Mountains, water, trails, powder and red rock. Discover year-round places without guessing what's open.
See outdoor events this week ↗WHAT ARE YOU IN THE MOOD FOR?
THE UTAH OUTDOORS GUIDE
17 places in this view · SLC and surrounding areas prioritized.
Trails & hikes · Cottonwood Canyons
📍 Big Cottonwood Canyon
A popular family waterfall hike; parking and winter gate affect route length.
Protected drinking-water watershed: no dogs or water contact. Check road, parking and snow conditions.
Typical seasons: Summer · Fall. Source: Visit Utah · Donut Falls. Verify access before leaving.
Trails & hikes · Cottonwood Canyons
📍 Brighton
High-alpine boardwalk with lake views near Brighton; no swimming or pets.
Protected drinking-water watershed: no dogs or water contact. Check road, parking and snow conditions.
Typical seasons: Summer · Fall. Source: UDOT · Canyon trailheads. Verify access before leaving.
Trails & hikes · Cottonwood Canyons
📍 Albion Basin / Alta
Short alpine lake hike famous for summer wildflowers.
Protected drinking-water watershed: no dogs or water contact. Check road, parking and snow conditions.
Typical seasons: Summer · Fall. Source: Visit Utah · SLC trails. Verify access before leaving.
Trails & hikes · Cottonwood Canyons
📍 Big Cottonwood Canyon
Demanding climb into a dramatic alpine basin beneath Sundial Peak.
Protected drinking-water watershed: no dogs or water contact. Check road, parking and snow conditions.
Typical seasons: Summer · Fall. Source: Visit Utah · SLC trails. Verify access before leaving.
Trails & hikes · Cottonwood Canyons
📍 Little Cottonwood Canyon
Longer wilderness hike to a granite-circled lake.
Protected drinking-water watershed: no dogs or water contact. Check road, parking and snow conditions.
Typical seasons: Summer · Fall. Source: Visit Utah · SLC trails. Verify access before leaving.
Trails & hikes · Cottonwood Canyons
📍 Little Cottonwood Canyon
Alpine lake hiking from the White Pine trailhead; no swimming or dogs.
Protected drinking-water watershed: no dogs or water contact. Check road, parking and snow conditions.
Typical seasons: Summer · Fall. Source: UDOT · Canyon trailheads. Verify access before leaving.
Trails & hikes · Cottonwood Canyons
📍 Big Cottonwood Canyon
Quiet lake walk through aspens, especially colorful in autumn.
Protected drinking-water watershed: no dogs or water contact. Check road, parking and snow conditions.
Typical seasons: Summer · Fall. Source: Visit Utah · SLC trails. Verify access before leaving.
Trails & hikes · Cottonwood Canyons
📍 Little Cottonwood Canyon
Remote lakes below the Pfeifferhorn for experienced hikers.
Protected drinking-water watershed: no dogs or water contact. Check road, parking and snow conditions.
Typical seasons: Summer · Fall. Source: Visit Utah · SLC trails. Verify access before leaving.
Trails & hikes · Cottonwood Canyons
📍 Big Cottonwood Canyon
A substantial summit route with canyon views and aspen forests.
Protected drinking-water watershed: no dogs or water contact. Check road, parking and snow conditions.
Typical seasons: Summer · Fall. Source: Visit Utah · SLC trails. Verify access before leaving.
Trails & hikes · Cottonwood Canyons
📍 Big Cottonwood Canyon
Popular canyon trailhead for forested hikes to Dog Lake and beyond.
Protected drinking-water watershed: no dogs or water contact. Check road, parking and snow conditions.
Typical seasons: Summer · Fall. Source: UDOT · Canyon trailheads. Verify access before leaving.
Trails & hikes · Cottonwood Canyons
📍 Big Cottonwood Canyon
Longer forest-to-alpine route from the Mill D North area.
Protected drinking-water watershed: no dogs or water contact. Check road, parking and snow conditions.
Typical seasons: Summer · Fall. Source: UDOT · Canyon trailheads. Verify access before leaving.
Biking · Cottonwood Canyons
📍 Guardsman Pass / Millcreek
High ridgeline mountain biking with big views and shuttle logistics.
High-elevation access is seasonal; snow, ice, gates and weather may make routes inaccessible.
Typical seasons: Summer · Fall. Source: Visit Utah · SLC trails. Verify access before leaving.
Camping · Cottonwood Canyons
📍 Big Cottonwood Canyon
Large spruce-and-aspen forest campground near canyon trails.
Reservations and seasonal gate access vary. Check the operator before setting out.
Typical seasons: Summer · Fall. Source: Recreation.gov · Spruces. Verify access before leaving.
Camping · Cottonwood Canyons
📍 Little Cottonwood Canyon
Forested canyon campground beside Little Cottonwood Creek.
Reservations and seasonal gate access vary. Check the operator before setting out.
Typical seasons: Summer · Fall. Source: Recreation.gov · Tanners Flat. Verify access before leaving.
Camping · Cottonwood Canyons
📍 Big Cottonwood Canyon
High-elevation campground near Solitude and Brighton.
Reservations and seasonal gate access vary. Check the operator before setting out.
Typical seasons: Summer · Fall. Source: Recreation.gov · Redman. Verify access before leaving.
Scenic drives · Cottonwood Canyons
📍 Brighton / Salt Lake
Dramatic canyon with forest scenery and high-elevation trails.
Check UDOT seasonal canyon travel, winter traction and closures.
Typical seasons: Spring · Summer · Fall · Winter. Source: UDOT · Canyon trailheads. Verify access before leaving.
Scenic drives · Cottonwood Canyons
📍 Alta / Snowbird
Granite-walled canyon route to Snowbird and Alta.
Check avalanche road closures and traction restrictions.
Typical seasons: Spring · Summer · Fall · Winter. Source: UDOT · Canyon trailheads. Verify access before leaving.
BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT
These are the official places to check current restrictions. Links open the agencies’ own updates, not copied or stale “open now” labels.
Curated discovery list researched October 2026. Activities and seasons are general guidance, not a live forecast, reservation, legal access clearance, or claim that water is safe to enter. Official operator sites control. No paid ranking.