Broads Fork Trail - Big Cottonwood Canyon in 360 Degrees



A Field of Yellow Flowers with views of Dromedary Peak on the  middle left and O'Sullivan Peak on the middle right and the Twin Peaks on the far right.
A Field of Yellow Flowers with views of Dromedary Peak on the  middle left and O'Sullivan Peak on the middle right and the Twin Peaks on the far right.

Broads Fork Trail in 360 Degrees

- Big Cottonwood Canyon -

  • I started the steep uphill part of this trail being not hugely impressed, but I was very much wowed and in love with the trail by the end!
  • About 2 miles to meadow, and then the trail goes another mile closer to O'Sullivan Mountain.  Trail gets much narrower after the meadow but the views of the little stream and the pond and the three mountains are beautiful.  The trail was easy to follow still EXCEPT at the slate fields.  on the way in, I had to go over a tree stump and thought this is going to be easy to miss on the way back, and another trail merge to the trail I was on.  I looked at GAIA maps and it seemed the other trail was the "right"trail.  I don't think I agree.  I think that trail is there because so many people miss the turn off.  What it causes is that after you cross the slate field the trail looks like it DEAD ENDS.  I think that is because too many people missed the turn off and then at the end of the slate field they have to do a switchback to get back onto the trail.  It you watch the TINY PLANET video below and stop it at the end you can see the switch back trail there.  
  • Trail gains 2047 feet in 2 miles, so it is pretty steep.  Just remember that it is OK to stop and take breaks, just don't give up.  It keeps getting prettier the further you go.
  • I  did not make it to the "end" of this trail even though I had good intentions to.  There is a spot after crossing the slate fields where there is a HUGE BOULDER just sitting there in front of the trail.  I could see that the boulder would not be that "hard" to climb up, but I was solo, and I avoid places where I feel it might be dangerous being alone.  I think I would have had no problem going further if I would have had a buddy, but I was solo....  I think past that boulder you get really great views of Dromedary Peak and O'Sullivan Peak. 
  • This trail is only 15 min from SLC in Big Cottonwood Canyon.  There is a spot in Big Cottonwood Canyon that has a big S shape in the road and some parking lots.  These parking lots have 4 trails that start from here.  This is one of them.  The trail head is on the WEST side of the lower parking lot.  Same lot as Lake Blanche.  
2D Video of Broads Fork Trail at the Meadow of Wild Flowers, across Bridge and to the Pond. 




INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE

Wildflower field at the base of Twin Peaks and O’Sullivan Peak (left of Twin Peaks) up Big Cottonwood Canyon. This hike is 2000 elevation gain in 2.2 miles. Just like this hike, life can sometimes feel hard, just remember that it is ok to slow down and stop for a while, just don’t give up and keep on the path to the amazing beautiful place God wants you to get to.

The Broads Fork River - Up the trail about 1 mile.

360 Video Crossing the Stream on Broads Fork Trail








The First Bridge Crossing the River on the Broads Fork Trail




2D Video of Crossing this Stream on Broads Fork Trail






Broads Fork River
Broads Fork River



Tiny Planet Video of This Area with lots of yellow Wildflowers at the Base of Twin Peaks and O'Sullivan Peak







The Field of Flowers - Up Broads Fork Trail about 2 miles
Fields of Flowers at the base of Dromedary Peak and O'Sullivan Peak 


2D Video Up close to Twin Peaks and O'Sullivan Peak





360 Video of the Above Twin Peaks Area





I am not sure on this pretty little yellow flower, but I think it is a St. Johnswort flower.
I am not sure on this pretty little yellow flower, but I think it is a St. Johnswort flower.

GEAR ENCOURAGEMENT.


This trail is not as well traveled as its neighbor Lake Blanche.  I think I only saw 4 people on the trail the morning I was there, so if you are looking for a quiet peaceful hike with a great workout this is perfect!  For trails that are less traveled I would not go unless I had 3 pieces of gear. 
  • First, I would have the GAIA app downloaded on my device or a similar app that has good GPS ability with good updated maps.  I would then make sure I had downloaded the area I am hiking.  
  • Second, I would have an EXTERNAL Bluetooth GPS linked to your phone.  Your cell phone GPS will not be good enough when you are back in the mountains.  
  • Third, I would have an external battery to make sure I didn't loose the map on my phone.  
These 3 things are crucial for me having successful hikes.  If I trail is not well marked on GAIA, I start recording my trail so I can backtrack it.  If I am not sure I am on the right trail, or I can't see it, I pull it up, and within seconds I am back on the trail.  I play it very safe making sure I don't get lost out there, and this is my secret to playing it safe.  If you don't have all three, PLEASE get them.  Hike safely!




