Rock Canyon Trailhead History

Rock Canyon Trailhead History. . Early History , For Thousands of years, Rock Canyon has provided vital resources to the inhabitants of Utah Valley. Earliest known records indicate Fremont and Numic peoples relied on the canyon for bighorn sheep, mule deer, and other culturally significant animals. In February of 1850 the Timpanogos, known to revere the canyon, were forced up the canyon as an escape route from a military campaign to remove them from the valley. Settlers named the northern mountain peak in memory of Chief Big Elk's wife, who fell from a low cliff during the conflict. In 2021, the peak was renamed to Kyhv Peak (pronounced K i V), a Ute word for mountain. The new settlers used the canyon for irrigation water, lumber, stone, grazing pasturage, and prospecting. In 1851 the Provo residents built a road to better access the canyon's sawmill and quarry that has become today's Rock Canyon Trail. , , Canyon Flood Control Efforts , Seasonal snow melt run-off continuously increased the flooding severity due to destabilized upland soils from deforestation. In the 1920s the federal government and citizen groups organized to remedy the problems. In the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) created a series of contoured terraces to slow water run-off and revegetate the canyon walls. In the 1950s and 60s, the U.S. Forest Service provided further terracing at the head of the canyon. These terraces can be seen on the tops of the mountains east of the canyon. Following floods in the spring of 1983, the debris flow basin at Rock Canyon Park was enlarged to provide reliable runoff control protecting property downhill. , , Rock Canyon's Legacy , Efforts to preserve the area began in 1938 when citizens lobbied for protection and rehabilitation. President Roosevelt and the U.S. Government responded by incorporating Rock Canyon into the Uinta National Forest Watershed and Fire Control District. In 2014, Provo City purchased additional surrounding property to protect public access to the natural resources and preserve responsible outdoor recreation opportunities. Today, the Rock Canyon springs continue to provide local drinking water resources. Rock Canyon remains a Utah treasure of natural beauty for all to admire and experience.