Everywhere I look these days, it seems that people are posting pictures of amazing fall colors. We…read moredo live in a beautiful state and it's appropriate for us to step outside, take a look around and appreciate when nature shows off. I joined a group of hikers and hit the trails this past week, in search of some great fall colors. Bell Canyon did not disappoint. There is plenty of parking at the trailhead, including clean bathrooms. The first part of the trail is pretty rocky and has a decent elevation gain-poles are helpful, but at the least, have good shoes with some traction. Once you get to the reservoir, it's pretty flat and there are lots of places you can get amazing pictures. Be sure to take some time down by the water-it's so calming and just beautiful. There were some detour signs on the trail, so we didn't get the full experience (not sure why it was closed, but we tried to follow signs until they suddenly stopped. So we turned around and came the way we went.) Overall, it's a beautiful hike and I'd love to come try it again when the trail is open.

We started at the entrance on Wasatch Blvd near the residential area; and then, ended up at the…read morewaterfall. It took us about 4 hours to hike approx. 6 miles with short breaks in between for water. It's a mixer of flat, incline, rocky, slippery (snow still out towards end of hike), upward steps, and mini bridges to cross over small water streams. There are surrounding plants and trees, but most are barely blooming. Didn't see any wildlife animals, but saw a few squirrels crossing our paths lol. The hike itself wasn't too hard. I'd rate it intermediate. It was only challenging because the paths towards the end were slippery due to snow still out and melting. It was fun with some close calls. Luckily I found a stick on the way to use. We passed by the lake at the beginning of the hike, which was nice. Once we reached the waterfall, we took a refreshing break; snacked a bit; embraced the beautiful nature; and then, headed back where we started. It was harder to hike down the slippery snow than it was to hike to the waterfall. I'd come back to hike this place during fall to see the vibrant color of the trees.

I love taking friends from out of town on this hike! It's long enough that you feel like you did…read moresomething active, but not too far or too difficult that your friends never trust you to pick a trail again. The trail can be crowded at certain times of the day/year and it can seem confusing because of lack of signage/multiple spur trails but you really can't get lost if you keep heading towards the mountains. This trail is dog friendly! And the dog owners are very respectful and responsible. Which makes this trail even more fun to try!

Trivia: What university originally established in 1850 as the University of Deseret and used in the…read more2002 Winter Olympics sits rather close to the base of this trail? Finding the actual trail can be a little bit of a challenge. From the road where everyone seems to park, we started on a shaded, tree-lined trail that looked promising. But after a short jaunt, we arrived in a dusty, tree free area with trails going in lots of directions. The group in front of us took off like they knew where they were going, but I wasn't fooled by their confidence. Yay Me! But BOOO on the existence of trail markings. I reviewed the map and pointed my hiking companion and I to the trail I thought was most closely aligned with GOOGLE maps and AllTrails. Service was a little spotty. Luckily, it all worked out! The trail is a solid 1000-1200 feet of elevation over a mile which is a solid click of UP. Bring water as shade is rare and the trees are really more shrubs and bush size. The living room area is superb, but depending on the time of day, VERY congested. The seats will feel like the best chair you've ever parked your tired rump, and you will begrudgingly give them up when the crowds form around you.

This waterfall is only about 150 feet off Highway 190. There is plenty of parking across the…read morestreet. The trail is relatively easy but plenty of roots and rocks. You only need to walk for about five minutes to enjoy the falls. You will know when you are getting close as thee is an old mine shaft next to the falls. It is spooky and open for anyone brave enough to go in. Lots of hiking at trailhead nearby, but if only up for a quick walk, this is the spot.

This is my type of hike-more like a mild nature walk with all my favorite things: water, trees and…read morewildlife. There's a good sized parking lot with some restrooms (which were unfortunately poorly maintained due to staffing issues-but that's another review). There are a few nice overlook spots along the trail and even a few benches to stop and enjoy the scenery. I noticed that there were many spots in the grassy area that appeared to be burned. As I was wondering aloud what those meant, I came across a sign that explained that they were prescribed burns to prevent the existing trees from choking out. They need space to grow. The water is incredibly clear and the stream has a lovely flow to it. There are some spots that are a little more sparse than others, so it might not be the most magnificent trail you'll find in the mountains, but if it's along your path and you'd like a short walk, it's definitely worth visiting.

