S C A V E N G E R H U N T

Welcome to Open Streets SLC! You have found the Nature on Main Scavenger Hunt.

Here, we ask you to identify an aspect of nature along Main Street and answer a question about it that relates to the natural history of the Wasatch Front. Stops are numbered north to south, but you can start anywhere. Answer as many questions as you like. At the end of the Scavenger Hunt, go to the City Creek Center activity hub to learn more and find fun activities!

Stop 1: The real City Creek?

Look inside the City Creek mall, to the east, and you’ll see a man-made creek meant to evoke City Creek, which flows from the Wasatch Mountains into the Salt Lake Valley just a few blocks north. City Creek has been central to Salt Lake City’s history since 1847, when Latter-day Saint pioneers dammed it to irrigate crops. Its water was later diverted into canals and eventually buried for 85 years.

This raises the question: What is the “real” City Creek? Its ecosystem has changed due to invasive species and altered water management, affecting native fish. Some plants along the creek are wild descendants of those once cultivated.

City Creek supports diverse wildlife—small mammals like raccoons, chipmunks, and skunks; larger animals such as mule deer and coyotes; and many bird species including owls, hawks, and quail.

Wildlife often travels from upper City Creek Canyon into the city, especially in winter.

And of course, when we think of creeks, we think of fish—one of which is the Utah State Fish, native to City Creek.