turned back, as planned. The rest of us followed the trail to Smithfield Canyon around the head of Cottonwood Canyon to get to a saddle where the Smithfield Canyon trail heads down. At that point one hiker’s boots had caused serious blisters. He decided to take the boots off, and was able to complete the hike by wrapping his feet with small towels and pulling socks over them. Amazingly this worked and he was able to finish the hike on a rocky trail without a real problem.
Three hikers decided to wait at the saddle while four others followed a steep trail to the top of the first sister and got 360-degree views, including of Mt. Naomi. When they returned we found a shady spot for lunch. We noticed partially eaten food packets left by campers and carried them out.
On the way back we took a side trip to see a large sink west of Coldwater Spring.
Three hikers, Dave W, Jane, and Christine, chose an easy alternative hike down the lower portion of the old road route that follows Tony Grove Creek. The old road grade was overgrown and hard to follow at first, but conditions improved as they descended.
Editor's note: "7 Sisters" refers to the seven high points on the ridge that runs along the west side of upper Cottonwood Canyon and north of Mt. Elmer. See Upper Cottonwood Canyon, July 20, 2013 for a report of another "7 Sisters" excursion.
Trip Summary:
- Nine hikers started from the Tony Grove Backcountry Trailhead: Kathy, Susan, Ralph, Stephanie, Ocean, Teresa, Deb, Kamren, and Dave P (leader). Three hikers, Dave W, Jane, and Christine, did an alternative hike along lower Tony Grove Creek.
- Drove 22
miles up Logan Canyon, dropped 3 hikers off after 3
1/2 more miles, then arrived at the Tony Grove
Backcountry Trailhead after 3 more miles.
- Started
hiking from the Tony
Grove Backcountry Trailhead 8:55, lunch at the top
of Smithfield Canyon about 12:15, back at the
trailhead about 2:30.
- The Sisters
hikers went about 7.7 miles with about 1650 feet of
ascent, while the Tony Grove Creek hikers traveled
about 3 miles with 850 feet of descent.
Thanks
to Dave P for the narrative and photos, Jane and Kathy
for photos, Teresa for GPS data, and Dave W and Ralph
for photos and GPS data.
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| Starting out
from the Tony Grove Backcountry Trailhead |
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| Hikers near
the Wilderness boundary, before splitting into two
groups |
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| Looking southwest toward Mt. Elmer | |||
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| The "7 sisters" ridge north of Mt. Elmer (the first sister is not pictured) | |||
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| The north end of the 7 sisters ridge, the Cottonwood Canyon-Smithfield Canyon pass, and a smoky Cache Valley | |||
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| A broken post
is all that remains of the sign at the Cottonwood
Canyon - Smithfield Canyon pass |
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| Hikers climbing the first "sister" | |||
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| Improvised footwear |
Hikers heading back after lunch |
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| A large sink west of Coldwater Spring | |||
2026.jpg) |
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| The old roadbed became more distinct
as the "alternative" hikers descended toward the
Tony Grove Guard Station |
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2026.jpg) |
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| We believe the
old road bed dates from the 1930s, consistent with
the riveted construction of this culvert |
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| Fleabane |
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| Coyote mint, Monardella
odoratissima |
Paintbrush growing along the trail | ||
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| Thimbleberries along the trail |
Fireweed | ||
.JPG) |
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Our GPS track shows about 7.7 miles
of hiking with about 1650 feet of ascent.
You can look at our route using
Google
Earth or download our GPS file.
Also see map of the old Tony Grove road bed, from a 2025 hike. |
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