Dripping Rock Trail

Call it an urban hike or call it a nature walk, Dripping Rock Trail is really fun. We know that a dripping rock doesn’t sound amazing, but you will be pleasantly surprised. And the best part is that anyone can hike this trail because it is paved, flat, and runs 1.0 mile roundtrip.

The Dripping Rock Trail hike can be done with a stroller and is very easy to follow. There are actually two trailheads for this trail. One starts directly across from the Spanish Oaks Golf Course. The other starts near the golf course and adds walking through the tunnel, which our kids really enjoy. There is a sign that talks about the trail and animals you can see while hiking. From the trailhead, cross the bridge over the small creek. You can stop here to look for fish and frogs (which we didn’t see). After crossing the creek, take a left through the tunnel (watch out for golf carts!) and follow the trail up to the junction. The golf carts will be coming from the right, but you need to take the first left and follow the paved path along the river.

As you walk, listen closely to the river. At different intervals, you’ll hear what sounds like rain coming from the opposite bank. This, of course, is the dripping rock, and there are several places to see it. We saw three dripping rocks before we actually made it to “the Dripping Rock.”

You will know you’ve made it to the famous Dripping Rock because it is quite a bit larger than the others you have already seen. There is also a makeshift trail down to the river, but be careful as it is quite a steep drop. The best way to find where to go down is when the rock wall ends along the trail.

We went down and waded in the frigid water, which felt great on a hot day. The boys waded in the knee-deep water and rarely went in deeper than their chins. After awhile, falling down became quite hilarious. You can even wade across the stream and right under the dripping rock. It was so much fun! If you don’t want wet clothes, you can come in swimsuits. Our boys were quite wet when we finished playing in the river, but nearly dry when we got back to the car.

The trail continues on past the Dripping Rock. After about .1 of a mile we came to two awesome bridges. One is a suspension bridge. We walked across the river and checked out both bridges. The trail also continues further up toward the golf course. The trail climbs more and there is a view of the windmills. Once you get to the top of the hill, there is a small water holding pond and the golf course. The trail continues on up to the Spanish Oaks Reservoir. It is a steep climb of about another half mile. This would be a pretty serious trip for a strolller, so we wouldn’t recommend it. Stopping at the far end of the holding pond made our total distance 2.0 miles roundtrip.  

While you are hiking, watch for squirrels and birds. We saw several birds including yellow warblers, cliff swallows, and an American Goldfinch. Also, there isn’t much shade, so this hike is probably best in the morning or evening, even though the cold water feels better in the hot part of the day.

So grab a backpack, add a few towels and everyone’s flip-flops, then head down to Spanish Fork. Another great trail in this area is the Escalante Cross.

Directions

The hike is easy to find. For the first parking area, Drive up Highway 6 to the popular landmark of the Little Acorn restaurant. Turn right on Powerhouse Road. Spanish Oaks Golf Course comes up on your right and trailhead parking is on your left.

For the second trailhead to walk under the tunnel, Drive up Highway 6 to the popular landmark of the Little Acorn restaurant. Turn right on Powerhouse Road. Go about 1 block and turn right on Rivers Bottom Road. Then take an immediate left into the trailhead parking lot.

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