Upper Red Pine Lake, Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah

Escape Salt Lake City: Top Cottonwood Canyons Hikes

Explore the Cottonwood Canyons area for stunning scenery and impressive rock formations.

Hiking Moderate, Difficult, Severe, Extreme

Description

If you venture just 30 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, you’ll come across the Cottonwood Canyons. The Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons offer a quieter respite from summer’s typically overflowing campsites and overpriced hotels.

Located in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, the area around the canyons offers all types of hikes – from gentle stream crossings to moderate hikes through aspen groves to scenic hikes with 2,700 feet of elevation gain.

Author: Emily Lennon

Sources: https://www.utahoutdooractivities.com/bighikingtrails.html https://www.hikingproject.com/directory/8015884/big-cottonwood-canyon https://www.sunset.com/travel/rockies/salt-lake-city-utah-cottonwood-canyons/

Routes included

Bells Canyon

Bells Canyon is a very steep, long trail that takes you past beautiful waterfalls and into the rugged heart of the Wasatch Mountains.

Difficult Hiking

Distance: 12 km
Ascent: 1.1 km
Descent: 1.1 km

Pfeifferhorn Peak

This is a strenuous, but classic hike that contains a mix of shaded forrest and high alpine environments.

Extreme Hiking

Distance: 15 km
Ascent: 1.2 km
Descent: 1.2 km

Mount Superior

The most iconic and well-known peak in the Wasatch Mountains.

Severe Hiking

Distance: 7.5 km
Ascent: 764 m
Descent: 764 m

Mineral Fork

The Mineral Fork trail is a good moderate hike in Big Cottonwood Canyon. It follows an old mining road through the woods and into the high alpine.

Moderate Hiking

Distance: 7.4 km
Ascent: 1.1 km
Descent: 4 m

Twin Peaks via Broad Forks Trail

The mighty Twin Peaks are the most visible and prominent mountains in the Wasatch front.

Extreme Hiking

Distance: 13 km
Ascent: 1.6 km
Descent: 1.6 km

Mill B South

This is a moderate hike that gains access to one of the most scenic lakes in the Wasatch.

Difficult Hiking

Distance: 9.8 km
Ascent: 809 m
Descent: 809 m

Desolation Lake

This is a lovely moderate hike through some large aspen groves reaching a quiet little lake.

Moderate Hiking

Distance: 12 km
Ascent: 606 m
Descent: 606 m

White Pine

White Pine trail is a classic moderate hike that follows an old jeep road high up into the central Wasatch to enjoy a quiet pristine lake in the rugged alpine landscape

Moderate Hiking