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Donut Falls in a unique waterfall in Big Cottonwood Canyon. It is not the tallest or most impressive waterfall, but it is neat for the fact that it flows through a hole in the rock into a cave. The short trail features a lovely mixed forest, wildflowers, a creek and mountain views. Because it is such a short and easy trail it is very busy and well, you might encounter people with main character syndrome. This is another trail we do fairly often.
Quick Details:
Length: about 1.5 miles out and back from the upper trailhead. You will add 1.8 miles out and back from the lower trailhead.
Trail Type: Out and back.
Difficulty: It’s a pretty mild climb. DR3. DR5 if you scramble up to the cave.
Elevation Gain: About 400 feet.
Restroom: Yes, Vault toilets at the upper trailhead. Flush toilets at the lower.
Dogs? No. Big Cottonwood Canyon is watershed.
Other Info: This is now a fee area. $10.00 for a 3 day pass. Also, The bridge is still out. If you are okay crossing logs 4 feet up over a creek then fine. If not the detour along the old forest road is pretty much the same mileage wise.
To Get Here:
Drive approximately 9 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon to Mill D South, which will be on the right side of the road. Drive up to the top of Cardiff Road (note the last bit is dirt) and look for parking. Pay close attention to the signs and be sure you are parking in approved areas. Rangers patrol and ticket often!
If the lot is full, you can park down at Mill D and hike up the Cardiff Meadow. It will add about 9/10ths of a mile each way.
Mountains (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP)).
Into the canyon (PSP). The leaves are starting to change color.
More leaves changing color (PSP).
Heading up Cardiff Road (PSP).
Hitting the dirt section (PSP). It is well graded though so pretty much any car should be fine on it.
The Trail:
I wish this sign was on the main trail route beginning last time we were here. I so would have preferred to use the alternate route over trying to cross the stupid logs that are like, 4 feet above a rapid creek. I really hope they replace the bridge soon. Not that the detour is bad.
It’s pretty too.
Mill D Creek.
Downstream.
Big switchback.
Forest.
Pile of logs. I guess they took care of some of the downed trees.
The creek below.
Into the narrow gully.
With the creek.
Again.
The alternate route follows the stream for longer.
Fireweeds.
The creek.
Cascades.
Tall leaning tree.
They have repaired some of the road that the creek had eroded away.
It looks like they dug out the cliff side to fill in the creek side. It doesn’t look like that will be a problem in the future at all.
The creek again.
Forest.
Asters and a bumblebee.
Where the main and alternate trails merge. Keep forward.
Yep. The bridge is still out. It was taken out in the particularly rough 2022-23 winter.
There are some logs, but they are about 4 feet up and last time we did it the creek was a lot higher and faster so I didn’t like it at all. So I figured, since I have the option, why not just avoid it?
Forest.
More asters.
Geranium leaf.
Forest.
Neat twisted tree.
Kessler Peak.
Reed and Benson Ridge.
First glimpse of the waterfall. As usual, it is quite busy.
Getting closer.
The water is a lot lower today, so it was a lot easier to cross to the other side without getting wet.
The waterfall.
Mossy logs.
At the base of the falls.
The donut hole.
A little closer. We have climbed up to the cave once or twice, and it is pretty amazing. But it is a bit of a scary scramble. I might do it again one day, but meh. Not today.
Lower tier.
The donut.
The waterfall again.
Look at these pieces of shit. These entitled, selfish, fuck everybody else only I matter, assholes literarily hauled up dj equipment and are spinning music like they're are at the club.
First of all, know that EVERY SINGLE OTHER PERSON HERE hates you right now. People go hiking to get away from the noise. Second, if you want to listen to oonce oonce oonce maybe I donno… GO TO A FUCKING CLUB!!!! Seriously douchebags! This is why we can’t have nice things. It's bad enough to pass by an asshole blaring music.. but to set up shop at the main feature? Just wow.
Alright, I couldn’t with these cretins anymore so better leave before I smash some likely expensive equipment against the rocks and start a fight….
Crossing back over the creek.
Looking out of the little gully.
Again.
The creek.
Looking back towards the little scramble you have to climb to get in and out of the gully.
Back down to the clearing.
Found some geraniums hanging on.
Back into the forest.
Western coneflowers.
Asters.
Back to the ruined bridge.
Into the lower gully.
Pretty yellow flowers.
Tree roots.
The narrow gully.
Some plants getting a jump on the autumn change.
More gully.
The creek.
More yellow flowers.
Creek.
Cascades.
The gully.
Forest.
The creek drops a little below the trail for a bit.
Orange berries of some sort.
More forest.
I wonder what is going on with these plants with the white smudges.
Rock stuck in tree roots.
The underbrush starting to change color.
Down to the curve.
We watched a couple disappear down this random side trail. I assume it leads to the private cabins below.
The gate.
A squirrel singing the song of his people.
Down towards the bottom the creek fans out a bit.
Downstream.
Upstream.
Itty bitty waterfall.
Gnarly broken tree.
Back down to the parking lot.
Heading back down Cardiff Road (PSP).
Again. (PSP).
Back to pavement (PSP).
The boardwalk across Cardiff Meadows (PSP).
Back to the main Big Cottonwood Road (PSP). I decided we should take a quick drive through Spruces Campground.
Heading back down the canyon (PSP).
It is still so pretty up here (PSP).
Storm Mountain (PSP).
Some color starting near the mount of the canyon (PSP).
Oof, its quite dusty today (PSP).
Little bit of sunset after dinner (PSP).
It’s a nice little trail system, whether you get a spot at the upper parking lot, or have the add the section below. I like that there is a detour to avoid the bridge that is out (though I wish they would fix it). I did not like some of the assholes up there today. I just don’t understand why people think that behavior is acceptable. Anyway, otherwise it is pretty. I’m going to take 2 squirrels for people, and that it is now a fee area. So 8 squirrels today.
As for difficulty, its short, but a little bit of a climb. DR3. DR5 if you decided to scramble up to the falls.
