Lower Bell Reservoir via Bell Canyon Preservation Trailhead

 Lower Bell Reservoir in Bell Canyon is a particularly scenic reservoir right on the edge of the city near the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon. The trail features great valley views, a nice scrub oak forest, and of course a beautiful reservoir. Plus if you have more energy there are 2 waterfalls and an upper reservoir you can hike to as well, but those will be longer. This is the newest of 3 trailheads into this canyon. This is another one of our favorite trails that we tend to do at least once a year or so.

Quick Details:

Length: It is about 6/10ths of a mile to the reservoir. With some exploring we did about 1.7 miles out and back.
Trail Type: Out and back, balloon, loop options.
Difficulty: DR3. There is a steep climb at the beginning, but it is short.
Elevation Gain: We did about 430 feet.
Restroom: Yes! There are flush toilets at this new trailhead.
Dogs? No. Bell Canyon is watershed.
Other Info:

To Get Here:

Take the 90th south exit from i15 and head east up to Wasatch Blvd. Turn right. Go about 600 feet and turn left. Head up the hill. There is a big parking lot at the top, and a smaller lot just below. Both access the trail, but the upper lot is shortest.

Heading towards Little Cottonwood Canyon (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP))

Pretty hillside (PSP).

Little Cottonwood Canyon as we head up to the trailhead (PSP).

Up to the upper parking lot. I really love this new trailhead. There are nice new restrooms with running water here.

The Trail:

A sunflower still hanging on.

Onto the trail!

Little Cottonwood Canyon.

At the light pole you will want to hang a left to join the original trail up from the Granite Trailhead. Forward will take you back down to the Nature Trail and the parking lot again.

Almost immediately after look for a kind of faint split to the right. If you start going downhill you missed it and are heading down to the Granite Trailhead.

Then we start the real climb.

Some daisy-like flowers still hanging on.

Looking up at the ridge we need to climb.

Hawk soaring above.

Colorful hillside.

Looking back at the trailhead. Upper parking lot to the left, middle parking lot to the right. I am certain the restroom and pavilion are new this year in the middle lot. After consulting my pictures, yes, they were not there last fall.

Valley view.

Through the scrub oak.

Panoramic view of the valley below. Oof, it is a bit hazy today.

View of the Nature Trail and upper parking lot.

My least favorite switchback. It triggers my fear of heights, but it is super short so I am able to power through it.

Snow covered peak above as we made it to the top. It is only about 2/10th of a mile up the switchbacks, and then it is pretty mild afterwards.

Then we just have to make our way across this small side canyon and up to the pass on the other side.

But first we have to go down a little on this side.

Colorful canyon.

Another short section I am not a huge fan of, but can muster through.

Colorful hills above.

Some neat big boulders.

Across the canyon again.

Line of people climbing up and down the other side.

We reached the bottom of the climb down, where there is this big boulder. 

Now we start the climb up the other side.

Orange maples.

Colorful hillside.

Fiery oaks.

The second climb is a little rocky, but definitely not as bad as the initial climb.

Some bright reds.

More rocky trail.

With some color.

Oak leaves.

View across the valley. You can see Antelope Island from here.

The other side of the canyon, with the long lines of people coming and going.

More color.

The valley again.

Panoramic.

More color.

Some dried out taper-tip onions.

More color.

View down again.

Downtown.

View across the canyon again.

We made it! Phew! If you are after Lower Bell Canyon Waterfall, the upper waterfall, and/or the upper reservoir you want to hang a left here.

The reservoir. WOW! It is like glass today.

Panoramic.

Found a survey marker.

Working our way around to the “front” of the reservoir.

The reservoir again.

Another panoramic.

The reservoir again. I still can’t get over how still it is today. Plus it is nice to see it full again.

Upper Bell Canyon where you will find the 2 waterfalls, and the upper reservoir.

The reservoir again.

Another panoramic.

A couple on the top of the North Bell Bottom Twin (as I call it). Not judging, but I don’t think I could bring myself to stand on that boulder. It looks like it could go at any moment.

The reservoir below the upper canyon.

Panoramic.

Random helicopter. I didn’t know they could fly this close to the mountains.

Down to the “front” of the reservoir, or where the outlet is. I have noticed that what I generally call the front of lakes is the point where I first see them, which is usually the downhill end, due to where trails generally meet them. The first time we came up here was via the Boulders Trail. Which comes up behind where I am standing.

Panoramic.

The reservoir again.

Again.

Another panoramic.

Just loving the color here.

Upper Bell Canyon again.

I managed to scramble out onto the boulders.

Just wow!

Because I didn’t take enough panoramic shots today.

South end of the lake.

Some ripples on the lake.

According to this meter it is about 12 feet deep just a few feet from shore.

The outlet on it’s way down to Dimple Dell.

Little bridge.

A final look before heading back.

A look down Dry Canyon North Fork that leads to the Boulders Trailhead. It is one of the many Dry Canyons.

Upper Bell Canyon again.

With some color.

The reservoir again.

Another panoramic.

The valley again as we start the trek back down.

One last look at the reservoir.

Back down the trail.

Across the side canyon.

More color.

The valley again.

Drill marks from attempted quarrying. You can learn more about that at the nearby Temple Quarry Trail.

Bright reds.

Different shades of maple.

Some bright orange.

The trail on the other side.

Oak leaves.

Neat outcrop.

Rocky trail.

More reds.

Yellows.

Oranges.

Some leftover daisy-like flowers.

Bottom of the dip. Now we climb a little bit more to get over the north ridge. Its not much of a climb though.

Colorful hills.

Big boulders. We didn’t go out to them this time, but we did last time.

Super mild climb.

The colorful hills again.

The top of the ridge! Now we just have to make it down the other side.

Looking back at the ridge on the other side.

Valley view again.

More oaks.

The worst switchback. But its not too bad.

More oaks.

The middle and upper parking lots, and the Nature Trail.

More daisy-like flowers.

Back to the parking lot.

Little Cottonwood Canyon.

A sad sunflower.

The new restrooms and covered picnic area at the middle parking lot.

Better view of Little Cottonwood Canyon. I really hope that asinine gondola never gets built to ruin the canyon.

I just noticed there is a trail down to the corner of 90th and Wasatch too.

Fun clouds.

Colorful mountain.

Well that was fun, and the fall color was fantastic around the mirror like reservoir today. It was a little busier that I would like, but not too bad, and I was able to enjoy the adventure anyway. I sure do love getting out to enjoy our mountains this time of year. 10 out 10 squirrels today.

As for difficulty, the first 2/10 of a mile is a bit of a climb, but afterwards it isn’t too bad DR3.

Dogs are not allowed as Bell Canyon lies within the watershed boundary, so be sure to leave Fido home.