Donut Falls

Salt Lake City, Utah

4.1/5

based on 44 reviews

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Details

Distance

1.53 miles

Elevation Gain

413 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Eric Bennett

Donut Falls is an out-and-back hike to an amazingly beautiful and picturesque waterfall. This trail, located in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, is good for all seasons with easy access to the trail.

The Trail

Follow the trail for just a little bit and when it forks, stay to the left and you will arrive to Donut Falls. Once at the waterfall, climb up the rocks to get to the cave at the top, which is not visible from the bottom. To take pictures inside of the cave, you will most likely get your feet wet.

This is a really short hike, so it's great if you are short on time and want to see something amazing.

Falls Coordinates: 40.629722, -111.654722

Getting There

Coming from the I-215, turn left on Big Cottonwood Road and the parking lot will be about nine miles up the road on your right. Usually the gate is closed, so park here and follow the rest of the road on foot until you get to a trailhead with restrooms on the left hand side.

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Features

Photography

Hiking

Bathrooms

Easy Parking

Family Friendly

Scenic

Waterfall

Wildlife

Reviews

Travis Poulson

Donut Falls

09/18/18

This place is nutso crowded on most weekends. The falls are unique and worth the crowds if you haven't taken the family there yet, but do not go on a holiday weekend. You will regret it!

3.0

Carley Prestwich

Donut Falls

09/03/17

Good in winter, way too crowded summer weekends -- summer=zoo early spring or winter is nice. Early spring so there was still some snow, which made it even better! Make sure you climb up to be under the falls. Nice short hike, pretty neat fall.

3.0

Cole Foard

Donut Falls

08/25/17

Its super easy and can get crowded but its one of the best hikes when your dragging up three little girls. The best time to hike the falls is in winter, the trail is well used so snowshoes aren't necessary and all the snow makes it even easier to hike up to the hole.

5.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

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Snowshoe to Cardiff Mine

The trail starts from the same trailhead as Donut Falls which is extremely popular. In the winter, the gates are closed and you need to park just off the highway. Follow the road and crowds along the trail but once you cross the bridge continue straight ahead instead of following the trail that curves to the left. About 50 feet after leaving the trail, you will intersect with an old mining road...

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Hike Cardiff Fork

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To get to the trailhead drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon to Spruces Campground. Once in the parking lot, walk to the southwest corner of the parking lot and go up the road past the bathrooms. The trailhead will be next to the overgrown baseball field. The trail is awesome single track the whole way up to the top and never branches off so it's really easy to follow, you can't get lost. The trail ...

Donut Falls

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Leave No Trace

Nearby

Backcountry Ski Cardiff Fork

Kessler Peak in Utah's Big Cottonwood Canyon

Snowshoe to Cardiff Mine

Big Cottonwood Canyon Astrophotography

Hike Cardiff Fork

Hike Days Fork

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