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
Hike Days Fork
5.07.5 mi / 2494 ft gainTo get to the trailhead drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon to Spruces Campground. Once in the parking lot, walk to the southwest corner of the parking lot and go up the road past the bathrooms. The trailhead will be next to the overgrown baseball field. The trail is awesome single track the whole wa...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Backcountry Ski Days Fork
3.2 miDays Fork is on the south side of Big Cottonwood Canyon behind the Spruces parking lot. The trail head begins on the south west corner of the parking lot. The approach to Days Fork is long, but gradual. Continue south along the skin track until you reach the end of the Days Fork Basin. Here you c...Read more -
Alta, Utah
Cecret Lake
4.41.78 mi / 509 ft gainCecret Lake is reached by driving up Little Cottonwood Canyon to Albion Basin above Alta Ski Resort. The hike is just under 1 mile to the lake and should take about 30 minutes. The hike goes through fields full of wildflowers and wildlife is abundant. Moose, deer, and various wildlife can be s...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Backcountry Ski Short Swing, Mill D North
4 mi / 1900 ft gainDrive up Big Cottonwood Canyon until you reach the Spruces Campground on the right. You will park here and prep your gear for the day. Walk back out to the canyon road and cross the street to the trail head. As you hike up the trial, you'll pass some cabins, once you've passed all the cabins, you...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Backcountry Ski Beartrap Fork
5.04 mi / 2016 ft gainYou can access the trailhead to Beartrap by driving up Big Cottonwood Canyon 10.4 miles and parking on the right side of the road. You will see the "Bear Trap Fork Rd" sign on the left side of the road, this is where the trailhead begins. Make your way up the skin track through the dense aspens u...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Cycle Big Mountain
The views from the top of Big Mountain are breathtaking. From the Salt Lake - Morgan County border at about 7,400 ft, you will look down East Canyon, and over the top of Parley's Canyon into the Salt Lake Valley. Big Mountain can be ridden alone or as an extension to the Emigration Canyon Ride.Fr...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Bike Emigration Canyon
4.714.4 mi / 1300 ft gainIf you're looking for a fun climb on your road bike that won't kill you, or you are trying to find a place to train for some bigger climbing, Emigration is the perfect place to ride. The elevation gain is gradual, allowing you to grind it out for a great training ride, or spin steadily to the top...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Mountain Bike Dog Lake, Millcreek Canyon
4.4 mi / 1260 ft gainIf it’s an even day and you’re in Salt Lake and you’re in possession of a mountain bike, put down your phone and spend the next 2 hours in pure bliss. Mountain bikers are only allowed to use the trails of upper Millcreek Canyon on even days, which makes for a busy route, but well worth it. This i...Read more -
Provo, Utah
Hike the Pine Hollow Trail
4.04.4 mi / 1100 ft gainThe trailhead (Forest Trail 047 - Pine Hollow Trail) starts across the street from a turnout about .5 miles above Mutual Dell in American Fork Canyon. This highly trafficked trail is used for just about every activity you can think of, meaning that you can even snowshoe this in the winter. It's a...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Trail Run Upper Big Water Trail to Dog Lake
4.06.2 mi / 1267 ft gainDrive all the way to the top of Millcreek Canyon until you can't drive any further. (They close the road further down the canyon in the winter so this trail is not accessible to cars in the winter.) There is a small parking lot at the end of the road, park here. The trail head is going to be on t...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Hike Old Red Pine Road Trail
5.04.2 mi / 1000 ft gainThe trail begins at the parking lot at the very top of Millcreek, called Upper Big Water. The trail begins on the east side of the lot, where bathrooms are available. Walk to trail sign and head left to Old Pine Road Trail.From there, the trail remains relatively flat with some steep gains. The t...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Backcountry Ski Willow Fork
3 mi / 1700 ft gainWillow Fork is just across the mountain from Solitude Ski Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon. You can access Willow Fork from a few different trailheads; either from the Willow Heights Trailhead or across the street from both the lower and upper Solitude parking lots. The Willow Heights Trailhead wi...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Photograph Wildlife at Willow Lake
2.2 mi / 629 ft gainWillow Lake has become my favorite spot in all of Utah. It feels so distant from civilization in the mountains, but is only a 25 minute drive from Salt Lake City. I have hiked to Willow Lake close to 10 times this year during different seasons, and have never seen more than 5 people on the trail...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Camp at Willow Lake
4.62.41 mi / 659 ft gainThe trailhead to Willow Lake is about 11 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon and is on the north side of the road right after the passing lane begins. It can be easy to miss, and is only marked with a plaque on a rock (40.630302, -111.604639). As you hike a little in from the road you will see the tra...Read more -
Salt Lake County, Utah
Willow Lake
4.52.41 mi / 659 ft gainThe Trail: Follow the marked trail and you'll hike less than a mile up to the edge of Willow Lake. Moose like to hang out in the thick willows there, so make lots of noise to warn them that you're coming and you won't startle any. Standing on the shoreline, you'll have a great view of Solitude ...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Hike the Living Room
4.42.5 mi / 1000 ft gainBecause if its proximity to downtown Salt Lake, this is a great quick hike to do after work. Although it's short, it is fairly steep, climbing nearly 1000 feet in 1.25 miles. However, most people can do it without too much difficulty. This is a good family hike and allows dogs on leashes. Due to ...Read more
