Donut Falls - Hike and Swim near Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City,Utah
40.6496804966114, -111.648108959198
14.9 miles SE of Salt Lake City, Utah
GPS: 40°38'58.8"N 111°38'53.2"W
Maps | Directions
State: Utah

Restrooms Waterfalls Streams Trails Rocks Wildflowers

Hike and Swim

Very popular beginning hike in the Salt Lake City area. Many take this as a good intro hike into the outdoors, while others go for a trip out with friends to escape the rush of daily life. The donut name comes from the waterfall that flows into a cave through a hole in the cave ceiling. If visitors want to get a good view of the waterfall they need to be prepared to get wet in the process. 

Starting at a parking lot, visitors can follow a trail that will take them to a cave where, once they climb up and into it, will be greeted by the lovely Donut Falls. The climb into the cave is not too difficult. Visitors should just be careful of slick rocks from the stream as the climb into the cave of Donut Falls. Sometimes people want to climb on top of the cave roof and try to get a picture of the donut fall from the top down. This is not advised and trying to climb on the top has caused several fatalities in recent years. 

Overall the hike is a great hike for families and friends. In the summers the parking lot and trail can get very crowded as everyone likes to visit this cave. If going, consider going in the morning and on a weekday, which will cut down on the amount of people on the trail. The trail is relatively short, about 3 miles round trip, though remember to bring water and a camera to capture the pleasant nature around you.

The forested trail is well marked. The trailhead is in Big Cottonwood Canyon near the Jordan Pines picnic area.

 

2.7K Edited by cteicheira

Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.

Read More
  1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
  2. Travel & camp on durable surfaces
  3. Dispose of waste properly
  4. Leave what you find
  5. Minimize campfire impacts
  6. Respect wildlife
  7. Be considerate of other visitors

Directions

From Salt Lake City, Utah

  1. Head west on 400 S/University Blvd toward Main St (0.2 mi)
  2. Turn left at the 1st cross street onto W Temple (0.2 mi)
  3. Turn right onto 500 S/Cesar E. Chavez Blvd (0.6 mi)
  4. Take the I-80 E/I-80 W ramp on the left to Cheyenne/Reno/S.L. International Airport/Las Vegas (0.2 mi)
  5. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for I-15 S/I-80 E/Cheyenne/Las Vegas and merge onto I-15 S/I-80 E (2.5 mi)
  6. Keep left at the fork to continue on I-15 S (5.9 mi)
  7. Take exit 298 to merge onto I-215 E/Belt Route (5.5 mi)
  8. Take exit 6 for UT-190 E toward 3000 E (0.3 mi)
  9. Keep left, follow signs for 6200 South E (341 ft)
  10. Turn right onto UT-190 E/6200 S/Big Cottonwood Rd S
    Continue to follow UT-190 E
    (1.7 mi)
  11. Turn left onto UT-190 E/Big Cottonwood Cyn Rd
    Continue to follow UT-190 E
    Destination will be on the left
    (9.0 mi)
or

Take I-215 South (freeway will become I-215 East) until you reach the 6200 South exit. Turn right onto Wasatch Boulevard, then turn left at Big Cottonwood Canyon. The intersection is clearly signed. You will see a 7-11 store to your right.

From the north or south ends of the valley, take I-15 to I-215 East and follow the directions above.

Getting to the Trailhead:

Travel up the canyon road 9.0 miles. Here, the turn-off to the right will take you to the trailhead one mile further, past the Jordan Pines picnic area and some private property. The trailhead is at the south end of the parking area. (Lat:40.63957 Lon:-111.6512)

