Outdoors Big Cottonwood Canyon
Donut Falls
An outdoor spot in Big Cottonwood Canyon, free to visit and worth about 2 hours. Best time to go: Late morning Jan 1.
Why go
Short trail to a waterfall that drops through a hole in the rock, popular for snowshoeing in winter.
It is one of 6 curated places we feature in Big Cottonwood Canyon, alongside 2 activities, 1 place to eat and 1 outdoor spot. The closest of our other picks is Silver Fork Lodge, 2.1 mi away as the crow flies.
- Type
- Outdoors · Nature
- Neighborhood
- Big Cottonwood Canyon
- Price
- Free
- Time needed
- 2 hr
- Best time
- Late morning Jan 1
Nearby
Our closest curated picks, including 1 beyond Big Cottonwood Canyon. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.
- 1Silver Fork Lodge
Old wooden canyon lodge with a restaurant known for sourdough pancakes and a fire on cold days.
Food · 2.1 mi straight-line - 2Solitude Mountain Resort
Quieter ski area just below Brighton, with a small village at the base and long tree runs.
Activity · 3.7 mi straight-line - 3Silver Lake
Small frozen lake at the canyon's top, with a flat boardwalk loop and groomed trails from the Nordic center.
Outdoors · 4.1 mi straight-line - 4Brighton Resort
Ski area at the top of the canyon, open since 1936, with night skiing on lit runs most evenings.
Activity · 4.5 mi straight-line - 5Big Cottonwood Canyon Road
Winding 15-mile road past granite walls and snowy peaks from the valley to Brighton.
Sight · 6.7 mi straight-line - 6Utah Olympic Park
The 2002 Winter Olympics sliding and ski-jumping venue, with public bobsled rides and a free museum.
Activity · Park City · 6.9 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
Donut Falls is a stop on our Salt Lake City New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
When to go: weather by month, based on Park City
Our climate figures for Big Cottonwood Canyon come from nearby Park City. Average daily highs in Park City run from 30°F in January to 84°F in July; December is usually the wettest month. For Donut Falls itself, we suggest: Late morning Jan 1.
Modelled monthly averages for Park City from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Park City weather by month (covers Big Cottonwood Canyon).
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Donut Falls, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Coordinates
- 40.63932, -111.65131
- Destination
- Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah
Donut Falls: quick answers
How much time do you need at Donut Falls?
Plan on about 2 hours at Donut Falls. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Donut Falls?
Our pick: Late morning Jan 1. Insider tip: In winter the road to the upper lot is closed, so the walk is longer; bring traction.
Is Donut Falls free?
Yes, we list Donut Falls as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.
Which TripsCircle routes include Donut Falls?
Donut Falls appears on Salt Lake City New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add Donut Falls to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Big Cottonwood Canyon.
Plan Big Cottonwood Canyon
- Big Cottonwood Canyon travel guide 6 places
- Park City weather (covers Big Cottonwood Canyon) weather by month
- Downtown Salt Lake City to Big Cottonwood Canyon 20 mi straight-line
Lists & regions
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.