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Little Cottonwood Canyon is a beautiful canyon located in Sandy. It features a large creek, some lovely hiking trails, waterfalls, wildflowers, wildlife and 2 ski areas, and some lovely aspen forests to enjoy. We tend to spend a lot of time up this canyon every year. Today we had a little bit of extra time after our hike so I figured what the heck lets see what the canyon offers today.
Note: I decided to add reference pictures to some of the trails I mention and link to. If the picture is slightly smaller, it is from that trail, rather than todays drive.
Scenic Drive Details:
Length: About 17 miles out and back. Plus an extra ~4 to do the summer road if it is open (it is closed for the season though).
Time Needed: About an hour depending on how much you explore.
Road Conditions: Paved 2 lane, couple passing lanes. Some construction right now. The Summer Road is not paved, but is not open right now.
Summit: About 8749 feet to the toll booth. 9410 at the top of the Summer Road.
Restrooms: Several options along the way.
Interesting Things: Quite a few trail options, Ski resorts.
Other Info:
To Get Here:
Using Wasatch turning into North Little Cottonwood Road, or 90th turning into South Little cottonwood Road, follow them to where they connect at the mouth of the canyon. Then follow Little Cottonwood Road up to the top of the canyon.
The Adventure:
The canyon (PSP).
I noticed this little plaque earlier this year and was curious so I asked Landis to pull over to check it out.
“Little Cottonwood Road and Bridge constructed by Salt Lake County and the Works Progress Administration 1935-1937” Ahh, the WPA. That explains why the bridge is a little more fancy. Neat!
Into the canyon (PSP).
The Park and Ride lot is to the left.
Here you can access the Alpenbock Loop Trail as well as some climbing crags.
To the right, and just below where the 2 roads merge is the Little Cottonwood Trail Lower Trailhead.
Also the Temple Quarry Trail. Which is also a great place to see mountain goats in the winter.
Wet cliff walls (PSP).
1 of 2 1 lane construction zones (PSP). At least this one was turned off today.
Up canyon (PSP).
Little bit of color next to the road (PSP).
Apparently this part is referred to as the 7 curves (PSP). Landis absolutely freaking LOVES driving through this section.
Avalanche damage from the epic 2022-23 winter (PSP).
Band of color still hanging on up here (PSP).
Again.
I believe this is White Pine Fork (PSP).
More road side color (PSP).
Very large scree field (PSP).
More color (PSP).
Color at The White Pine Trailhead (PSP). Which includes trails to White Pine Lake,
More road side color (PSP).
Snow (PSP). Well, at least on the south side.
Not so much on the north side (PSP).
More snow (PSP).
One of the lodges at Snowbird (PSP).
The Hell Gate Cliffs (PSP). One of these days I will explore those!
The Alta Wildcat Base (PSP).
The Albion Basin above the Alta Albion Base (PSP).
On the north side of the road is the Grizzly Gulch and further up to Twin Lakes Pass, as well as Cardiff Pass.
There is also the Historic Bay City Tunnel if you want just a short stop with some history.
The Summer Road is closed for the year (PSP).
Here it is in the summer time.
When it open you can do the Devils Castle Trail. You can also access the top of the Albion Meadows Trail,
The Albion Meadow Trail (which is kind of newer),
and the ever so popular Cecret Lake. Phew!
You can also still access all of those trails (at least until ski season starts) by adding about 1.5 miles from the Albion Base.
Heading back down.
We found some neat art (PSP).
We decided to do the By Pass Road (PSP).
The Hell Gate Cliffs again (PSP).
It’s a little more windy than the main road, but not too bad (PSP). I probably wouldn’t like it in super gross weather but we usually don’t come up in winter so we can avoid the ski traffic.
Patchy color, and hidden peak (PSP).
Back on the main Little Cottonwood Road (PSP). With a big patch of aspens.
More color (PSP).
The amazing view down the perfect U shaped canyon (PSP).
Again (PSP).
We got stuck in the upper construction (PSP).
At least we still have a decent view down the canyon (PSP).
Uhg. We got stuck in a 2nd cycle (PSP). The line wasn’t long, and the light cycle lasted long enough, just too many obliviots in front of us looking at their phones or something.
Anyway, we are just above the Lisa Falls Trailhead. I don’t think I would risk parking here until the construction moves on.
A crow hopping about (PSP).
Giant chainsaw (PSP).
Continuing down (PSP).
Giant boulder being propped up by a stick (PSP). As long as I have been coming up this canyon, way back when I was a kid, there has always been a stick under the boulder. It has changed quite a few times, but its always there. I love that the community just keeps the gag going for all these years.
More color (PSP).
The lower construction light (PSP). It wasn’t going today, thankfully. I had my fill of waiting for the day.
The mouth of the canyon (PSP).
Meh, not a bad little scenic drive, and a good little add on for the day. I did enjoy getting to see some more of the pretty aspens before they are done for the year. 9 out of 10 squirrels. Losing 1 for the annoying construction.
As for difficulty, unless you decide to get out and explore this is a good DR1, view from the car or maybe get out and look.
Dogs are not allowed in Little Cottonwood Canyon due to watershed restrictions. So be sure to leave Fido home for this one.
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