Big Cottonwood Canyon
Big Cottonwood Canyon
5
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Located in the Wasactch Mountains, this wilderness region offers a limitless range of recreation for outdoor enthusiasts.
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- ANDREW J4 contributionsAwesome!Awesome. There is Mtn and Road Biking, hikes, including some with boardwalks, campsites, fishing, skiing and snowboarding and more. You can often see wildlife such as deer or moose, especially if you know the right trails and go early in the morning or in the evening. As a local, I visit here every week. Just note that no dogs are allowed. (Even in the car) If you don't have a dog, or can leave yours at a hotel or house, you must visit! There is something for everyone -Thrill Seekers, Families, Large groups, Solo visitors, and more. The views are incredible, and you will not recommend visiting, weather just on a drive or getting out and doing something.Visited September 2020Written September 24, 2020
- RM RDubai, United Arab Emirates95 contributionsBike ride up and downGreat canyon to ride a bike up. I’m a mamil and cycle regularly but there’s nothing close to this scale near me. About 1000m vertical ascent with a near constant uphill for over 20km or 13 miles. It’s a tough climb but I found plenty of places to stop and I did that quite a lot. My Garmin showed up to 13% gradient and on my not friendly hire bike gearing it was very tough. Good news there’s plenty places to stop, take a drink and take in the beautiful scenery. You can get up over 8000 feet or 2500m and I was there in November. There was snow around and plenty on the high mountains and it’s cool towards the top of course, but I was warm enough for a short sleeve jersey. On the way down I put everything on! Keep the windchill out and make sure you have decent brakes!Visited November 2021Written November 14, 2021
- Robert NWelkom, South Africa177 contributionsUp Close & PersonalBig Cottonwood Canyon is one of the world’s most beautiful drives. There are places you could roll your window down and almost touch the mountain cliffs. Unlimited hiking and camping are just a few of the activities you’ll find. Make sure to drive to the top and enjoy the vast Aspen groves. They will put on a spectacular color show later in September.Visited September 2020Traveled as a coupleWritten September 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
1,168 reviews
Excellent
960
Very good
188
Average
11
Poor
3
Terrible
6
Krissy C
12 contributions
May 2021
We started to drive in. We wanted to pull over to have a meal and then continue driving through, but every single pull out required a fee, and the signage made a person believe they rather you just leave. No swimming, no dogs, picnic areas with $129 price tags. All we wanted to do was have lunch. Federal Govt park rules were a nuisance for our road trip. I bet it was beautiful.
Written May 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MKTBE
Topeka, KS3,000 contributions
May 2021 • Family
The beautiful Big Cottonwood Canyon affords children of all ages the opportunity for numerous recreational opportunities. The drive alone is a visual treat. A meandering creek accompanies the road, with many turnouts to view, and photograph, the natural beauty. For the adventurer hiking, rock climbing, camping, and skiing are all available. The drive leads to Silver Lake and Brighton Ski Resort. In summer and fall there are hikes that lead to picturesque Lake Mary, Lake Catherine, Clayton Peak, and many more. Big Cottonwood Canyon is absolutely stunning, and provides outdoor activities for all ages!
Written May 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sanj2561
North Huntingdon, PA303 contributions
Oct 2021
What a beautiful drive up the Wasatch mountains! The trees were a brilliant yellow and the other plant life were green and orange, making for a patchwork of color. We continued onto Park City, which was a scary ride in the early morning...very high elevation with lots of low hanging clouds made for a white knuckle trip down the mountains!
Written October 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jacob B
West Jordan, UT9 contributions
Jun 2019
Big Cottonwood Canyon is a beautiful place, and it is just a couple of minutes away from Salt Lake City. There are countless hikes, campgrounds, and places to explore in both this canyon and Little Cottonwood Canyon, which is nearby. Definitely a must-see.
Written April 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
diana
Hilton Head, SC11 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
The drive through the canyon itself is beautiful. The hike up to Donut Falls was beautiful but a moderate hike. For an easier walk, head to Silver Lake. There is an easy walk around the lake where you can see moose and beavers. They also allow fishing there. There is a market where you can buy soft serve ice cream and plenty of other snacks and drinks.
Written July 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Utah John
Salt Lake City, UT15 contributions
Sep 2020
Big Cottonwood Canyon is a great treat any time of the year and the fall foliage adds an extra plus. The canyon is great for hiking, biking and just sight seeing. An of course in winter there is the best skiing on earth!
Written September 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amy J
Saint Louis, MO10 contributions
Aug 2022 • Friends
The views on the Mt Wolverine Cirque were stunning! Challenging and very rewarding hike. With the exception of the areas around Lake Mary and Catherine Pass, there were very few hikers on the more challenging routes. Would definitely visit this area again.
Written August 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heidi g
Traverse City, MI256 contributions
Jan 2023
Hubby and I hiked here just recently in winter with several feet of snow as well as this past summer. Loved both times of the year! Many hikes ranging from easy to difficult but all are beautiful. Be sure to check on avalanche risk before you head out in the winter. Limited parking in winter. Highly recommend even if just a drive up the canyon and back to SLC.
