One of my favorite things about spring is the snow is finally starting to melt, opening the canyons up to hikers and all of amazing flowing waterfalls. Bell's Canyon is definitely one of the more classic hikes in Utah. I am ashamed to say that it has taken me way too long to do this hike past the reservoir. This trail is located in Sandy and is a great option for those with kids who want to do a shorter hike and spend a day at the reservoir fishing, or if you want a bit more of a challenge you can climb the steep hike to an amazing waterfall. This trail can be tricky in terms of when the best time to do it is. It is very steep and if the snow is packed down and turning to ice it can be dangerous without spikes.
I pretty much stalk the AllTrails comments to see how other people are doing on the hike. We ran into a patch of snow toward the top, but it wasn't bad at all and we could navigate our way down safely without poles or crampons (spikes). One of my favorite things about this trail is that it takes you into the base of Little Cottonwood Canyon giving you a taste of what is to come for the summer! It will leave you itching to get up into the canyon and take it all in! If you are like me and not a winter sports person, it has been a LONG wait. You follow the river on a trail gaining 1,400 feet of elevation. It is steep and not for the faint of heart. It is also quite a popular trail so expect to see a few people as you are hiking along.
We did this trail during the COVID-19 pandemic when social distancing was enforced and it was a little nerve racking that have that many people around, but it is already trail etiquette to avoid being on top of other groups, so hiking is an activity you can do safely. These are weird times and it is so important to keep your physical and mental health strong. Nature is one of the best things for both factors of our health. If you need a book to read while you are stuck at home, I would HIGHLY recommend The Nature Fix by Florence Williams. She explores why we are so connected to nature and how it really does help our well-being by exposing ourselves to do it daily.
This is one of the more well-marked trails I have found, which is a curse and a blessing. There are quite a few signs along the way telling you how much longer to the waterfall which when you are tired is hard but it also helps to keep pushing yourself. Overall, this is quite a short hike, but it is so steep it will take you a bit longer to get up to the waterfall. We pushed ourselves as much as possible, but I found myself having to take multiple breaks to give my calves a chance to stop burning. They never stopped, so I don't know if the rests were worth it. Ha-ha. But this is a beautiful trail that you should experience at least once. We were able to knock it out after work and it was the perfect way to start the weekend!
What You Want to Know
Take Me There!
Bell's Canyon is about 25 minutes from Salt Lake City. It is a super easy trail to find and there is overflow parking clearly marked if the parking lot is full.
How long is the hike?
This is a 4.6 mile out and back trail with a 1,400 ft. elevation gain.
What do I wear?
Late spring you could get away with a tank top and capris. I brought a jacket just in case, but it is pretty close to the city so you don't get the cool air of the canyon as much as you'd think. I also wore my hiking boots because I am breaking them in. But you could do this hike in regular shoes as long as they are sturdy, you do a lot of rock scrambling towards the top.
Are dogs allowed?
Dogs are not allowed on this trail because it is part of the Salt Lake City watershed.
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