to add photos & videos and suggest edits

Guest Review/Comments

/5
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

leahmia

4/12/15 5:35 pm
Beautiful, easy hike! In early April, when we hiked it, there was still snow on two thirds of the trail and the bathrooms were not open yet. The website says 1.5 miles, but since the parking lot wasn't open yet, we had to hike from the main road to the trailhead, and that made it about 2.5 miles. The snow and ice made it tricky getting up the rocks to see the waterfall, but it was still totally worth it. That final ascent will be a lot easier/safer in the summer, I think. I would recommend bringing watershoes so you can enjoy the cave and still walk back down with dry feet. We went on a Saturday so there were lots of people on the trail. We also took lots of water and ended up not needing it all (the hike is pretty short). The trees were gorgeous, the rocks majestic, and the waterfall coming through the hole is just as awesome as the picture indicates! We'd definitely take our friends there.
Reply
Edit Review Delete Review
Reply Cancel
Donut Falls Donut Falls
Donut Falls in Utah courtesy of Troyrock Donut Falls in Utah courtesy of Troyrock↗ GoPro: Donut Falls by Paolo Quezada

Other Swimming Holes and Hiking Trails Nearby

Add Location

Lake Blanche

Salt Lake City, Utah

3.8 miles SW

Lake Blanche is a fun and popular hike. Lake Blanche, Lake Florence and Lake Lillian are all located next to each other in the upper reaches of the South Fork of Mill B. The trail to Lake Blanche...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

Hidden Falls

Salt Lake City, Utah

4.1 miles W

Hidden Falls is a popular road side attraction for anyone cruising Big Cottonwood Canyon on a sunny afternoon. The falls are within strolling distance of the parking lot and only require about 15...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

Silver Lake (Big Cottonwood)

Brighton, Utah

4.6 miles SE

This hike has everything. The trail passes by three bodies of water and winds through beautiful woodland areas. Wildlife is in abundance. Everything from chipmunks to moose can be observed along...

Hike, Mountain Bike

mountain bike Mountain Bike Trail

hike Hiking Trail

Storm Mountain

Salt Lake City, Utah

5.3 miles W

Storm Mountain is on of the smaller peaks included in the Wasatch Range. Storm Mountain is located in Cottonwood Canyon. Storm Mountain Day Use Area is just 3 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon,...

Hike, Mountain Bike, Rock Climb

rock climb Rock Climbing Wall

mountain bike Mountain Bike Trail

hike Hiking Trail

Pfeiferhorn Peak

Provo, Utah

5.4 miles S

The Pfeifferhorn is a majestic peak, which is located east of Salt Lake City, Utah in the Wasatch mountain range. It's easy access, proximity to alpine lakes and short trail make it a popular...

Backpack, Hike

hike Hiking Trail

backpack Backpacking Trail

Cecret (Secret) Lake

Alta, Utah

5.6 miles S

Cecret (pronounced "Secret") Lake is a beautiful lake located among alpine meadows in Little Cottonwood Canyons Albion Basin. Some folks spell Secret Lake as Cecret Lake, but the USGS...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

Wasatch Crest

Salt Lake City, Utah

5.7 miles SE

The Wasatch Crest Trail (GWT) is probably one of the best, if not the very best, singletrack trail in Utah! I prefer to do this ride as an out and back, starting at Millcreek Canyon's Big Water...

Hike, Mountain Bike

mountain bike Mountain Bike Trail

hike Hiking Trail

Sugarloaf Peak

Alta, Utah

5.9 miles S

Sugarloaf Peak is an easily reached 11,000 ft. summit which overlooks Albion Basin, Secret Lake, and much of Utah's Alta ski resort. The easy terrain and relatively high trailhead elevation...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

2.6 mi

Salt Lake Valley Scenic Overlook

Salt Lake City, Utah

6.3 miles NW

The Salt Lake Valley Scenic overlook starts on the Desolation trail in Millcreek Canyon near Salt Lake City, Utah and offers hikers a wide variety of destinations to stop at along the trail,...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

Lisa Falls

Sandy, Utah

6.7 miles SW

Lisa Falls is a great place to climb Spring through Fall, any time of day. The base is well shaded by trees and offers many flat places to belay, or just hang out and relax. The roaring waterfall...

