Lisa Falls

 Lisa Falls is a nice waterfall located in Little Cottonwood Canyon. The super short trail goes through a pretty forest taking you to a pretty waterfall flowing down a granite cliff face.

It had been raining off and on all day, but we had the day off and wanted to do something! So, our first idea was that we would just drive the canyon. Then, since it had stopped raining for a minute, I figured we could squeeze this short hike in! Bonus, if it did start to rain again, it was not a far run back to the car. Thankfully that was true, because it indeed started to rain again.

Quick Details:

Length: about 4/10ths of a mile out and back.
Trail Type: Out and back.
Difficulty: DR3. It is a really easy climb.
Elevation Gain: about 110 feet.
Restroom: No. Closest ones I can think of are up canyon at the White Pine Lake Trailhead, or down canyon at the Grit Mill Trailhead.
Dogs? No. Little Cottonwood Canyon is watershed.
Other Info:

To Get Here:

From the Park and Ride at the bottom of Little Cottonwood Canyon (where North and South Little Cottonwood Roads meet) drive 2.8 miles up. There is a pull out on the left. If it is full there is additional parking across the road on the right just down canyon.

Another old plot picked up and divided by a developer (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP)). There was a neat old cabin here before.

Little Cottonwood Canyon from Wasatch Blvd (PSP).

Gloomy skies as we head up the canyon (PSP).

Some of the ephemeral waterfalls in the canyon (PSP).

The Trail:

There isn’t a trailhead kiosk or anything, just a small trail heading up into the woods.

Quite a few trip hazards, but if you watch your step it’s not too bad.

Pretty forest.

Before long we can see the waterfall ahead.

It sure is pretty in here.

The trail is in a gnarly avalanche chute. In fact the creek has been rerouted at least once due to that.

Avalanche debris.

Across the old stream bed. About here the skies opened up. We decided we were close enough to just push through it for a minute.

More debris.

The waterfall! Wewt.

Closer.

Upper tier splashing out of the narrow gorge.

The main falls.

Slightly longer exposure.

Extra water running down the rock face.

Better view of the lower and upper tiers.

Portrait.

The other side of the canyon.

Down canyon.

The waterfall again.

Another portrait.

Well, a particularly bright lightning strike and loud clap of thunder told us that we should probably get back to the car.

The old streambed. I didn’t get a picture of the current one that is just west of the waterfall.

The trail.

Better view of the old streambed.

More forest.

Now that we were safely in the car, we decided to drive up to the top of the canyon (PSP).

There is some kind of construction project that has reduced the road down to one lane (PSP). So we had to wait a bit.

Moody clouds letting loose (PSP).

It is just so pretty up here (PSP).

Snowbird’s Tram (PSP). 

Collins Gulch (PSP).

The peaks above Albion (PSP).

Even though it appeared the sun was coming out, we decided it wasn’t worth paying the fee to drive up the Summer Road (PSP). Plus, after all the rain it was probably super muddy anyway. So we turned around before the fee station.

Heading back down (PSP).

Again (PSP).

Back through the 1 lane construction BS (PSP).

Nearing the mouth of the canyon (PSP). Of course now it appears the rain is done for the day. Doh!

Even after the crazy rain there is a haze across the valley (PSP).

Colorful smoke from fireworks (PSP). I mean, it is the 4th, so not a shocker.

Well, for a bonus day off adventure, it was fun. I wish we had more time to enjoy it but hey whatever. It was nice to squeeze a short adventure in between the storms. Of course with the weather, we had it all to ourselves too, so that was nice. 9 out of 10 squirrels today.

As for difficulty, it super short, and a pretty mild climb. DR3.

Dogs are not allowed in Little Cottonwood Canyon, so be sure to leave Fido home for this one.