RT Big Cottonwood Canyon

15-mile-long canyon provides hiking, biking, picnicking, rock-climbing, camping and fishing in the summer, and its two ski resorts, Brighton and Solitude, are popular among skiers and snowboarders

General Information

Hours:

Open year-round, 24 hours a day
Access may be limited during winter storms or avalanche control periods

Fees:

No general entrance fee
Fees may apply for specific activities (e.g., ski resorts, guided tours, or parking at certain trailheads)

Pet Policy:

Pets are not allowed in Big Cottonwood Canyon due to its status as a protected watershed area

Closest cities with hotels:

Salt Lake City, UT (12 mi)

Seasons:

All year
- Spring: Wildflowers and mild hiking
- Summer: Hiking, biking, climbing
- Fall: Peak foliage and photography
- Winter: Skiing and snowboarding at Brighton and Solitude resorts

Location:

Big Cottonwood Canyon, Salt Lake City, UT

Website:

visitsaltlake.com

Salt Lake City, UT Weather Forecast

Overview

Big Cottonwood Canyon east of Salt Lake City in the Wasatch Mountains is a 15-mile paved canyon road with two ski resorts (Brighton and Solitude), alpine lakes, and wildflowers, about 30 minutes from downtown. Guardsman Pass, at the top, connects to Park City and closes in winter.

Highlights

Lake Mary, Martha, and Katherine: alpine lakes reached by trails from Brighton
Lake Blanche: the canyon's most popular hike, about 7 miles round trip, with a big view of Sundial Peak
Storm Mountain: a picnic area, with rock features and the historic Maxfield home site
S-Curve: a popular sport-climbing area with mostly bolted routes
Wildflowers: peak bloom in July and August

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Big Cottonwood Canyon", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0