Hike, Rock Climb

rock climb Rock Climbing Wall

hike Hiking Trail

American Fork Twin Peaks

Provo, Utah

6.8 miles S

  American Fork Twin Peaks is the highest mountain on the Little Cottonwood Canyon ridge. The summit is the prominent peak overlooking the Snowbird ski resort. A short approach hike...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

Grandeur Peak

Salt Lake City, Utah

7.1 miles NW

Grandeur Peak is the most easily accessible of the major peaks that form the Salt Lake City skyline. For many valley residents Grandeur Peak was there first major summit. The peak offers great...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

0.7 mi

Great White Icicle

Sandy, Utah

7.3 miles SW

The Great White Icicle is located in Little Cottonwood Canyon just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. It is a climbing area that is a frozen waterfall in the winter and a cascading waterfall...

Hike, Rock Climb

rock climb Rock Climbing Wall

hike Hiking Trail

White Pine Lake

Sandy, Utah

7.7 miles S

White Pine Canyon has long been the subject of intense controversy between advocates of wilderness and ski resort owners. The original boundaries of Lone Peak Wilderness Area, created in 1977, were...

Hike, Mountain Bike

mountain bike Mountain Bike Trail

hike Hiking Trail

Ferguson Canyon

Cottonwood Heights, Utah

7.8 miles W

Ferguson canyon is small canyon between Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons. This canyon has gained popularity over the last few year and is a popular destination for rock climbers. This is one hike...

Hike, Mountain Bike, Rock Climb

rock climb Rock Climbing Wall

mountain bike Mountain Bike Trail

hike Hiking Trail

Pete's Rock

Salt Lake City, Utah

8.3 miles W

A large rock next to the Mount Olympus trailhead known locally as Pete's Rock and is a popular place for casual rock climbing. Mount Olympus is a prominent 9,026 feet peak on the east side of the...

Hike, Rock Climb

rock climb Rock Climbing Wall

hike Hiking Trail

1.1-4.7 mi

Bells Canyon

Sandy, Utah

10.0 miles SW

Bells Canyon is a moderate, 4.5 mile hike that begins in a residential area and ends at a waterfall in the enter of the canyon's forest. The first 1/2 mile of the hike is relatively...

Backpack, Hike, Mountain Bike, Snowshoe

mountain bike Mountain Bike Trail

hike Hiking Trail

snowshoe Snowshoe Trail

backpack Backpacking Trail

0.2 mi

Rocky Mouth Trail/Waterfalls

Sandy, Utah

10.9 miles SW

This adventure begins with a very scenic hike to a beautiful waterfall and ends with a magnificent rappel through a short slot canyon and down the waterfall. The hike to the waterfall is a great trip...

Canyoneer, Hike, Rock Climb

rock climb Rock Climbing Wall

hike Hiking Trail

canyoneer Canyon

0.4 mi

Hidden Valley Park trail

Sandy, Utah

11.5 miles SW

Hidden Valley Trail has different levels and gradual uphill fun and makes for a good adventure trail. It's a wide, shallow valley that is hidden from view; hence the name. The valley’s...

Hike, Mountain Bike

mountain bike Mountain Bike Trail

hike Hiking Trail

Homestead Crater

Midway, Utah

12.2 miles SE

The Homestead Caldera, known locally as "The Crater" is a natural hot spring surrounded by a rock dome. It is located in Midway, Utah. It is a commercial location open year round to scuba...

Hot Springs, Swim

swim Swimming Hole

hot springs Hot Spring

More Similar Arenas Near Donut Falls:

Swimming Holes Hiking Trails Things to Do

Nearby Campsites

Add Location

Spruces Campground

Salt Lake City, Utah

0.8 miles SE

Camping isn't free. See USDA.gov for details. If you know the coordinates of the sledding hill here, please comment.

Camp, Sled

camp Campsite

sled Sledding Hill

Mill Creek Canyon

Salt Lake City, Utah

4.9 miles NW

Mill Creek is an out and back with over 1000 ft of elevation gain. The lower section of the ski trail gets a lot of foot traffic, but the upper section (above Elbow Fork) is generally very quiet....

