Devil's Kitchen

Devil's Kitchen is a viewing area overlooking seemingly out-of-place geologic formations along the southern end of Mount Nebo Loop not far from the town of Nephi. A short, paved walkway takes you to a deck that overlooks a handful of hoodoos sitting above a gorgeous alpine landscape. To the west are the nearly 12,000-foot peaks of Mount Nebo, one of the ten highest peaks in Utah, which loom over the exposed red rock. A large informational sign sits at the parking area to explain how the unusual features were formed. Further interpretive signs also sit alongside the paved path, letting you know which trees and flowers you see along the way, such as aspen and mountain mahogany. Along with Devil's Kitchen, you can soak up the amazing sights down the steep canyon. Pockets of eroded red rock pop out of the terrain in several spots in several directions, not something you expect to find at this latitude. This is a great place for the family to stop while making your way between Payson and Nephi on the 35-mile Mount Nebo Loop.

The jagged hoodoo formations of red rock were compacted by layers of deposited soil and dirt that were piled on top of the area about 80 million years ago. Eons later, it was lifted back up by tectonic activity to its current height and re-exposed to the world by erosion. Different strengths of the naturally formed concrete erode at different speeds and form a variety of shapes that were left behind until today. You can see the conglomerate and aggregate rock that are mixed into the red concrete and help hold it all together.

While on the Mount Nebo Loop, be sure to check out the Grotto Falls Trail south of Payson. This short, family-friendly hike takes you to a small waterfall in a tight little canyon. For a serious adventure, you can challenge yourself on the Mount Nebo Peak Trail and its nearly 4,000-foot gain with a steep scramble to the top of the tallest peak in the Wasatch. There are several gorgeous lookouts along the loop road, and the road is inundated with rich autumn color during the fall months. Payson Lakes and its three bodies of water give campers and lake seekers a great place to beat the hot summer days in the valley below. Other hiking trails nearby Devil's Kitchen on the Mount Nebo Loop include the Salt Creek Trail and the Nebo Bench Trail.