Beautiful drive once you get there all paved walkways so much fun to see the water, cascading fish…read morein the bonds and unique flowers and white natural grasses

The trailhead starts in the Timpooneke campground parking lot in American Fork Canyon. The cost is…read more$6 per car. You can pay at the parking lot- there are self-pay envelopes. If you don't have cash, like us, we stopped at the little guard shack at the mouth of AF canyon on our way out and paid. We hiked to the summit August 1 2018. Weather was perfect. We started the trailhead at 5AM and made the summit around 8:30. We hiked quite quickly and large groups or inexperienced hikers would definitely take longer. Average is around 4 1/2 hours to reach the summit. We took 3 liters of water each and it was more than enough. If it had been warmer we may have needed more- but we were back to our car by noon. The hike down took about 2 1/2 hours. We had read that it normally takes a little longer. We also took snacks- which were needed! Snickers bars and peanut m&ms were perfect. The hike wasn't technically difficult so much as just long. It definitely takes endurance. It's not for the faint of heart. I'd recommend being in good physical shape- 7.2 miles each way. The views were breathtaking. Only the last mile from the saddle to the tippy top had some scary heights. If you're afraid of heights, the last mile will be a little nerve wracking. However, it wasn't incredibly dangerous. I'm not a risk taker and I felt pretty safe. It got a little hot on the way down. I wouldn't recommend starting much later than 5am because it can start to get pretty hot as the day goes on and you'll be tired . And the top of the summit can be quite cold in the morning. I had a sweatshirt with me and was grateful for it!

4.75 mile hike with incredible views. This hike was a steady incline on the way up and all downhill…read moreon the way back. It took about 2.5 hours and was just over 1200ft in elevation gain. Would recommend early in the morning before it gets too hot!

This has two trailheads, so please note that the pin drop here on Yelp (as of today) is on the…read moreMillcreek Canyon side. If you're looking to hike to Desolation Lake, you can make it there on this trailhead, but it's the loooooong way. For the most direct way to Desolation Lake, you'll want the Beartrap Fork Trail #057, located one canyon to the south in Big Cottonwood Canyon, here: https://www.yelp.com/biz/beartrap-fork-trail-057-salt-lake-city Now that's settled, let's talk about the Desolation Trail. As alluded to above, this is actually quite a long trail that straddles the hump between Millcreek and Big Cottonwood Canyons. Arguably, the most popular section of the hike is here at the Millcreek side, as it delivers hikers a nifty vista after a few miles. First, find the trailhead by going east up Millcreek Canyon. You'll pass the series of Cub Scout and Boy Scout camps on the south side, and come to the Church Fork Picnic area on the north (left) side. Once you pass that, the South Box Elder Picnic Area appears on the south (right) and this is where the trailhead begins. The trailhead hosts a small pit toilet building but there is no available electricity or water, so bring your own before you arrive. There are a few small picnic tables on a first come-first served basis, as well as the Edmund Ellsworth picnic area, which can be reserved ahead of time. Begin the ascent behind the restrooms and you'll see a few signs to begin: first, note that the beginning of the hike is on private property. The Boy Scouts allow the public trail to cross the property, so be nice, and stay on trail. The other sign you see is a mileage indicator which reads: Salt Lake Valley Overlook 2 Thaynes Canyon 3 Porter Fk. Trail 8.5 Mill B North Fk. 9 Bowman Fk. 10.5 Dog Lake 16.5 Desolation Lake 18 Far and away, the most popular hike here is the Salt Lake Valley Overlook. Though marked at 2, it's arguably more like 2.2, making a nice but challenging 4.4 mile round trip activity. This is infinitely doable as an after-work hike in the long days of summer, and even in less illuminated conditions the trail is well worn and can be accomplished on days when you sneak out of the office early. Expect to see lots of traffic those first few miles. Also note that Millcreek Canyon is a popular spot for dog owners, and dogs are allowed on trails and offleash on odd-numbered days of the month. If pups ain't your thing, stick to even-numbered leash days, or skip to the south for the dog-prohibited Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons. The Salt Lake Valley Overlook is as far as I've taken the trail from Millcreek. On the other side, I've run around BCC, Dog Lake, and Desolation Lake as a younger fellow and trail is remarkably similar. Expect to find shorter but thick foliage in sunnier, lower elevations. As you rise or find shady sides of the canyon, you can find stands of pine and other evergreens. The flowers light up from early spring and take turns all season; scarlet gilia, lupine, the occasional mountain aster, Indian paintbrush, and many others. The trailhead sits at about 5750ft in elevation. Salt Lake Valley Overlook takes you to just over 7000ft. It's never technical, the trail is almost exclusively dirt (read: dusty in the summer) but it's a constant climb and can get the best of less-than-seasoned hikers. Still, it's a good choice if you have a healthy group. The full Desolation Trail (which, as far as I can tell, ends at Desolation Lake) maps out on paper to be 16 miles, but is listed at 18. The lake itself sits at just over 9200 ft, so you shouldn't be surprised that the Desolation Trail is a constant climb for over 6 miles before calming down and dropping to around 8800ft over the next 7 or so miles, reaching Dog Lake, dropping to around 8300, and then lifting back up over the 9K mark to reach the waters of Desolation. Here again, you're looking at high elevation forest, although never terribly thick, and a lot of shrub and deciduous groves. Pack plenty of water, even if you're just headed to the overlook. Some of it is exposed, and it's a pretty dry hike. Sunblock is a must, because no matter what time of day or season, you're going to pass stretches that are exposed. We're spoiled to have something like this, and all the other great trails, so close to us in SLC. the Salt Lake Valley Overlook is quite the sight, and that's just about 2 miles away. The whole journey -- one I've not completed in a continuous slog, to be clear -- is on my conquer list and a real treat for anyone looking to head for the hills on a summer day.

