Overview: Easy kid friendly hike with a beautiful rock grotto pool with a waterfall. This hike is a great way to introduce kids to hiking!

• Trail Head: Take I-15 to the Payson Main Street exit. Travel south through town and turn east on 100 N and travel to the next stoplight, 600 E, and turn south (right). Follow this road for approximately 9 miles (600 N will turn into Payson Canyon Road). There is a small turn off and a sign designating the trailhead.
  
  • Coordinates: 39˚57'05.32"N 111˚40'32.95"W
    
• Distance: .6 of a mile round trip.
  
• Difficulty: 1.5
  
• Trail Condition: Maintained forest service dirt trail.
  
• Season: Spring through autumn.
  

Detailed Description: This hike is great for people of all ages and most hikers and is extremely nice for a Sunday afternoon walk with the family. The trailhead is located on a big switchback on the Payson Canyon highway. There are places to park on both sides of the road but can quickly fill up with cars and horse trailers going on both this trail and the Benny Creek Trail. From the Trailhead, the trail follows the Grotto Creek the whole way to the Grotto. At first the trail goes up hill for a hundred yards or so but quickly evens out after that. The trail spits here, one goes up the side of the draw and the other crosses the creek on a homemade looking bridge (a few small logs cut into a stump. I would suggest using the bridge since it is more fun. The trail winds around and crosses the creek a few more times and a wooden bridge will let you across the rest of them (each one slightly more professional than the first one consisting of a large rough cut wooden beam). As you get closer you will notice that the dirt on the sides of the canyon will turn to rock. As you round the last bridge you hear the water fall. Rounding the corner you will see the Grotto with the Waterfall splashing happily to the pool below. Most likely you will see some kids or dogs jumping around in the pool.

Maps:

Serious 4 year old Hiker

Picturesque creek near the Grotto

Bridge leading to the Grotto

Videos:

Grotto Bottom

The Grotto from above