Cottonwood Heights, Utah
Looking for the best hiking 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 Hiking Spots in and near Cottonwood Heights
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Salt Lake City, Utah
Hike Porter Fork, Millcreek Canyon
5.06.8 mi / 3250 ft gainPorter 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
Trail Run Burch Hollow Trail
5.3 mi / 2412 ft gainThe Burch Hollow trailhead is about a quarter mile up the Pipeline trail in Millcreek Canyon. After hiking along the switchbacks of the Pipeline trail, you'll see a sharp turn in the trail that leads you up the side of the mountain. This turn can easily be missed so keep a good look out for it. C...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Hike Bowman Fork to Baker Pass
5.08.3 mi / 3375 ft gainTo 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 -
Sandy, Utah
White Pine Lake
4.59.97 mi / 2917 ft gainJust about 5 miles (2-2.5 hrs) from the trailhead, you will find the beautiful White Pine Lake where the water is an intense blue color. It's an amazing place for photos and just hanging out on a summer or fall afternoon. Along the way you will have great views of mountains of all colors, beautif...Read more -
Sandy, Utah
Red Pine Lake Trail
5.06.94 mi / 1995 ft gainRed Pine Lake, located in Red Pine Fork of the Wasatch Mountains, is one of the premier hiking and backpacking destinations in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Red Pine Fork is sandwiched in between White Pine Fork and Maybird Gulch to the east and west, respectively. All three are accessed via the Whit...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Hike Jacks Mountain
4.02.4 mi / 1300 ft gainNamed 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 -
Brighton, Utah
Hike or Trail Run Butler Fork
5.07.2 mi / 1964 ft gainTo 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 -
Brighton, Utah
Backcountry Ski Butler Fork
2 miThe trail head for Butler Fork is 8 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon on the left side of the road. Throw your gear on and head up the trail. Continue along the skin track and after about 20 minutes you'll come upon a fork in the trail. The right trail will take you up the East Fork towards Butler B...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Hike Cardiff Fork
8 mi / 2880 ft gainCardiff 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
Donut Falls
4.11.53 mi / 413 ft gainThe Trail Follow the trail for just a little bit and when it forks, stay to the left and you will arrive to Donut Falls. Once at the waterfall, climb up the rocks to get to the cave at the top, which is not visible from the bottom. To take pictures inside of the cave, you will most likely get yo...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Kessler Peak in Utah's Big Cottonwood Canyon
4.74.66 mi / 2733 ft gainKessler Peak is a 10,403-foot peak located in Big Cottonwood Canyon. From the top, you can see all the way to the Uintas to the East, The tram at Snowbird to the south, and the Salt Lake Valley to the west. To the north is Mount Raymond and Gobblers Knob. Kessler Peak is the terminus and highes...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Snowshoe to Cardiff Mine
7 mi / 1500 ft gainThe trail starts from the same trailhead as Donut Falls which is extremely popular. In the winter, the gates are closed and you need to park just off the highway. Follow the road and crowds along the trail but once you cross the bridge continue straight ahead instead of following the trail that c...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Backcountry Ski Cardiff Fork
4 miDrive up Big Cottonwood Canyon until you reach the Mill D South parking lot (aka Donut Falls parking). Head up the main road until you reach the bathrooms at the Donut Falls trailhead. Here you can either keep straight past the bathrooms, but the best way to go is to keep right along the road. Yo...Read more -
Sandy, Utah
Photograph Little Cottonwood Creek at Snowbird
2.0Little Cottonwood Creek flows right through Snowbird Ski Resort and there are a few beautiful locations to go shoot the river at. The best place to start hiking down the river is right by where the tram takes off. That is just below the Cliff Lodge and right by the Peruvian Lift. There's a res...Read more -
Sandy, Utah
Backcountry Ski Suicide Chute on Mt. Superior
5.00.6 mi / 1245 ft gainFirst of all it's not as scary as it sounds, or as scary as it looks. That being said it's a steep chute in dangerous avalanche terrain so only experienced skiers with backcountry skiing knowledge/equipment should attempt this route.Suicide Chute is located on the South face of Mt. Superior in L...Read more -
Sandy, Utah
Hike and Climb the S. Ridge of Mt. Superior
4.54.5 mi / 1800 ft gainApproach: Start by parking on the side of the road just above the Snowbird Cliff Lodge. Then there will be some bushwhacking as you work your way up the southern slopes of Mount Superior following the path of least resistance until reaching the winter avalanche path under the south face and to th...Read more