The Grotto in Hornet Canyon is a 2.3 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Farmington, Utah that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until November. Dogs are also able to use this trail.
Please note the trailhead can be difficult to spot. Look for stairs from the Bonneville shore trail. It is about 50 yards north of the creek and somewhat hidden. You will see a brown sign that says Stead Creek Trail. Great trail with a wonderful payoff. This trail is actually an offshoot of the Steed Creek Trail and winds through Hornet Canyon, following Hornet Creek. The end is a beautiful display of water. You'll find a weeping wall, two waterfalls, and a semi deep pool. The giant boulder next to the falls makes a perfect natural seat to catch your breath and take in the sights and sounds. Bring water shoes since you'll need to cross a shallow creek before starting the main leg of the hike. The trail is half sun and half shade. It's not recommended to bring small children as the trail is narrow.
Just after you cross the creek (no bridge), you'll go left to stay on Bonneville Shoreline Trail, just as the BST curves to the right, there will be a sign for Steed Creek Trail, with makeshift steps on the way up, take that trail up to the right of you. After the wooden board bridge, take a left to continue on to Hornet Creek Canyon, and The Grotto. When there is a split in the trail, you will almost always go right, with the exception of this one spot.
Park in the same lot as Davis Creek Trail and Triumph Trail, just across the street you'll pass through a metal gate and be on Bonneville Shoreline Trail, that's where the hike starts.
April 15, 2021Very beautiful! Muddy enough right now to make the steep parts pretty scary. Definitely not good for bringing younger kids on.
April 11, 2021We accidentally turned off on hornet canyon, much trickier hike with a couple kids. It was an adventure
April 10, 2021Trail is dry. Very narrow last half mile. Creek is low for crossing.
April 9, 2021Great, no snow. When you get to the fork on your way up, take the right (left is a lot steeper and not as pretty).
April 8, 2021This is a great trail. I’d only go up there if the trail is dry because it can be very slippery. Some locations have roped to hold onto
April 5, 2021Was super warm today! Trail is perfect this time of year. Lots of glacier lilies blooming and onion grass to be found, both great spring wild edibles. Wasn’t busy either, my dog loved it too!
March 29, 2021March 29, 2021March 28, 2021Dry trail today. T shirt weather
March 28, 2021March 20, 2021Great hike, beautiful weather, no snow. Took my young kids and it was a blast for them. Some really steep drop offs at the end close to the grotto, but we were careful and had fun. We saw no other people at all until we were two hours in and on our way back and saw one other group, so it’s not a packed hike.
March 5, 2021I would like to come back when the trail is free of snow. It was challenging the last third of a mile.
March 4, 2021Bring your micro spikes to do this one in the winter. It can get slippery towards the steeper inclines. Very beautiful and worth it! Be aware there are rattle snakes on this trail during the summer. I’ve seen a baby one curled up on a rock on a cooler summer day up there.
February 21, 2021The far-left trail is not kid-friendly, nor dog-friendly. When the trail forks, stay right instead. It's also hard to see the trail coming down from the top. DO NOT go down the slate rock path.
February 20, 2021February 15, 2021The walk on the dirt road to get to the trail head is kind of a letdown, but the trail itself is absolutely worth it. I did the loop, taking hornet Canyon to the grotto, and steed Canyon (with a detour) on the way down. yes, it gets a little steep and precipitous toward the end, but it is very manageable, and the extra challenge makes the trail more fun.
January 16, 2021It is confusing to find the trail head. Got a little lost as we did the loop. Bring spikes because there are icy spots
January 9, 2021This trail proved to me that I can do hard things! I think it should be categorized as “Hard” instead of moderate because there are several parts of the trail that are very treacherous, steep and narrow. If you’re going up in the winter months, do not go without high quality spikes (Crampons or YakTraks). And if you’re not a fan of heights, like me, take hiking poles as well. It was very icy on a lot of the trail and the ropes were a godsend, although I wish there had been more of them. I don’t mean to sound all negative because the grotto was so beautiful and very worth the hike! I hope to go back in the summer, I’m guessing it’s even more beautiful then.
January 1, 2021Went on New Year's Day. The hill going down to the creek (before you go up the stairs to Steed Creek trail) is slick, so we opted to come from the north by starting at the top of 200 S. in Farmington and hiking up to the Shoreline Trail from there (see map). That was actually the hardest part, which we knew, but not covered in snow. We like to do the loop going up Steed Creek and down Hornet Creek, but we've learned that the Steed Creek side is much cooler (good in the summer) but slick and narrow (we should have brought YakTraks for the winter!). Hornet Creek side is much more open, less snow, hotter (in the summer) but less scenic. I wouldn't have missed the winterwonderland we saw on the Steed Creek side, but boy was it dangerous. Looks like they've cleaned it up since the comments from the windstorm as we had no difficulties staying on the trail (though we knew the map well). They've also added ropes but even with those it's still slick and scary. For sure do that side with YakTraks or in the summer!
December 19, 2020It took us two trips and a nice lady’s directions to find the trail. It’s hard to navigate with the snow. If you enter from the Triumph trail head you need to walk north on the shoreline trail for a 1/2 mile before you see a gate. Go through the gate and head down to the creek where you will see the trail up the hill and to the right just after the creek. It’s pretty steep but so worth seeing the grotto. The ice and snow make it so magical. There’s about 6 inches of snow right now, so be prepared.
December 18, 2020We just couldn’t find the trail; there were trees knocked everywhere and in combination with the snow it was difficult.
December 10, 2020No snow on the trail. Beautiful hike. Like what has been previously said in comments, follow the road across the stream, then you'll see a trail marker and the stairs on the right several feet away from thy stream. We didn't see any wildlife. but we had a group of about 8 with 6 dogs.
December 9, 2020Very pretty and not too difficult! The Grotto was worth it. A little bit of scrambling on the rocks as you get closer.
December 7, 2020When you get to the creek, do not take the trail to the right of the creek. Continue along the road past the part where the creek runs over the road, and then the well-defined trail will be on the right. It is so pretty right now with all of the fallen leaves. There is no snow, ice, or mud on the trail. No sign of the cougar.
