| Mill D North Fork | |
|---|---|
| Trailhead | Spruces Trailhead |
| Location | 40.6500° / -111.6356° |
| Online Map | View on wbskiing.com |
Mill D North Fork is on the north side of Big Cottonwood Canyon, up-canyon from Reynolds Peak and down-canyon from Beartrap Fork. The roadside access to outstanding beginner and intermediate terrain make Mill D North Fork a very popular destination. Notable runs include Short Swing, Powder Park 3, Tom's Hill, and Reynolds Peak. Mill D North can also be used to access terrain in upper Mill Creek Canyon such as Big Water Gulch and Little Water Peak. The entire Mill D North Fork area is sometimes referred to as Wally World (named after Mark Wariakois, aka "Wally").
Mill D North is typically accessed from the Spruces parking lot, although Lake Desolation and Powder Park 3 can also be accessed from Beartrap Fork.
The Mill D North Fork skin track begins on the north side of the Big Cottonwood road across from the Spruces parking lot. Skin up the cabin road. Bear to your left when the road splits and then (for a tiny shortcut) bear left at cabin 10199.
After approximately 15 minutes of skinning (and across from cabin number 15-03) the skin track departs the cabin road at a gate on your left. The track then heads up on the right side of the Mill D North Fork drainage.
As you continue up Mill D North, secondary skin tracks depart on the right side of the main track and head to Short Swing, Powder Park 3, and Lake Desolation. Skin tracks on the left head up Weathering Heights and Tom's Hill. The main track goes to Dog Lake.
About the name
Mill D is the site of the fourth of six lumber mills, named Mill A through Mill F, that were built in Big Cottonwood Canyon during the 1800s. The letter designations were based on the order that the mills were built without regard to their location in the canyon. The nearby canyons acquired their names from the mills. A total of 19 lumber mills were eventually built in Big Cottonwood Canyon, although not all of them received letter designations.
Not much is known about the Mill D mine. The only map I've seen puts it on the south side of the Big Cottonwood Canyon road near what is now the Spruces trailhead. Mill D was "built by Ferramorz Little of the Big Cottonwood Lumber Company at an early date."
The entire Mill D North Fork area is sometimes referred to as Wally World (named after Mark Wariakois, aka "Wally").
Beginner terrain
that is good as you develop your backcountry skills and when the avalanche danger is higher. Click for details.
Intermediate
terrain that requires more experience in skinning and skiing. Click for details.
Advanced terrain
that requires strong skiing and skinning skills. Click for details.
Expert terrain that is
challenging and a small mistake can have serious consequences. Click for details.
Extreme terrain
that includes insanely difficult chute skiing and beyond. Click for details.
The difficulty of this terrain
varies widely. Click for details.
This terrain hasn't
been rated. Click for details.
