View all photos
Details
Distance
1.53 miles
Elevation Gain
413 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Features
Scenic
Family Friendly
Bathrooms
Easy Parking
Wildlife
Waterfall
Download
Directions
Check-in
Track
About this place
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.
Show more
Suggest an edit
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and be sure to follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly.
Community
Reviews
Photos
Check-ins
K W
9/9/2023
Great hike to the waterfall
In order to get to the cave, it’s a very dangerous climb up the rocks by the falls. Signs state to stay off so ...
Show more
Report
Emerson Brian
2/1/2023
Donut falls in the snow
Did this hike near the end of April and had the place to ourselves. Lots of snow, but doable in regular hiking shoes. Would ...
Show more
Report
Dawn Rohde
10/24/2022
Be careful
Be careful no matter what time of year you are doing this one. There is a steep drop off when you eventually get to ...
Show more
Report
Tom Mock
12/5/2020
Awesome Family Friendly Hike
The hike to Donut Falls is one of my favorites! It is very family friendly and a great way to escape the SLC heat. ...
Show more
Report
Marisol d
11/18/2020
Great Easy Hike with waterfall
Nice Easy hike with a nice treat at the end. easy to navigate. See video below for more info
https://youtu.be/bB-Dt3q4KEs
Report
Maggie Donohoo
9/28/2020
Family-friendly and good for groups!
Donut Falls is a family-friendly, 3-mile, our-and-back hike. There is ample parking at the trailhead and public restrooms. The trail leads you through dense ...
Show more
Report
Carly Thomas
5/18/2020
Not for us
Lots of kids playing music and families I don’t recommend if you are looking for a peaceful hike.
Report
Travis Poulson
9/18/2018
Family Adventure
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, ...
Show more
Report
Cole Foard
8/25/2017
Great hike with kids
Its super easy and can get crowded but its one of the best hikes when your dragging up three little girls. The best ...
Show more
Report
Ed Of The East
8/23/2017
Great Family Afternoon Out.
We loved this trail. Nice gentle uphill most of the way easy enough for all of use. The reward at the top was worth ...
Show more
Report
Lyndsey Marie
8/3/2017
Amazing Hike
My BF just moved to SLC for a six month work stint. On one of my weekends visiting we decided to go for a ...
Show more
Report
Brandon Hays
6/26/2017
Awesome
This place was awesome! Really easy hike. Just make sure you keep left after the first river crossing. The views are spectacular and there ...
Show more
Report
Shalee Blackmer
4/20/2017
Beautiful Hike And Falls
And easy but scenic hike. We went on a weekday which turned out to be perfect because we had the place all to ourselves ...
Show more
Report
Adam Morrow
4/17/2017
Easy hike, very cool
There was still quite a bit of snow on the hike up, but it was very packed down and crusty. Icy and slick in ...
Show more
Report
Michaela Velarde
4/12/2017
Fun
Fun for the whole family. Mildly disappointed there were no actual doughnuts.
Report
Joshua Carter
3/4/2017
Great Winter Hike
Donut falls had an awesome ice formation and a rope to ascend towards the cave. Crampton's would be advisable for gaining access to the ...
Show more
Report
Cody Howard
11/12/2016
Short & Easy - Well Worth It
This is a great little hike, the donut falls and surrounding views of Big Cottonwood are beautiful! Be warned, this is a very big ...
Show more
Report
Carley Prestwich
10/12/2016
Fun, Short Hike.
Good in winter, way too crowded summer weekends -- summer=zoo early spring or winter is nice.
Early spring so there was still some snow, ...
Show more
Report
Lisa Steadman
9/8/2016
Sweet As It's Name
I've only been here in the winter time snowshoeing and we had the place almost to ourselves. We saw 4 other people in total. ...
Show more
Report
Scottie Johnson
9/1/2016
Trailhead Is Misleading On This
The trailhead parking on this app is a little misleading. You can actually go down the road "FR019" which is the road south of ...
Show more
Report
Jake Ward
6/21/2016
Waterfall AND people watching
This place is magical, but it's got to be one of the most impacted areas in the Wasatch. It is often hard to ...
