At Elbow Fork the road turn sharply south. The Mt. Aire trail leads north at this point while the Mill Creek Canyon Road continues to Birch Hollow, Wilson Fork and on to the end of the road parking lot at Big Water Gulch.

Porter Fork is a residential area with many large homes and cabins. Boy Scout Camp Tracy is located in the lower part of the canyon 1.87 miles (3.00 km) from the fee station and provides both summer and winter scout activities.

Two restaurants, The Millcreek Inn 2.47 miles (3.97 km) and Log Haven 3.26 miles (5.24 km) from the fee station are also found in this section of the canyon.

Just beyond Log Haven is a gate which, depending on weather conditions, is closed to vehicular traffic from November 1 through June 1. From this point east snow is not removed from the road making snowshoeing and cross country skiing very popular.