The "snow horse" isn't found in Park City or any other mountain resort that's famous for snow. The prominent spring/early summer landmark that dates to pioneer days is taking shape on the mountainside near Layton.
Layton historian Harris Adams said his parents showed him the snow horse in his youth and explained the pioneer legend that if it was still visible by the Fourth of July, there'd be plenty of water in the valley below all summer. Settlers have lived along the mountains, below the snow horse, since the early 1850s.Kent Day, director of the Layton Heritage Museum, said he also heard that Laytonites should never plant their tender crops until they can see the snow horse, a sign there won't be any more frost until fall.
A smaller colt shape is sometimes visible to the right of the snow horse. Adams said the colt resembles a little bear chasing the horse. Some Layton residents think it looks more like a bat.
Day said the smaller colt-like shape fades away first and the snow horse's legs get more and more frail in hot weather until it disappears.
Adams said cattleman Curtis Morgan used to live on the eastern mountain ridge behind the snow horse every summer during the 1920s until the federal government purchased his homesteaded land. Contrary to some stories, he lived on the Morgan County side of the mountain near the Smith Creek Lakes. Morgan used pack horses to haul cement mix and make a shelter in the area.
The snow horse is located at an elevation of 8,500 feet on appropriately named snow horse ridge east of the Layton-Kaysville border. (It is most visible from a northern angle and is difficult to spot in Kaysville.)
The figure takes shape because of the way the snow melts on a fairly open ridge and also because of the configuration of several large outcroppings of rocks and bushes. The horse's legs are visible, and early this month the body will appear as the snow melts.
Because the snow horse is appearing later than usual due to the heavy snowfall, it may be visible longer, as well.
Other northern Utah areas have similar legends. For example, a Scotsman's smiling face can be spotted on Ben Lomond Peak in Weber County, although the face takes a lot more imagination to visualize than does the snow horse. Weber farmers aren't supposed to plant tender crops until the snow has vanished off the face of Ben Lomond.
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On the horse's trail
The snow horse is found on snow horse ridge, one canyon and ridge south of Adams Canyon. It should not be confused with Snow Canyon north of Adams Canyon.
The snow horse can be seen best in west Layton near Gentile Street. However, those with keen eyes can see it from western Weber County.
To be exact, go to Commons Park on Wasatch Drive across from Layton High School.
Find the big tree west of the sidewalk on Wasatch Drive, directly west of the Layton Lancer street sign. Stand on the east side of the big tree and look east to the mountains. Look down to the "L" symbol on Layton High and then go straight up to a long ridge on the mountain to find the snow horse.