The Ultimate Guide to Cottonwood Canyon Waterfalls
⚡ The Quick Scoop
The Vibe: Exploring the absolute best, rushing waterfalls hidden deep within the towering granite walls of Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, just 30 minutes outside of Salt Lake City.
The Ultimate List: From 5-minute paved strolls to grueling alpine climbs, I am breaking down every major cascade you need to see in these two massive glacier-carved canyons.
The Salt Lake Valley is blessed with some of the most dramatic, imposing mountains in the country. Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons are absolute giants, carved out by ancient glaciers and bordered by massive, sweeping walls of white granite.
And where there is steep, glacier-carved granite... there are epic waterfalls! Today, I am giving you the master list of my absolute favorite cascades hidden in these two canyons. For the massive, story-filled adventures, I've linked you out to the full 360° VR deep-dives so you can read all about my crazy encounters with moose, hidden caves, and slippery slickrock!
Known for its winding roads, famous ski resorts, and strict watershed rules (No dogs allowed!), Big Cottonwood hides some incredibly unique waterfalls.
1. Donut Falls
🥾 3 Miles RT📈 500 ft Gain⭐ Easy / Crowded
This is arguably the most famous waterfall near Salt Lake City! The water famously drops down into a cave, pouring through a doughnut-shaped hole in the mountain rock. Because it is so unique, it is notoriously crowded in the summer.
Shauna's Secret: I absolutely love doing this hike in the dead of winter! You can escape the depressing valley inversion, burst through to the blue skies, and actually crawl right inside the frozen cavern to see the icicles! It turns the access road into a huge, incredibly fun sledding hill.
This hike took me longer to safely cross the busy canyon road than to actually hike to the waterfall! It is an incredibly quick stop just off the treacherous "S-Curve" on the highway.
Shauna's Secret: Do NOT trust your map apps on this one! My GPS led me completely astray. If you hike this in the winter, be prepared to cross a totally frozen stream, and look closely at the icicles—I found one that looked exactly like a creepy, frozen face staring right back at me!
A grueling 2,700-foot climb leads to the most peaceful alpine lake in the Wasatch, hiding a beautiful cascade tucked right between Lake Blanche and Lake Florence.
Shauna's Secret: I did this as an overnight backpacking trip and it was profoundly healing to watch the sunset light up Sundial Peak. But the funniest part? A massive 1,000-pound moose decided to bed down right next to our tent! I was held hostage all night, terrified to unzip my tent to go to the bathroom!
AllTrails calls this trail "Hard" and "for experienced hikers only," because of the steep, rugged terrain right between massive avalanche zones.
Shauna's Secret: The real danger isn't the steepness—it is a deceptive false trail! So many people get stuck on a terrifying, steep rock ledge trying to avoid the water. The secret? Just cross the river! Accept that your boots will get wet, safely cross to the right side, and the trail easily guides you to a beautiful upper waterfall.
Steeper and more dramatic than its neighbor, Little Cottonwood is home to sheer granite walls, world-class climbing, and roaring, high-altitude cascades.
5. Bells Canyon Waterfall
🥾 5 Miles RT📈 1,500 ft Gain⭐ Level 2-3 (Moderate/Hard)
Located right at the base of Little Cottonwood Canyon, this trail is incredibly dynamic! It starts with a beautiful walk up to a reflective reservoir before beginning the steep climb into the granite cliffs.
Shauna's Secret: I have hiked this in both winter and spring, and they are completely different worlds! In the winter, you must have spikes to navigate the ice safely. But the spring runoff? The waterfall runs so hard that you are instantly covered in mist the second you get close! It is a breathtaking, roaring monster.
This is arguably the most unique waterfall layout in the entire valley! Instead of plunging over a cliff, the water runs sideways along a massive, beautiful slab of smooth white granite.
Shauna's Secret: The area around the falls (Gate Buttress) is actually owned by a local church. They generously opened it up to world-class rock climbers, and even took tools to flatten the tops of the massive boulders into "stairs" to make it safe for hikers! It is a totally unique piece of local history.
🥾 2.2 Miles RT📈 500 ft Gain⭐ Moderate (Hard in Snow)
Tucked off the Red Pine Lake trail, this roaring cascade cascades down the rock in "stairs" and is surrounded by gorgeous, steep alpine slopes.
Shauna's Secret: I learned the hard way that hiking this in the early summer means slipping and sliding on terrifying, hard-packed snow! You definitely need your spikes. But the beautiful, perfectly shaped "Heart Rock" I found resting at the top made every slippery step worth it.
This is my absolute favorite "Happy Accident"! While wandering aimlessly off the main trail, I accidentally discovered a completely hidden, massive cascade.
Shauna's Secret: This might actually be the tallest spring-runoff waterfall in the entire canyon! It stays a secret because it dries up by late summer. In the winter, ice climbers call it "The Great White Icicle." I've dropped the exact directions on how to find the unmarked trail in the full post!
Get a sneak peek at the power of these spring-runoff waterfalls! Click and drag the video below to look around at the roaring water and snowy trails of the Cottonwood Canyons.
Community Connection
🧭 The Cottonwood Trail Tracker
Waterfall conditions in Utah change wildly from season to season! An epic, roaring cascade in May might be completely dry by August. Help the VRGetaway community out! If you recently hiked one of these Cottonwood waterfalls, drop a quick trail report below so others know what to expect.
📋 Live Community Trail Reports
Check the latest conditions submitted by fellow hikers below before you head out!
Interactive Magic
✨ Ask the Cottonwood Guide
Curious about the watershed rules (no dogs allowed!), the geology of the granite, or the best time to see Donut Falls? Ask our AI Guide!
Find Your Flow
Whether you want a quick, easy stroll to Lisa Falls or a grueling, victorious climb to Lake Blanche, the Cottonwood Canyons have a majestic waterfall waiting for you. Click on the deeper stories above, get out there, embrace the mist, and let the rushing water wash your stress away!
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