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Hike Stairs Gulch

Salt Lake City, Utah

4.2/5
based on 5 reviews

Description

Added by McKenzie Roers

As challenging as you want it to be. Long exposure photographer's dream. Fantastic views. No dogs allowed. Standard hike: 1.5 miles out-and-back. Elevation Gain: 625 feet.

Drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon for around 2.8 miles, parking will be along the road and there will be a large rock waterfall on the right hand side of the road. The trailhead is just a short distance from that rock fall (40.623824, -111.743208)

Stairs Gulch is an easy, short hike, unless you're looking for more. After reaching what is deemed the trail end, continue up the gulch all the way up until we reached the snow patch that remains. If you have climbing experience or are certainly capable of handling tough hikes, it will probably be easier for you. However, if you do not have such experience, I recommend not heading too far up the remainder of the gulch.

Best for the warmer months, as the gulch becomes a high avalanche risk area in the winter.

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Features

Fitness
Chillin
Photography
Hiking
River
Scenic
Waterfall

Hike Stairs Gulch Reviews

Short hike. Some minor bouldering about a half mile up the trail. It wasn't busy during the week. The waterfall is beautiful, you can play around in it, and it's a nice break from the heat.

Quick Hike. It Was All Frosty And Icy Late November. Very Gorgeous, But Slick Near The Falls.

Very beautiful and very lightly trafficked even on a Saturday. We started rock hopping about .5 miles up and then took the trail down. Going up took a lot longer that way but was a lot more fun and scenic. Watch out for rattle snakes.

Not too hard. It's uphill the whole way there and downhill on the way back. There's a few times you need to cross the creek so wear water shoes or look for some routes to hop across. It stays shaded a lot of the way. Pretty views. We did see a rattlesnake about half way up crossing the trail.

We went right around sunset and got some sweet pics. The hike itself is pretty easy. We ended up climbing up the waterfall till we reached the snow. Super fun :)

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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