Day Hike - Donut Falls - Big Cottonwood Canyon

This is a fun, fairly easy hike that many families do as a tradition. It doesn’t take too long and it’s pretty amazing without too much effort.

stinging nettles - don't touch! /yarrow - good for cuts / sticky geranium / wild carrot

Distance: ¾ mile

Duration: about 30 minutes

Difficulty: easy/medium – there were people with babies in packs, small children and lots of grandparents there with their grandkids. Some climbing involved in a couple of places and some elevation at the beginning of the trail, but otherwise fairly flat.

Climbing to the falls may be tricky as the rocks or dirt areas are often slippery and can also be unstable but most people climb up and go in to view the falls as it comes through the “donut”.

Directions: about 9 miles from the bottom of Big Cottonwood Canyon turn off at Jordan Pines and follow the road up past the private property signs to the parking lot trailhead

along the trail/ your feet will get wet... these were the perfect shoes!/ some pretty plants by the falls/ going straight up

on the bridge/good shoes-plan to get wet or go barefoot/the mouth of the falls cave/ inside

view from the top/the top of the falls/ looking down/ pretty but don't eat - black twinberry

Tips: A picnic is popular. There are some flies (deer flies and horse flies but while annoying they aren't too bad). The trail has lots of wildflowers but also stinging nettle (see above picture for identification if you don't know what it is- tall skinny plant with serrated knife shaped leaves and white tassel flowers) next to some parts of the trail so watch out for it and make sure your kids don’t touch it.

Here is a link to more info: http://www.utahoutdooractivities.com/doughnutfalls.html