Sandy, Utah
"If you're in Utah for the mountains, Sandy is the place to be. You're only minutes from all the fun that Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons have to offer: Snowbird, Alta, Brighton, and Solitude resorts; dozens of trailheads for mountain biking and hiking; incredible limestone and granite for rock climbing. "
Top Spots in and near Sandy
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Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake Overlook via Desolation Trail
4.14.76 mi / 1729 ft gainThis 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
4.45.97 mi / 2513 ft gainThis 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 -
Alta, Utah
Hike Mt. Superior and Monte Cristo
5.06.25 mi / 2500 ft gainMt. Superior, and its close neighbor, Monte Cristo, are two of the most iconic peaks in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Looming over Alta and Snowbird Ski resorts from the north side of the canyon, these two peaks dominate the Little Cottonwood skyline. Mt. Superior tops out at 11,132 feet, and Monte C...Read more -
Alta, Utah
Hike and Scramble Mount Superior
5.05 miThis is an intermediate to advanced hike. Scrambling up the ridge is more difficult but can be done by anyone with patience and a few maneuvering skills. It is best climbed in the summer months when the ridge is free of snow. However, it makes for a good winter climb for more technical experience...Read more -
10230 East Little Cottonwood Lane, Utah
Cross Country Ski Alta Ski Area's Nordic Track
Drive up Little Cottonwood Canyon until the first entrance into Alta. Park in the Collins lift parking lot, throw your boots on, and head over to the nordic track. Its just next to the tow rope that runs through Albion Basin. Now thats left to do is to step into your skis and ski. The track has a...Read more -
Alta, Utah
Ski Little Cottonwood Canyon
5.0It's no secret that Little Cottonwood Canyon (LCC) is home to some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the lower 48, if not North America. What many people are not aware of is the extremely easy and quick access from Salt Lake City.Enter the Dawn Patrollers. Skiers and snowboarders from Salt L...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 -
Alta, Utah
Snowshoeing Twin Lakes Pass
5.05.21 mi / 1781 ft gainStarting at the parking lot near the Albion Basin gate, travel up the summer road until the second switchback. Just past the second switchback and cabins, leave the summer road heading east. The Trail heads northeast into Grizzly Gulch. It should be easy to follow—it gets a lot of traffic. From h...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Ski Baldy's Main Chute at Alta Ski Area
5.0Do you like hiking? In ski boots? Good.You start the hike from the gate to Snowbird at the EBT near the top of the Sugarloaf lift. The start of the bootpack is at 10,500 ft of elevation. From there, follow the likely well established boot pack to the top of Baldy. There is one rather steep sectio...Read more -
Alta, Utah
Milky Way Astrophotography At Alta
4.0Early spring is a unique time to photograph the Milky Way due to its low angle and the distinctive perspective of its galactic core. The low angle position of the Milky Way arc during the early morning hours, prior to dawn, allows for some striking panoramas, with the still snow-covered Wasatch M...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
Big Cottonwood Canyon Astrophotography
Located in the Wasatch Mountains, less 30 minutes from Salt Lake City, Big Cottonwood Canyon, provides some of the best rural dark-sky viewing of the Milky Way in the Wasatch.The Donut Falls trail head/Mill D trail head, close to the ski resorts of Brighton and Solitude, additionally provides one...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
