The best walks and hikes around Erda

Left Hand Fork Trail is a popular trail in the Settlement Canyon Recreation Area. It is frequently completed in combination with the Bench Trail to make a really nice hiking loop. Like Dark Trail, another popular trail in the area, it is well-shaded by oak and maple trees, making it a good option in the heat.

This upper section of the Bench Trail takes you to Bear Trap Pass. This is a lovely section of hiking that is extra great in the fall when the leaves change from green, to hues of red, orange, and gold. At the end of this trail at a five-way junction, most turn back toward the trailhead and return the way they came or continue down the Left Hand Fork Trail to make a popular loop. You can also continue onward and upward toward Tooele Peak, Kelsey Peak, and the other high mountains east of Tooele.

The short, steep trail up to the giant white "T" for Tooele is a local favorite for getting in a quick challenging hike during a lunch break or after work. The grade of the trail is made a little harder by the gravelly, sometimes slippery nature of the path, but is a nice way to get the heart pumping. Once you reach the bottom of the "T" you get great views over the town and surrounding area. If you wish to scramble to the top of the "T" there is an unofficial series of short, steep switchbacks to the top that can be a little loose at spots. Be on the lookout for rattlesnakes during the warmer months!

Bates Canyon Road is an old mining road that is closed to motor traffic. The lower section of this road-turned-trail passes through the open fields and foothills of the northern Oquirrh Mountains, below Bates and Nelson Peaks and is surrounded by a dense network of other trails. Bates Canyon Road is a scenic, open trail with few-to-no trees and therefore great panoramic views of the mountains and Tooele. This is a popular spot with hikers, runners, dog-walkers, and mountain bikers.

Dark Trail in Tooele, Utah, is popular, a family-friendly hike in Settlement Canyon. Starting near the reservoir, you follow a slightly uphill trail along a ravine just off the road. The hike is easy and relatively flat, about 3 miles roundtrip if done as an out-and-back. The trail is named for its shaded canopy that is especially lush in summer and offers a cool, scenic walk. It's accessible year-round, with beautiful red, orange, and golden foliage in the fall. Once you hit the road, most turn around, but you actually can continue down the trail after walking down Settlement Canyon Road for a short period. Keep in mind that if you do continue onward to Upper Dark Trail, it does cut through private property so please be respectful.