Outbound Collective logo

Cottonwood Heights, Utah

Looking for the best chillin in Cottonwood Heights? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Cottonwood Heights. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Chillin Spots in and near Cottonwood Heights

  • Cottonwood Heights, Utah

    Rock Climbing at Dogwood

    4.4
    If you can avoid the crowds, Dogwood is an easy crag to get to with a lot of 5.fun climbs and a legendary 5.13a sport climb. From the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon, the Dogwood picnic area is 1.1 miles up the canyon. Park on the street to avoid having to pay $8 and walk into the picnic area. Fol...
    Read more
  • Holladay, Utah

    Hike Heughs Canyon (Olympus Waterfall)

    4.5
    2 mi / 1000 ft gain
    Heughs Canyon starts right on the edge of Salt Lake City, but within minutes, you’re in a shady forest next to a gurgling stream. This is the prefect after-work hike that can be enjoyed year-round. Two miles round-trip and just over 1,000 feet, the path takes you to a beautiful waterfall that flo...
    Read more
  • Sandy, Utah

    Bell Canyon's Waterfall

    4.6
    4.64 mi / 1549 ft gain
    If you keep a steady pace, the hike takes about an hour each way, so allow time when trying to catch the sunset. The hike is pretty easy until right before you reach the falls, where there is a big, steep hill you have to climb. From the parking lot/trailhead, head up the path and head left when...
    Read more
  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Hike Stairs Gulch

    4.2
    Drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon for around 2.8 miles, parking will be along the road and there will be a large rock waterfall on the right hand side of the road. The trailhead is just a short distance from that rock fall (40.623824, -111.743208)Stairs Gulch is an easy, short hike, unless you're lo...
    Read more
  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Hike Neff's Canyon

    4.3
    From the parking lot, you will follow a 4-wheel drive track that runs straight up to the beginning of the different trailheads. You can also take an actual trail up to that same spot, situated below the 4-wheel gravel track on the righthand side.There are a few different trails that merge togethe...
    Read more
  • Salt Lake County, Utah

    Hidden Falls

    4.2
    0.16 mi / 138 ft gain
    Hidden Falls is a beautiful little waterfall with minimal crowds. When I say minimal, I mean I've only seen another person there 1 of the 5 or 6 times that I have been. Take it in. Stay a while. Scramble around the small canyon for different perspectives of the falls or the creek. If you don't ha...
    Read more
  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Hike Mt. Aire

    4.5
    4 mi / 2000 ft gain
    Mount Aire, standing around 8600 ft, certainly isn't the most inspiring peak in or around Salt Lake City, but to me it serves as a quick summit to catch the sunset when I'm short on time.Getting There:Start by heading up Mill Creek Canyon Rd. After passing the ranger booth, drive about 5.5 miles ...
    Read more
  • Sandy, Utah

    Explore Little Cottonwood Canyon's Lisa Falls

    3.8
    Lisa Falls sits approximately 0.22 miles from Little Cottonwood Canyon Road. While the trail is not long or particularly steep, there are some large step ups that could be difficult for either the very old or very young. Nonetheless, this is a great option for a family outing.Once you arrive at t...
    Read more
  • Sandy, Utah

    Summit the Pfeifferhorn

    5.0
    9 mi / 3700 ft gain
    Starting at the White Pine Trailhead in Little Cottonwood Canyon, UT, hike southwest until reaching the junction to Red Pine Canyon. Take the trail that crosses the stream and continues west around the ridge. The trail will quickly turn south and begin to gain elevation. Continue west as you pass...
    Read more
  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Hike Porter Fork, Millcreek Canyon

    5.0
    6.8 mi / 3250 ft gain
    Porter Fork starts at the aptly named Porter Fork Trailhead about 4 miles up Millcreek Canyon. It’s actually Porter Fork Road for the first 1.5 miles of the trail. This section is a pleasant, paved path winding up through a dozen or so cabins. You’ll gain about 1,000 feet. If you make it past the...
    Read more
  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Hike Bowman Fork to Baker Pass

    5.0
    8.3 mi / 3375 ft gain
    To get to the trailhead, drive up Millcreek Canyon about 4.5 miles until you reach the Terraces Picnic area. Turn here and drive up the small road until you reach the parking lot by the bathrooms. You'll see the Bowman Fork trailhead marker next to the parking lot. The trail climbs steadily and i...
    Read more
  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Hike Jacks Mountain

    4.0
    2.4 mi / 1300 ft gain
    Named for a toddler who died of Lukemia in 1995, Jacks Mountain is a beautiful place to sit above the valley and contemplate mortality. On the peak, you’ll find a couple mailboxes containing heartfelt notes from hundreds of hikers throughout the years. It’s the kind of place that restores your fa...
    Read more
  • South Jordan, Utah

    Fish at the East Riverfront Fishing Ponds

    5.0
    0 mi / 0 ft gain
    These are great little ponds located at 11267 S. River Front Pkwy in South Jordan. It is just off of a section of the Jordan River. Kidney Pond is the one located just by the parking. Midas is just above and you can see it from the parking. You can fish here for rainbow trout, channel catfish, bl...
    Read more
  • Brighton, Utah

    Hike or Trail Run Butler Fork

    5.0
    7.2 mi / 1964 ft gain
    To get to the trailhead, drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon 8 miles. The parking lot is on the left side of the road. The first half mile is the steepest of the whole trail so don't get too intimidated by it, it mellows out a lot after. You will come to fork in the trail about a mile in, you can eith...
    Read more
  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Hike Cardiff Fork

    8 mi / 2880 ft gain
    Cardiff Fork and Donut Falls share the same parking lot, so depending on what time of week you go exploring here, it may be the most packed parking in all of the Wasatch. Head up on a weekday for less crowds.  The Cardiff Fork trailhead is follows the rocky jeep road around the parking lot to the...
    Read more
  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Hike to Big Cottonwood Canyon's Desolation Lake

    4.6
    7.4 mi / 1900 ft gain
    Drive 9 miles into Big Cottonwood Canyon and park at the Mill D North Trailhead (on the left). On the right side of the road, there is a restroom. The trial head begins on the left, there is a visible sign you cannot miss before beginning.The trail is about 7.4 miles round trip, about half way t...
    Read more