Outbound Collective logo

Cottonwood Heights, Utah

Looking for the best running 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 Running Spots in and near Cottonwood Heights

  • 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
  • Holladay, Utah

    Winter Hike to Mt. Olympus

    5.0
    7 mi / 4200 ft gain
    Approach: You can access the well traveled Mount Olympus Trail the same as you would any other season. Park in the trailhead lot or along Wasatch Blvd. The trail starts on the south side of the parking lot.Route Description: Even in the winter the Mount Olympus trail should be pretty straightforw...
    Read more
  • Sandy, Utah

    Dimple Dell Trail West

    3.88 mi / 236 ft gain
    Dimple Dell Trail West is an out-and-back trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Sandy, Utah.
    Read more
  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Hike the Mineral Fork Trail

    4.0
    9.3 mi / 3500 ft gain
    The trailhead begins along Big Cottonwood Canyon Road, with a relatively small parking lot at the trailhead. Starting early in the day is advised, as on nice summer days it will fill up quickly. The trail has a steady ascent for the first 2 miles starting around 6700' through aspen forests and cr...
    Read more
  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Grandeur Peak West Face

    2.23 mi / 3307 ft gain
    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....
    Read more
  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Parley's Historic Nature Park Trail Loop

    3.0
    2 mi / 135 ft gain
    Parley's Historic Nature Park Trail Loop, located in Salt Lake City, Utah, is a well-known hiking trail. This 2-mile loop trail is rated as moderate, making it suitable for hikers with some experience. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips and is accessible year-round....
    Read more
  • Salt Lake County, Utah

    Hike Thayne Canyon

    6 mi / 2800 ft gain
    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...
    Read more
  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Salt Lake Overlook via Desolation Trail

    4.1
    4.76 mi / 1729 ft gain
    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...
    Read more
  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Grandeur Peak East Trail

    4.4
    5.97 mi / 2513 ft gain
    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...
    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

    Trail Run Burch Hollow Trail

    5.3 mi / 2412 ft gain
    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...
    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
  • 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

    Kessler Peak in Utah's Big Cottonwood Canyon

    4.7
    4.66 mi / 2733 ft gain
    Kessler 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