Stewart Falls Hike – A Summer Afternoon in the Wasatch

After reading reports that Scout Falls had dwindled to a trickle, I set my sights on Stewart Falls instead. The drive took about an hour and a half up Provo Canyon. Rather than ride the lift from Sundance, I chose to hike in from Aspen Grove.

The trail itself was rocky and partially overtaken by the thick roots of old trees. In many places, the path narrows to a single file, and on this particular day, it was bustling with foot traffic—families, dogs, and the occasional hikers coming back from the falls.

Because of the crowd, I didn’t see much wildlife on the way up. But the falls made up for it. Stewart Falls is a 200-feet of spray and roaring water that tumbles down a cliff face before calming into a quiet stream and continuing its descent through the forest.

It wasn’t until the return trip that I started noticing signs of life. I caught glimpses of a lesser goldfinch, a black-headed grosbeak, and a few hummingbirds darting between the trees. Others remained unidentified, blending in with their plain feathers and quick movements.

At one point, I passed a couple standing near a meadow, gazing into the grasses. Curious, I asked what they were looking at. The man said he thought he saw a squirrel. But when I looked, I caught a flash of brown—no stripes, no spots, and no tail, not quite squirrel or chipmunk.

Then it hit me: I’d seen a pika.

These small, tailless creatures, are part of the rabbit family, resemble oversized mice and are well-adapted to life at high altitude. They dart among the rocks and wildflowers, often disappearing before your brain has fully registered their presence.

Small moments like this are what keep me hiking—the sound of water pounding over rock, the wind through old trees, and those rare glimpses of wildlife tucked just beyond the obvious.