Big Cottonwood Canyon

From I-215 take exit 6 (6200 South) and turn right at the light heading southeast 1.6 miles to the mouth of the canyon. No Dogs are allowed up this canyon-There is a $300 fine.

Beartrap Fork

4.50 miles RT
N.40.38.306-W.111.37.267

Drive 11 miles up the canyon and park at the gate on the north side of the road just below Silver Fork. Walk around the gate and keep following the road and take the spur trail that leads to the north/east. The trail is pretty much uphill the whole way, and ends at an overlook of Desolation Lake.

Brighton Lakes Trail

The trail begins at the bottom of Brighton Ski Resort to the left of the motel. After a mile the trail will fork taking you to Dog Lake, or right takes you to another fork. Turn left here to reach Lake Martha and Lake Catherine. The trail also give you access to Catherine Pass in Little Cottonwood Canyon. The right fork leads you to Lake Mary onto Twin Lakes then to Silver Lake. From the Visitor Center you can walk back to the Brighton parking lot.

Brighton Ski Resort

Broads Fork Trail

9.8 Miles RT

Drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon 4.5 miles and turn right at the corner of the S-Turn into the parking lot. There is a sign marking the starting point of the trailhead near the western end of the parking lot. This hike begins up a slope, after 1.25 miles of hiking through pine trees the trail crosses a stream at a bridge. The maintained trail ends at a small knoll 2.25 miles from the trailhead. The trail continues east from the knoll, crossing the stream and climbing the east side of Broads Fork. Head to the saddle, west of Sunrise Peak. From the saddle you can see the switchback trail to the east summit of Twin Peaks. To reach the switchback trail you need to drop down on the Little Cottonwood Canyon side of the ridge 200 feet and head west until you reach a gully next to the cliffs. Climb up to the ridge and ascend the switchback trail to the summit. There is a likely chance you will see some mountain goat so be ready. This is also a great hike for snowshoeing. Where you will follow the trail for 1.25 miles to the bridge and look for an old outhouse. Follow this trail and you will travel west for awhile and turn south into the drainage. Follow the trail on the left side of the stream, then cross a bridge and begin to climb. After awhile you will reach a meadow and can continue climbing for another .75 mile to the overlook point. The total distance will be about 4 miles.

Butler Fork Trail

7 miles RT

Drive 7.8 miles up the canyon, and park on the left side of the road. This is a perfect trail for snowshoeing, but it's not very wide to snowboard back down. The trail forks to the right to meet Dog Lake or to the left to Mill Creek Canyon Divide at Baker Pass in 2.25 miles.

Days Fork

6 Miles RT
N.40.38.431-W.111.38.322

Turn right at the Spruces Campground turnoff 9.8 miles from the mouth of the canyon, and another right then left to the trailhead. The trail is mainly uphill and was an old mining road that takes you 2.75 miles to the Eclipse Mine. It is another .25 mile to Silver Fork Pass.

Mill B North Fork Trail

6.5 Miles RT

Drive 4.5 miles up from the mouth of the canyon. Park in the northern parking lot near the S-Turn, and walk north through the trees to cross the street. The trailhead starts here on the north side of the road. Near the beginning of the trailhead you can follow the creek upstream .15 mile to Hidden Falls and an abandoned mine. There are some nice repelling spots here also. Back at the trailhead, the trail leads you to an overlook in 1.3 miles, and after another 3.25 miles you will reach the Mill Creek Canyon on the Desolation trail.

Mill B South Fork Trail to Lake Blanche

6.5 Mile RT

Drive 4.5 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon to a parking area near the lower curve of the S-Turn. There is a sign labeled Mill B South Fork Picnic Ground on the south side of the road. The paved trail goes along the creek and ends at a waterfall. The Lake Blanche Trail begins 0.7 miles up this trail. You will reach Lake Blanche first then you will walk by Florence Lake and Lillian Lake.

Mill D North Fork

7 miles RT
N.40.38.976-W.111.38.887

Drive 9.4 miles up the canyon and the trailhead is on the left side of the road. The trail climbs up along a stream 1.5 miles to a fork. The left fork takes you .6 mile to Dog lake, and the right fork takes you over a mile to Desolation Lake.