Show more
Report
L R
6/15/2016
Crowded
Arrived at 10:00am on a Tuesday and the hike was packed with families w/young children. There was a 5 min wait/line to see the ...
Show more
Report
Eric Harris
5/30/2016
Awesome Winter Hike
This is an awesome hike in the winter. Snowshoes aren't essential but we brought them and were glad we had them. ...
Show more
Report
Nick Wrzesinski
5/30/2016
Heavily Trafficked Trail
This is one of the easiest and most heavily trafficked hikes in Big Cottonwood. If you're looking for an easy hike with little ...
Show more
Report
Danny Pehrson
5/14/2016
Great Spring Hike
Still a decent amount of snow in the month of May, but not too much to be very dangerous. Be prepared to get your ...
Show more
Report
Anna Redbond
5/12/2016
Great short hike
Nice mild and accessible hike in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Fairly heavily trafficked trail - even on a Thursday afternoon - but still worth ...
Show more
Report
Dan Warner
5/4/2016
A Salt Lake Area Must
This is one of the classic day hikes in Salt Lake City due to its short length and easy difficultly level. It's a fun ...
Show more
Report
Catherine Brown
4/10/2016
An Adventurers Must
Great taste of adventure. The snow does make the trail tricky but all the foot steps help you know you're on the right track. ...
Show more
Report
Khürt Williams
3/26/2016
Needs GPS Coordinates
I met many hikers along looking for
Donut Falls and none of use knew how to get there. In late March, the trail is covered ...
Show more
Report
Daniel Barba
3/26/2016
Snow Hike
Was a short yet fun little hike! Unfortunately we didn't see the falls due to the snowfall so we couldn't pass the sign that ...
Show more
Report
Josh Anderson
3/24/2016
Mild But Must
A very mild hike but an absolute must.
Report
Bryony Richards
3/21/2016
Waterfall in summer, ice cave in winter!
Beautiful hike and a great waterfall to end up at! Which as a bonus turn into an ice cave in winter!
Report
Michael Johnston
3/17/2016
Great hike! Nice and easy.
A couple people said to simply "ignore the warning signs" and just go on up to the falls. This is NOT OKAY. ...
Show more
Report
Rebecca Stubbs
12/11/2015
In the snow
I did this hike last weekend and it was sweet in the ice! I have done it in every season and there really is ...
Show more
Report
Mariah Nogueira
10/25/2015
We missed it the first time...
There's a sign that says "don't hike past this point, don't climb on rocks, don't go in the water". To get to the cave, ...
Show more
Report
Spencer Arntsen
10/23/2015
Great for kids with a caveat
This is a great short hike for everyone, including kids, though it can be a little sketchy climbing up at the falls. There ...
Show more
Report
Prajit Ravindran
10/7/2015
A fun hike
A fun hike with good photo ops near the waterfall.
Report
Jordan Smith
7/31/2015
Awesome Hike, Go On A Week Day
Donut falls is awesome! Be prepared to scramble up to the falls at the end. Do not hike this on Memorial Day, haha. I ...
Show more
Report
Justin Ford
7/26/2015
Really fun hike!
Report
Ben Brown
7/9/2015
Love this, great way to kill a Saturday. Enjoy it year round, and lots more you can do to add to the trip
Report
Maddy Woodward
6/10/2015
Have done this hike many times in all seasons! Never gets old <3
Report
Seth Whelden
6/3/2015
Just got back from this hike during spring runoff and it's an entirely different beast! Bring some good water shoes/sandals and expect to get ...
Show more
Report
John Oscadal
6/1/2015
Try to avoid heading here on a weekend, and if you do, head out early.
Report
Ricky Koplow
5/29/2015
Very Fun easy hike
Report
Brandon Harrop
5/11/2015
Perfect for beginners or children. Very fun little rewarding hike.
Report
David Harris
4/19/2015
Great family hike. The last section is not easy but a lot of fun if you like climbing on rock.
Report
Jhose Zenteno
4/12/2015
Love this falls so awsome love hiking
Report
Ken Ockler
4/12/2015
Simple and beautiful hike. Great photo opportunities.
Report
Sachi Thornley
12/11/2014
It was great to do with the kids! (7,2)
Report