View from the lower falls was amazing! The incline is pretty intense just before you get to the…read morefalls with some big boulders. Glad we made it for a quick visit to Utah! Beautiful Country!

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.

Millcreek Canyon is located close to Big Cottonwood Canyon but is far more pet-friendly. In fact,…read moreit felt designed with dogs in mind--there were bag and trash stations for pet waste, plus signs posted noting which days dogs are allowed off-leash. We love giving Luna off-leash time on hikes like this, as long as she stays on the trails and listens when we call her back or ask her to wait. After a long day of driving, we decided to stretch our legs on the Rattlesnake Trail (not my favorite name, but we went for it). The hike was 2.79 miles and took us about 1.5 hours to complete. It was rated as moderate, with plenty of inclines and beautiful views on the way up--the descent was much easier. Entry was $5, which you pay on your way out. Overall, it was a great way to get some exercise and let Luna roam in a safe, welcoming environment.

Millcreek Canyon is one our our go-to hiking areas near SLC. There are trails of varying difficulty…read more- most of which can be found on the All Trails app. Shortly after entering the canyon and passing the toll booth, you will likely lose cell service so plan accordingly. There are some campground restrooms throughout the canyon. Dogs are allowed in the canyon. Odd numbered days are off leash days and even numbered days dogs must be on leash. Bikers are not allowed in the canyon on odd numbered days although you might still see them.

This is a 2.7 mile hike up to the overlook. Trail follows Desolation Trail up Thaynes Canyon…read more This is a very narrow busy, rocky, trail that allows dogs. Most of the trail is in the shade with some parts in direct sunlight. There are a few rock scrambles the closer you get to the lookout but are doable. Watch your step passing as there are a few sections of the trail that are right next to the cliffs edge. When you get to the overlook there are a couple of big rocks that you can climb to get that extra special picture of the valley. If you come at sundown you will get some fantastic sunset pictures. This is a really good hike with a steady elevation gain to get your heat pumping but is short enough to not take all day. Highly recommended.

Bring bug spray as there's lots of bugs & be cautious as there was a rattle snake on my way down…read more Beautiful view, worth it!

If you want to do an easier hike or have a solid running trail, this is it! The first .75 miles…read moreuphill was extremely unforgiving. But after that it was quite fun. Some rocks to make you slow down, some grades a bit too steep to run down, and a beautiful view the entire time. It was a solid 4 mile loop by the time I got back. Parking is free and the trail is well maintained. There's a bathroom at the parking area. It's a 1 mile to the T up to the suspension bridge. If you keep going, you'll get to a Little Rock tunnel, then another bridge, and another bridge, and the run back if you're going counter clockwise like I did, is fairly easy there after. There's not a lot of shade so if it's a hot day, definitely bring a hat.

Great hike! It's…read moreabout 2 miles. First time took an hour. 3rd time I am at 40 min non stop. Part of the hike has no shade. So bring your hats and sun screen if it's hot. The views are gorgeous and the bridge is cool! Definitely recommend for beginners

I had to pick my jaw up off the ground so many times! Silver Lake was absolutely beautiful. The…read morewater was crystal clear and the mountains in the background were breathtaking. I loved the boardwalk around the lake. I was hoping to see a moose but didn't. A little girl walked by and said "mommy, isn't this where the moose was last week?" Non the less, I would do it over and over. I loved Silver Lake and I loved Utah! @outdoorswithmandy

What a gorgeous place. Even the drive up is gorgeous. With a boardwalk that goes around 2/3 of the…read morelake, it can be enjoyed by nearly everyone. Even those in wheelchairs or strollers. Watch for all of the wildlife. In one visit, I saw a moose, deer, and ducks. Drive carefully. Especially in the dark. With all of the winding roads and animals that dart in front of your car, this isn't the place you want to have an accident. A great place for photos. Don't miss out on this one.

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 hike to the lake was absolutely incredible! Even though I was out of shape, I still made it to…read morethe top, it was sort of difficult. The trail is steep and challenging, but the views at the lake were worth it. Definitely be prepared: bring plenty of snacks and enough water, preferably with electrolytes because you'll need it. Next time, I'm planning to camp overnight so I can rest to make an easier trip back down. Highly recommend this hike if you're up for a challenge!

Great trail from Spring through Fall in Little Cottonwood - especially in the Summer when you are…read moredying of the valley heat, it's usually at least 10 degrees cooler and there is ample shade. It is roughly 7 miles and 2,100-ft of elevation gain (200-ish flights of stairs going up) so not the best choice for novice hikers. The Forest Service did an awesome job and regraded portions of the trail in Fall 2019 to create more gentle dirt switchbacks instead of hiking up the rockier and steeper incline - my knees thank you! This is also the trail if you want to summit Pfeifferhorn and are really looking to level up! In the Summer be aware of limited parking and they also drain the lake usually late Summer so best to go earlier. Happy hiking!

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!

Absolutely beautiful. Parking is tight. Trail goes straight up, it's steep and rocky with loose…read moregravel and rocks. I had foot surgery less than a year ago and this was difficult for me. I didn't read any reviews mentioning that it was steep or rocky so here's your warning. My husband and I loved it though and my dog was in heaven. He got a good workout meeting a lot of friendly dogs and owners. Please take poop bags and plan on carrying them out, saw a lot of poop and filled poop bags left on the trail.

Beautiful nature AND it's dog friendly?!? Why, yes, please! This is a great hike (or more like a…read morenature walk for true hikers) that is absolutely beautiful. There are several paths you can take, most of them are pretty clearly marked but I could see how people could get lost if they venture off the path. The leaves in the fall were breathtaking with the sun sneaking through the trees as if to spotlight them on the world's stage. Yes, I wax poetic when it comes to nature. I can't help myself. Go see for yourself and you'll do the same. Along with the spectacular array of colors, there's a nice rope swing that someone put up for people to enjoy (thank you to whomever did that!) and a few random forts made out of fallen trees and branches. My inner nine year old was loving every moment of it! The map showed us that we were near a cave, but we struggled to find it. We eventually found one (I think?) but the entrance was cemented over. Maybe there were others, but we gave up and vowed to return again to find them.