Mill D South Fork (Cardiff Fork)

6.5 Miles RT

Follow Big Cottonwood Canyon about 8.8 miles up the canyon to Cardiff Fork (Mill D South Fork). Then 1 1/4 miles up Cardiff Fork to parking area. This old mining road takes you to Doughnut Falls in .75 miles, the Cardiff Mine in 2.5 miles, and Cardiff Pass in 3.25 miles. Doughnut Falls is a waterfall where the stream falls through a hole in the rock. This hiking and backcountry skiing trail connects with the Cardiff Fork Road, but motorized vehicles are not permitted on the trail. The Price Tunnels (West Price, East Price, and South Price) are 1.5 miles from the Doughnut Falls parking lot.

Mineral Fork Trail

9 Miles RT

Drive 6.1 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon and the signed trailhead is on the south side of the road. The trail follows an old mining road past abandoned mines, cabins, and old rusting equipment. There are also waterfalls along the trail that add to the worthwhile hike. Climb 3 miles up to the Wasatch Mine and another 1.5 miles to reach Regulator Johnson Mine.

Mule Hollow

3 miles RT
N.40.37.609-W.111.44.547

Drive 3.2 miles up the canyon, and there will be a pull off with a big parking area on the left hand side of the road after crossing the creek over the bridge. The trail heads west from the parking area and curves to the north crossing the stream several times.

Silver Fork Trail/Honeycomb Fork

6 miles RT
N.40.37.501-W.111.36.054

The trail begins at the west end of the lower Solitude parking lot 12.3 miles from the mouth of the canyon. The gates are closed at 7pm so give yourself enough time to get back before your car gets lockes in. Head west under the chairlift, and follow the dirt road all the way around the outskirts of the Resort boundary. After about .4 mile you will reach the chairlift. The trail continues south and heads up to Woodlawn Mine.

Silver Lake-Solitude Lake-Twin Lakes

Drive .5 mile past Solitude Ski Resort and park at the visitor center and Solitude Nordic Ski Center office building just before Brighton Ski Resort. The Trail walks around Silver Lake and gives you access to Solitude Lake and Twin Lakes. No Swimming is aloud at Silver Lake. From the northern side of the lake a trail leads up 1.5 miles to Lake Solitude. The Solitude Tunnel, just west and above the lake connects with mines on the Alta side in Grizzly Gulch. The Kentucky-Utah tunnel is 2,000 feet west and 870 feet below of Solitude Lake. Twin Lakes is 1.25 miles from the trailhead, and Twin Lakes Pass is another 1.25 miles further.

Solitude Ski Resort

The lower parking lot is 12.3 miles from the mouth of the canyon. The Sunrise Chairlift is open during the summer for downhill biking located at the upper parking lot.

Stairs Gulch

1.25 miles RT
N.40.37.447-W.111.44.587

Drive 2.8 miles up the canyon and the trail is on the south side of the road. The trail is mainly uphill and rocky, and ends at a waterfall.

Wasatch Crest Trail/Great Western Trail

9 Miles One-Way
N.40.36.808-W.111.34.287

Drive 13.8 miles up the canyon and turn left to Guardsman Pass just before Brighton Ski Resort. Drive up this road for 3.1 miles to the turnoff on your left where you will have to park along the paved road. From the gate follow the road awhile to Scotts Pass and turn north to reach the dirt trailhead from the gravel road up this hill. You can also park at Guardsman's Pass and the trail climbs a hill and drops down to Scotts Pass continuing north to the trailhead. Once on the dirt trail it heads west mostly downhill 3.7 miles to Desolation Lake and a total of 9 miles one-way to Mill D North Fork Trailhead. You can also drop down into Mill Creek Canyon just make sure if your biking that it's an even-numbered day. This trail is most popular with mountain biking, and is best if you have a shuttle vehicle at the bottom to pick you up. This is an advanced biking trail. For mines and tunnels in the area click here.

Willow Heights

2 Miles RT
N.40.37.815-W.111.36.253

This trail begins on the north side of the road just past Silver Fork 12.1 miles from the mouth of the canyon. There isn't a parking area so just park along the canyon road. The trail follows Willow Creek to a small Beaver Pond.