Hardy Geraiums off the trail with the Stream in the background
Hardy Geraiums off the trail with the Stream in the background

Hardy Geraiums off the trail with the Stream in the background
Hardy Geraiums off the trail with the Stream in the background

Second Bridge on the Broads Fork Trail
Second Bridge on the Broads Fork Trail

Rocks you have to get up on to cross the Bridge
Rocks you have to get up on to cross the Bridge

The closest I got to Dromedary Peak on the left and O'Sullivan Peak on the right.
   The closest I got to Dromedary Peak on the left and O'Sullivan Peak on the right. 

2D Tiny Planet Video Crossing the Slate Field








I came to this rock in front of me on the trail to the end of Broads Fork.  I know around this you can get great views of Dromedary Peak, but for some reason it seemed not smart to climb this alone.  I can easily see a path up, but whether it was the drop off on the right that freaked me out, or the unknown of what's just past this but here is where I turned around. There was gorgeous views of the 3 mountains on the way from the Meadow to here, but it was obvious.that this section of the trail was much less traveled.
I came to this rock in front of me on the trail to the end of Broads Fork.  I know around this you can get great views of Dromedary Peak, but for some reason it seemed not smart to climb this alone.  I can easily see a path up, but whether it was the drop off on the right that freaked me out, or the unknown of what's just past this but here is where I turned around. There was gorgeous views of the 3 mountains on the way from the Meadow to here, but it was obvious.that this section of the trail was much less traveled.  

Twin Peaks in  the middle, then off to the left is O'Sullivan and then Dromedary Peak on the very left.
Twin Peaks in  the middle, then off to the left is O'Sullivan and then Dromedary Peak on the very left.

A cluster of Penstemon Purple Flowers growing in a cluster along a rock section of the trail. - Oh dear cute bell shaped flower, how do you grow so beautiful in such a rough environment?
A cluster of Penstemon Purple Flowers growing in a cluster along a rock section of the trail. - Oh dear cute bell shaped flower, how do you grow so beautiful in such a rough environment?  

Left Mountain is one of the Twin Peaks.  The right mountain has a river that runs down the opposite side called North Fork River.
Left Mountain is one of the Twin Peaks.  The right mountain has a river that runs down the opposite side called North Fork River.

Hardy White Geranium Flower alongside the trail looking North towards Big Cottonwood Canyon
Hardy White Geranium Flower alongside the trail looking North towards Big Cottonwood Canyon 

Beautiful Mountain Stream  just past Meadow looking North towards Big Cottonwood Canyon
Beautiful Mountain Stream  just past Meadow looking North towards Big Cottonwood Canyon 

Rocky Section of the Trail just east of Twin Peaks
Rocky Section of the Trail just east of Twin Peaks






Wild Flower Field in front of the Twin Peak Mountains - Utah 
Wild Flower Field in front of the Twin Peak Mountains - Utah






Giant Indian Paintbrush
Giant Indian Paintbrush 



Broads Fork Trail Sign which is on the west side of the Lake Blanche Parking area  by the big S part of the road in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
Broads Fork Trail Sign which is on the west side of the Lake Blanche Parking area  by the big S part of the road in Big Cottonwood Canyon. 

Sign letting you know that this trail is in the Twin Peaks Wilderness Area
Sign letting you know that this trail is in the Twin Peaks Wilderness Area








Rock Climbing Location off the Broadsfork Trail Big Cottonwood Canyon
Rock Climbing Location off the Broadsfork Trail Big Cottonwood Canyon

If you liked this hike, you will also LOVE
LISA FALLS


and
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HORSE TAIL FALLS

and
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SCOUT FALLS

and
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STEWART FALLS



If you are enjoying these post, I would encourage you to look at the sponsor links below.  Even just the few pennies I get helps to keep more adventures coming your way.  The first link is these cool lights that look like a meteor or rain shower. Then awesome wall waterfalls that I am dying to install in my home, and last snowflakes.   They are all in honor of the beautiful snow that is falling outside my house as I work on this blog.  HAPPY HIKING!