For residents in north Davis County, the Wasatch Mountains that dominate the county's eastern boundary can easily be taken for granted. Afterall, they are there every morning and every night, providing a dominant landmark that makes it easy to know what direction one is traveling.
But if one were to ask county residents to name the imposing peaks overlooking the housing dominated flatlands nestled between the shores of the Great Salt Lake and the mountain foothills, its likely that the only answer that would be forthcoming is Francis Peak, which features a couple prominent white radar domes.However, it's hard to really criticize the general ignorance concerning the names of the mountain peak. That's because only two of the 10 highest peaks in the county (all located between Farmington Canyon in the center of the county and the mouth of Weber Canyon at the county's northern extremity) have been give official names by the Utah Geographic Names Committee, the state agency commissioned to identify the state's geological locales. While many have local nicknames that have historical roots, those names are not generally known outside the neighborhoods nearest to the peaks.
Canyon names are more plentiful and most residents can probably name several. However, some of the canyons have local nicknames that can cause confusion for the unenlightened seeking directions.
Many county residents and various city and county officials would like to have the geographic names committee take the time to consider giving more official names to mountain peaks and canyons in northern Davis County. They are concerned that only two peaks there currently have official names and another half-dozen or so canyons are without official designations and go nameless on maps.
- In an attempt to help in identifying peaks and canyons in the area between Farmington and Weber Canyon, the Deseret News has gathered information concerning both official names and local nicknames. Alphabetical letters on the mountain skyline photographs above represent peaks and numbers on the photographs correspond to canyon names. Nicknames (unofficial names) are identified in quotations.
Information was gathered from numerous maps and a number of area residents familiar with the territory and its lore. Tom and Bill Jaques, L. Winslow Hurst Jr. and Harris Adams assisted in this compilation.
Mountain peaks:
A. "Haystack" peak: An east Layton name for a bump, about 7,000 feet above sea level and halfway up the mountain, that resembles a stack of hay.
B. Thurston Peak: This peak, on the border of Davis and Morgan counties is also the highest for the two counties at 9,706 feet above sea level. (Older maps list it to be 9,707 feet high, but revised United States Geological Survey measurements in 1991 revealed it to be one foot lower.) The peak is also listed on all but the newest of maps as "VABM Francis," a significant benchmark with no official name. Hikers had dubbed the peak as "North Francis" because of the bench marker. Others have called it Haystack Peak or Barton Peak over the years.
The peak was finally named in 1993 by a joint effort of the Morgan County Historical Society and the Davis County Commission after a Deseret News story called attention to this highest but nameless peak in the two counties. The peak is directly east of the Layton Hills Mall and has a small knob sticking out of its north slope.
Thomas Jefferson Thurston, a pioneer who originally lived in Centerville and later helped settle Morgan County, is the peak's namesake. Thurston was selected to become the namesake because he had resided in both counties and had not previously been recognized with a town name or other landmark.
C. "Twin Peaks," a pair of summits partway up the mountainside that look identical.
D. "Ed's Peak" is a 9,381-foot summit unofficially named for Ed Ford. He built a two-story log cabin below the mountain in Simmons Hollow, north of the cemetery, from timber obtained near the peak and sold in 1850 to John Green. Ford apparently moved to southern Utah. Ed's Peak is the tall summit between Baer and Webb canyons.
E. Francis Peak: This is Davis County's second tallest summit but is the best known because of the two radar towers that sit atop it. Work on the "skymarks" began in 1958, and 22,000 cubic yards of material and 32 feet of the peak's height were removed to level the mountain top for the towers. Most maps list its height as 9,547 feet above sea level, but the 32 feet lost from construction were never taken away - meaning the current natural height of the peak is now just 9,515. (With the 85-foot-tall radar towers added, the peak is 9,600 feet above sea level.) Francis Peak was named for Esther Charlotte Emily Wiesbroddt Francis, an early pioneer woman who settled in Morgan in 1863. Her mathematical and survey skills helped organize Morgan city into blocks, lots and streets. Brigham Young himself suggested the peak be named in Francis' honor.
Canyon names:
1. Weber Canyon straddles the Davis-Weber county line, with the center of the Weber River considered the boundary. The canyon containing I-84 was named for John W. Weber, a trapper who was killed by Indians in 1823 at the river.
2. "Big Hollow" is the first canyon south of Weber Canyon.
3. Corbett Canyon. Nothing is known about this name. South Weber history mentions no Corbetts. Also called "Smaltz Canyon," by locals, supposedly after early settlers in the area. Its water runs into the Weber River.
