Millcreek Canyon is on the east side of the Salt Lake Valley, just south of I-80 and Parleys Canyon. To get there, take I-215 South from I-80 and take exit 4 off of I-215 and go left (east) on 3900 South.

Turn left on Wasatch Blvd just after crossing under the highway, then the next right on Millcreek Canyon Road.

0.7 miles from the junction of Wasatch Blvd and Millcreek Canyon Road is the entrance to Millcreek Canyon and the pay booth.

Mileage below is from the pay booth.

0.7 miles - Pipeline Trailhead on the left (north).
2.4 miles - Church Fork Trailhead on the left (north).
2.5 miles - Desolation on the right (south).
3.4 miles - Porter Fork on the right (south).
3.5 miles - Burch Hollow Trailhead (north).
3.7 miles - Terraces Picnic Area / Trailhead (south).
3.8 miles - Winter Gate Closure
5.4 miles - Elbow Fork Trailhead (Mount Aire)
6.9 miles - Alexander Basin Trailhead
8.3 miles - Lower Big Water
8.4 miles - End of the road and Big/Little Water Trailhead. This is the trailhead for Dog Lake. There is overflow parking just down canyon if needed.

To The Lake (2.6 miles)
Getting started may well be the hardest part of this hike, as there are many trails that leave from the parking area. The correct trail? The one that leaves on the right side (south) of the parking lot as you drive in. Follow this trail, staying left at the junction not far from the parking area. The right turn at this junction goes down to the other parking area.

The trail begins climbing up. Stay on the well-worn trail as it climbs to the first major junction in 1.2 miles. Go right here (signed Dog Lake). Left goes east and meets the descent trail.

Continuing up from the major junction, the views of the ridges that make up Millcreek Canyon begin coming into better view and aspen trees start to come into the mix more. It is another 1.2 miles to a junction just below Dog Lake. Left and right both go to Dog Lake. Going right on the way up is my recommendation. Just below the lake, a final junction is reached. Go left here, with the lake just a couple of minutes ahead.

Back to the Trailhead (1.84 miles)
Head back the way you came, staying right at the first junction a couple of minutes from the lake. Go right again at the second junction, then right one more time at the junction a few minutes from the lake.