The Butler Fork Trail is just a little spur that starts right off of Highway 190 (Big Cottonwood…read moreCanyon Road) up in Big Cottonwood Canyon. It's most commonly used as the start for a hike of Circle All Peak, Mount Raymond, Gobblers Knob, or as an alternate route to reach Dog Lake (rather than the more common and direct Mill D North Fork trail a bit further up the canyon). The actual Trailhead, located on the north side of the canyon road, hosts enough parking for 15-20 cars. There's a trailhead post and signboard with information about the hike, and a couple of maps. There aren't any other facilities there to speak of, so don't plan on finding a potty or fill up on water. Come prepared. The trail is steep. It's not too rocky, and it's not "stair-stepper" steep, but the dirt path will rise and rise in elevation without relenting. In the first half-mile, you follow Butler Creek, and eventually rise above it before leveling out (a momentary reprieve from the climb) and crossing a footbridge. You resume the climb, and after about a half mile, you reach a fork. Go right (north, turning east) to stay on the Butler Fork Trail and eventually junction with the Desolation Trail, find Dog Lake and see the Butler Fork Trail to its terminus, or go left (west) and you'll officially be on the Mill A Basin Trail headed towards Circle All Peak, Mount Raymond, and Gobblers Knob. By going west on the Mill A Basin Trail you'll also junction with the Desolation Trail. You could make a loop out of the experience, by going either direction at that fork 1/2 mile in, taking that trail to its terminus at the Desolation Trail, and then traversing Desolation back to its junction with the trail you decided not to take back at the fork. A quick measurement on my map puts that option at around 7 miles. A more popular option, however, is to out-and-back, and leave the Butler Fork Trail in favor of the Mill A Basin Trail about at that fork. The most popular hike here is probably the Circle All Peak route. Circle All Peak isn't really a "peak" so much as a bump with a nice view, but let's not quibble over terminology. That view is worth the price of admission. You'll go left (west) at the fork, and then continue straight up the canyon, eventually winding through a series of switchbacks amongst the aspen trees on one side of the canyon wall, until reaching the canyon saddle and continuing on up the other side. Keep your eyes open once you're up on the ridge top, because the trail shoots off to the left for Circle All, and it's easy to miss. If you continue straight, you're headed to Raymond Peak and eventually Gobblers Knob. Take that side trail to the left (south) and you've got 100-150 yards of climbing through the trees before popping out for terrific views. Because of the relentless climb (you gain over 1500ft in elevation) it feels like more than 1.7 miles to this point, but that's what the map says I've not done the hike in Autumn, but I've heard it's tremendous with the aspens and the other foliage turning colors. In June, it was bright green, overflowing with foliage, especially on the lower portions along the creek. There were several flowers in bloom, with many more on their way. I hiked next to a botanist who pointed out the penstemon, wild sweet pea, scarlet gilia, columbine, lupine, larkspur, and I saw a violet-colored wild clematis (?) which I'd not seen elsewhere. Since BCC is free and the parking is free, this is a great way to get some recreation without busting the bank. It's a tremendous hike, no matter what direction you end up going. Just be prepared--pack plenty of water and know that this one is quite strenuous, steep, and will let you know if you're out of shape. Trailhead coordinates: 40.6492, -111.6614

Donut Fall trail was a quick easy hike and popular with families.. they were everywhere! No water…read moreat the falls, but still very fun. There's parking at the trailhead and a bathroom. Please come and create your own adventure.

Donut Falls is a very special place to me, and it's accessibility makes it a great family-friendly…read morehike. You can choose to scale the slick rocks to the top of the waterfall if you're feeling bold, just be super cautious and be sure you're experienced and wearing proper gear. Even if you choose not to, you'll still be rewarded with incredible views!