Written January 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Annabell O
California415 contributions
Sep 2020
The Spruces Campground in Big Cottonwood is stunning. Our site (#36) was on a small creek, and we loved the beauty and serenity of the setting. Bathrooms were very clean. We would have loved to stay longer and explore the area more, but we were on a long road trip. This stopover was a very pleasant surprise!
Written September 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joseph Robba
Charlotte, NC2,198 contributions
Apr 2022 • Friends
Just 20 minutes from downtown SLC, it’s definitely worth coming out here to get on a trail. We did part of the Lake Blanche Trail, and some of the surrounding trails, and got lots of great views of the mountains. Would love to spend more time here, we only had a few hours in between work and travel.
Written April 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SoniaWanderlust
St. George, UT37 contributions
We’re headed here first weekend of October for a long weekend - we want to photograph the cottonwood canyons in fall colors for some pieces to hang in our house. We we will have our 2 kids (3 year old and 1 month old) So unfortunately strenuous hikes and high elevations are out, but would love some recommendations on plan to get some good photos and do some light hikes? Thanks in advance!
mlwatton
Pittsburgh, PA48 contributions
Will be in the area mid-March. Will the roads/hikes still likely be snow covered at that time?
Frostfarm
Winston, GA9 contributions
Horse pack ride
Annabell O
California415 contributions
Is that a question? :-)
Fernando
Hallandale Beach, FL
Can you do sleigh riding in winter there?
Utah John
Salt Lake City, UT15 contributions
The terrain is pretty rough. There might be places where there is cross country skiing that have a steep enough pitch and a flat base. The best spots for sledding are probably city parks along the benches that have hills.
Tricia G
Charlotte, NC5 contributions
Any bike paths here? Is one able to ride a bicycle around the area?
Ma Irene Cristina Jalandoni
Salt Lake City, UT2 contributions
Hello! We’re a family of 3 with a 20 month old and we’re new here in SLC. I am wondering when is the best time for us to go here? Can I bring my toddler with us?
Riley Kate N
Medford, OR4 contributions
Summer is best for the wild flowers! Mid-July boasts beautiful mountain scenes with many wildflowers and there are places you can get out and walk around with your kids- be sure to check out the Silver Lake boardwalk - it is super easy to walk around the lake with kids and often you can see wildlife like moose. Be sure to keep an eye on your kids and their activity level, this is at a higher elevation than some people realize and depending on where you live it can cause altitude sickness in youth and the elderly more easily than healthy adults, especially when hiking.
We are headed to Solitude for 4 days of skiing in January. We are taking the shuttle from the airport to solitude. Is there uber service once we are in the town of solitude?
Diana w
Salt Lake City, UT25 contributions
Hi there. Solitude isn't a town, it is just the ski resort. You should be able to get to everything walking. Big Cottonwood also has Brighton Ski resort, just up the canyon another mile or so. I think you can get a Sol-Bright pass to ski both resorts.
Just FYI, Alta resort and Snowbird are in Little Cottonwood Canyon, the next canyon over.
You should have a great time. Solitude doesn't have as much moderate ability skiing as Brighton, but it does have a lot of diamond, double diamond, and beginner slopes.
We are headed to solitude in January. We are taking the Utah Mountain Shuttle and wanted to know if there is Uber service in the town of Solitude?
OldBroad73
Salt Lake City, UT28 contributions
Solitude isn’t really a town, but a ski resort. It is located in a canyon that can occasionally be closed to traffic or have restricted access to traffic due to snow.
Alina D
3 contributions
Hi! Ill be here at the end of February/beginning of March, I would like to do the scenic drive. Any winter conditions I should take into account during that time?
Roxy C
Salt Lake City, UT108 contributions
Consider taking a shuttle or a ski bus up the canyon at that time of year. Depending on the weather and conditions the roads can be hazardous and if you are not used to driving in that kind of weather that's not a good place to start! It is a stunningly beautiful time of year and most days are sunny so if you time it right it will be more enjoyable than you can imagine! You just don't want to go off the road and be called a flatlander which would be the least of your problems!
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Claim your listingBig Cottonwood Canyon - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Big Cottonwood Canyon
- Hotels near Big Cottonwood Canyon:
- (4.51 mi) Alta's Rustler Lodge
- (4.43 mi) Alta Lodge
- (4.33 mi) Alta Peruvian Lodge
- (4.51 mi) Snowpine Lodge
- (7.38 mi) Hyatt Centric Park City
- Restaurants near Big Cottonwood Canyon:
- (9.20 mi) Ruth's Chris Steak House
- (4.43 mi) Log Haven
- (9.45 mi) Snowed Inn Sleigh Company
- (8.46 mi) MUMBAI HOUSE
- (7.48 mi) Drafts Burger Bar
- Attractions near Big Cottonwood Canyon:
- (9.44 mi) Utah Outdoor Adventures
- (9.84 mi) All Seasons Adventures
- (9.19 mi) The Spa at Hotel Park City
- (7.37 mi) Destination Sports & Adventures
- (9.00 mi) Exclusive Excursions
Big Cottonwood Canyon Information
Excellent Reviews | 960 |
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Very Good Reviews | 188 |
Big Cottonwood Canyon Photos | 493 |