Hiking on weekends is a great way to unplug yourself from the bells and whistles of modern life. If you live in Salt Lake City, you have more than ten hiking trails to escape to. All of these are short and not too steep. Each one comes with a sweet surprise of its own: a cave, a lake, or a spring.
Hiking Trails from Little Cottonwood Canyon
Salt City City has three main canyons: Little Cottonwood Canyon, Big Cottonwood Canyon, and the American Fork. Hundreds of trails lead up from each of these canyons. From the Little Cottonwood, two trails lead up to the Bell Canyon, a circular structure carved by a glacier thousands of years ago. Beginners and children can easily hike to Bell Canyon’s lower reserve whereas the higher reservoir and its set of waterfalls command a full-day of hike, suitable only for more seasoned hikers.
Trails from American Fork Canyon
If you are starting at the American Fork Canyon hiking to Cascade Springs is your best bet. It is half a mile’s interpretive trail and leads up to shallow waterfalls and springs with beautiful waters inhabited by fish. The springs are beautiful and the main highlight of the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway. The trail is open only between May and October.
Hiking for 3 miles in the Timpanooke trail whose head is 7 miles up the Fork Canyon will lead you to the beautiful Scout Falls. If you looking for the shortest trail with the best payoff, take the Timpanoogos Cave trail. It is only 1.5 miles long and ends at three beautiful caves with a one-hour guided tour that can arranged by calling 801-756-5283.
Trails from Big Cottonwood Canyon
Donut Falls, named because of a donut-shaped rock through which the Big Cottonwood Creek flows, is the most marvelous of the trails possible from the Big Cottonwood. The falls are nine miles from the canyon but the hike is only 2.5 miles if you take the Mill D trailhead and 1.5 miles if you follow the Donut Falls trail. There is a secret cave behind the falls.
Salt Lake City has an abundance of beautiful hiking trails, but most residents go years without discovering hiking; don’t wait another weekend to get a look at these great Utah hiking trails, get out and hike today!
American Southwest Magazine 
The Bryce Canyon shot is great. I need to get there. I am quite biased to Zion though.
Thanks for the nice post! Can’t wait to get out hiking again!