4. Hobbs Canyon contains the north fork of Kays Creek. Named for a Hobbs family that helped build the Mountain Road in the area in the mid-1800s. The canyon is directly east of the U-193/U.S. 89 interchange now under construction. A trail goes part way up the canyon and past a small spring. Kays Creek is named for William Kay, a pioneer.
5. "Brushy Knoll" is so-called by locals for its rough terrain. A trail goes through this area and up to the mountain top.
6. "Jaques Creek" comes out of the small indention some call "Half-Canyon." It was infamous for producing a large mudslide on May 14, 1984, that damaged many homes. Named for the Jaques pioneer family, who's descendants still live at its mouth.
7. "Pine Spring Canyon" is named for the nearby Pine Spring.
8. Middle Fork of the Kays Creek flows through a nameless canyon.
9. "Cold Spring Canyon" is named for the Cold Spring at its top.
10. "Middle Fork Timber" is a forest area.
11. "Crooked Ridge" is a winding ridgeline. A trail goes up the ridge.
12. "Lone Tree" is a solitary tree referred to by locals as a landmark located three-fourths of the way up the mountain.
13. South Fork of Kays Creek flows through another unofficially unnamed canyon, although some refer to this as "Crooked Canyon," from the ridgeline of the same name to the north.
14. Snow Creek flows through this canyon, sometimes called Snow Creek Canyon. The canyon has a trail that goes part way up the mountain.
15. "The Cliff," as some locals refer to it, is a significant Mattherhorn-like peak that looks spectacular near Snow Creek, but from a distance blends almost invisibly into the mountainside.
16. Another small nameless canyon. This one is a tributary of Adams Canyon.
17. Adams Canyon is the most hiked canyon in north Davis County, though it is currently accessed through private property. It is directly east of Oakhills Drive in east Layton. Its namesake was Elias Adams, a pioneer who built a sawmill at the mouth of the canyon. The stream in Adams is called Holmes Creek. This name came from Samuel Oliver Holmes, who by one account was a trapper who was already living on the stream when the pioneers arrived. Another report says Holmes was a pioneer who lived there for about one year, before leaving and moving to California.
18. "Maple Ridge" is a local name. The two peaks above the ridge are also sometimes referred to as "Maple Peaks."
19. "Snow Horse Ridge" is so named for the horselike figure that appears there each spring as the snow field melts, also called the Snow Horse.
20. Webb Canyon was named for Chauncey Webb, who lived briefly in the area with his family. He appeared in the 1851 census, but not the 1852 census.
21. Baer Canyon in Fruit Heights is sometimes misspelled Bear or Bair. The namesake is John Baer who built a saw mill at the bottom of the Canyon. He sold the mill in 1855 to the William Beesley family before moving to Cache Valley. A rough trail goes up this five-mile long canyon, before reaching the mountain saddle just north of the radar towers. Haights Creek flows out of Baer Canyon.
22. Shepard Canyon is the large canyon east of Somerset Farms in Farmington. The canyon (and several city streets below - Shepard Lane and Ridge Lane) are named after Isaac M. Shepard, pioneer, Farmington resident and watermaster in the area from 1849-59. Shepard and his family moved to Richmond in Cache County in the winter of 1859.
23. Farmington Canyon is the deepest canyon in Davis County. A 12-mile gravel road climbs to its top.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The peaks of Davis County
The following is a quick reference for identifying the peaks and canyons identified by numbers and letters.
A more detailed description of canyons, trails and peaks identified in the pictures are contained in the accompanying story. The information capsules list official names, nicknames and other information as available from local resources.
Names in quotes are local or historical nicknames that do not appear on official maps or charts. Official names were culled from recognized maps and surveys. The nicknames were gathered from people living in the area who are familiar with local histories and other lore.
Mountain peaks:
A. "Haystack" peak
B. Thurston Peak (also called North Francis Peak)
C. "Twin Peaks"
D. "Ed's Peak"
E. Francis Peak
Canyon names:
1. Weber Canyon
2. "Big Hollow"
3. Corbett Canyon (also called "Smaltz Canyon")
4. Hobbs Canyon
5. "Brushy Knoll"
6. "Jaques Creek"
7. "Pine Spring Canyon"
8. Middle Fork of the Kays Creek
9. "Cold Spring Canyon"
10. "Middle Fork Timber"
11. "Crooked Ridge"
12. "Lone Tree"
13. South Fork of Kays Creek (also called "Crooked Canyon")
14. Snow Creek
15. "The Cliff"
16. Another small nameless canyon
17. Adams Canyon
18. "Maple Ridge" (also called "Maple Peaks")
19. "Snow Horse Ridge"
20. Webb Canyon
21. Baer Canyon
22. Shepard Canyon
23. Farmington Canyon