Camp, Cross-country Ski, Snowshoe

camp Campsite

cross-country ski Cross Country Ski Trail

snowshoe Snowshoe Trail

1.6-14.1 mi

Mount Timpanogas

Provo, Utah

15.1 miles S

Mt. Timp, as the locals call it, is the 2nd highest mountain in the Wasatch range (only Mt. Nebo is higher). What sets "Timp" apart is its location. It towers over the Provo, Orem, Pleasant...

Camp, Hike, Horseback, Swim

swim Swimming Hole

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

horseback Horseback Trail

Holbrook Trailhead

Bountiful, Utah

19.0 miles NW

airsoft feaild woth bunkers 

Airsoft, Backpack, Camp, Paintball, Snowshoe

paintball Paintball Field

airsoft Airsoft Field

camp Campsite

snowshoe Snowshoe Trail

backpack Backpacking Trail

Y-Mountain Summit Trail

Provo, Utah

28.0 miles S

Y Mountain is located directly east of Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah, United States. The Slide Canyon/Y Mountain Trail leads to a large block Y located 1.2 miles (1.9 km) from a...

Camp, Hike

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

5.6 mi

Antelope Island Lakeside Trail

Syracuse, Utah

40.2 miles NW

The Lakeside Trail is a kid-friendly trail with great views and many bugs. This is a gorgeous scenic hike winding around part of the Great Salt Lake. The trail on Antelope Island that runs about...

Camp, Hike, Horseback

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

horseback Horseback Trail

Antelope Island State Park

Syracuse, Utah

40.4 miles NW

Located just 41 miles north of Salt Lake City, Antelope Island State Park encompasses a vast selection of outdoor activities and spectacular scenery providing a peaceful nature experience. Experience...

Backpack, Camp, Hike, Horseback, Mountain Bike

mountain bike Mountain Bike Trail

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

horseback Horseback Trail

backpack Backpacking Trail

4.7 mi

Fifth Water Hot Springs

Provo, Utah

42.0 miles S

AKA Diamond Fork Hot Springs A beautiful drive and a 2.5 mile hike along the river will end you at an amazing set of hot springs that's well worth the trip. There's a variety of...

Backpack, Camp, Hike, Hot Springs, Mountain Bike, Swim

mountain bike Mountain Bike Trail

swim Swimming Hole

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

hot springs Hot Spring

backpack Backpacking Trail

Hell Hole Lake

Evanston, Utah

43.2 miles E

The first 250 feet of this trail are on private property with access provided by Kayenta. The trail is actually the northern portion of Dry Wash. Sand and boulders litter the wash making hiking...

Camp, Hike, Horseback

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

horseback Horseback Trail

2.9 mi

Pineview Reservoir

Eden, Utah

45.6 miles N

Located on the backside of the Wasatch Front, Pineview Reservoir in the Ogden River Canyon is home to stunning views of the water, sandy beaches, the Southern Skyline trail, paved ramps, and...

Camp, Canoe, Hike, Kayak, Mountain Bike, Swim

mountain bike Mountain Bike Trail

swim Swimming Hole

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

canoe Canoeing Area

kayak Kayaking Area

More Campsites Near Donut Falls:

Campsites

Embed Arena

Where do you plan to embed this code?

<script src="https://www.freearenas.com/embed/a5ab14722"></script>

Copy
×
loading...

Edit Your Experience

Log Your Visit to This Location

We've logged that you went. Is there anything else you want to add?

Thank you for your review/comment

We've recorded your comments. Is there anything else you want to add?

By recording your visit on FreeArenas.com, you'll have a collection of all the great places you've been and provide valuable information for yourself and others in the future.

Have you been to this location?

/5
Cancel

Donate to the Cause

Help us inspire and inform every person to enjoy life and the great outdoors in a responsible way. There's a lot of ways to do this. Here's a few ways we're working on our mission right now: Providing information, Building and maintaining local trails, Helping and teaching kids to fix their bikes, Cleaning up local parks to provide safe and clean places to enjoy nature. Learn More

Update Review

/5

New Collection

Add an Arena

Just some quick info about this location to get started...