Cottonwood Heights, Utah

Are you planning a big adventure and need a boost getting ready for it? You came to the right place. This is my go-to when I’m preparing to climb a big mountain. It’s hard to find a steeper trail in the area (that’s not a game trail), and the West Face is usually free of snow early in the season....

If you want to avoid the crowds heading to the Salt Lake Overlook and are looking for a bigger challenge with better views, Thayne Canyon is the ticket. The trail is 6 miles roundtrip with 2,800 feet of elevation gain. It’s a great evening hike and the peak is a nice place to watch the sunset. Th...

This popular trail follows a portion of the Desolation Trail leaving from Mill Creek Canyon. The trail to the overlook is 4.75 miles round trip with a 1700 ft elevation gain. You begin at the Desolation Trailhead and then turn around once you have a view of the Salt Lake Valley. It is a perfect h...

This is the peak that can be seen from the valley located between Millcreek Canyon and Parleys Canyon. There are 2 trails that head up to this peak, but the one up Millcreek Canyon at the top of Church Fork is by far the more popular/enjoyable one (and the one described here). The other one heads...

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...

This out and back hike begins at the same trailhead as White Pine Lake and Red Pine Lake which are both a lot more popular that Maybird Lakes. You follow the trail to Red Pine Lake for the first 2.5 miles and then there is a bridge and you follow that across the river to get on the trail to Maybi...

Rising to a height of 11,326 feet, the Pfeifferhorn is one of the most majestic and iconic peaks in the Wasatch Mountains, and also one of the most popular mountains to hike. During the summer and fall, there is a well beaten trail all the way to the summit, but during the winter and spring, this...

The White Pine Trailhead is up Little Cottonwood Canyon on the south side of the road just before you get to Snowbird Ski Resort. The parking lot fills up very quickly so an early start is recommended. The skin track starts in the southwest corner of the parking lot near the bathrooms. You will f...

You start this trail at the Orson Smith Park in Draper.  It joins with the Bonneville Shoreline Trail briefly before turning off onto the cherry creek logging trail.  It switchbacks for a long ways exposed on towards the valley.  It is fairly steep in places, but doable.  I had tennis shoes with ...

The main trail to Lone Peak is via Jacobs Ladder. To get to the start of the trailhead you need to drive on a dirt road for a little bit until you get to a little parking area (start of the road indicated on the map). The trail starts just south of where you park on the dirt road. The Jacobs Lad...

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...

The 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...

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...

Just 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...

Red 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...

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...