TnT Donut Falls

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Donut Falls

Donut Falls Here is a hike that is great for the whole family. It is a pleasant short hike that has little elevation gain with wide easy to follow trails. There are plenty of trees and it is up in a canyon so even on hot days the weather is not too bad. To top it off there is a neat little fall at the end that will reward you if you do the short climb to the top. This requires a stream crossing but this is very easily done as it is very wide and shallow near the falls.

Getting to the Trailhead

I am assuming you can figure out how to get to Salt Lake city from Boise. If not well read the Mount Olympus hike for more details. Donut falls is in Big Cottonwood Canyon. This Canyon is one of several out of the Salt Lake Valley and is between Mt. Olympus and Twin peaks. The major road that runs up Big Cottonwood Canyon is E. Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Directions to get to E Big Cottonwood Canyon RD (thanks Yahoo)

	Take the I-84 EAST exit towards OGDEN - go 97.0 mi
	Continue on I-15 SOUTH/I-84 EAST - go 37.5 mi
	Continue on I-15 SOUTH - go 33.4 mi
	Continue on I-15 SOUTH/I-80 EAST - go 0.8 mi
	I-15 SOUTH/I-80 EAST becomes I-15 SOUTH/I-80 SOUTH - go 0.3 mi
	I-15 SOUTH/I-80 SOUTH becomes I-15 SOUTH/I-80 EAST - go 1.1 mi
	Take the I-80 EAST exit towards CHEYENNE, exit #307 - go 5.0 mi
	Continue on I-215 SOUTH towards BELT ROUTE/COTTONWOOD CANYONS - go 6.0 mi
	Take the 6200 SO. exit towards SKI AREAS/SNOWBIRD / ALTA/SOLITUDE / BRIGHTON, exit #6 - go 0.3 mi
	Bear left on E 6200 S/E 62ND S - go 0.8 mi
	Continue on WASATCH BLVD - go 1.0 mi
	Turn left on E BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON RD
	This is the road up the canyon. To find the trailhead you need to drive about 9.4 miles up the canyon on this road. On their RIGHT side of the road you will see a small sign that says "Donut Falls" (look carefully) You will need to go another 3/4 of a mile to a parking area before hitting the trailhead.

The hike

As stated above the hike was very easy. Its a nice walk but don't expect to get a major workout. I did this the day after doing Mount Olympus and was very sore. Seven of us made the hike. The only picture I was able to get of everyone (except me of course) is the picture to the left. Nice backs huh?

Most of the hike is like this. There are a couple of bridges with small streams to cross and another trail that continues to a old mine (including mining equipment) that many people hike to. This is a pretty popular hike though we did not see anyone but our own group, including cars in the dirt parking lot, during the hour we were there.

The Falls

As a kid I remember going to Donut falls and the actual "donut" part was just as I remembered. I do not remember having to climb all of the rocks to get to them. It looks as though the sides have caved in (see the picture to the right). I don't see how it would be possible to fall at the top without the cave in however so this may just be faulty memory :)

I am proud to say that NOBODY got wet, fell in, slipped on a rock in the river, etc. The hikers with me on this outing were Dawn (sister), Mike (her husband), Hope (niece), Danny (nephew), Travis (mom), and Tyler (son). My first trouble free river hike. I knew it had to happen some time!

The rocks that lead up to the falls are actually a pretty easy climb. There really is not point where you feel like you would fall a great distance if you lost your foot hold. There are several places that are a bit tricky but nothing most people can't handle.

You really don't get to see the donut falls / cave until you come right up to it due to rocks blocking the view. Once you get up there though you can walk right into the cave if you don't mind standing in a foot of water and getting a free shower. Might be the perfect visit on a really hot day.


Other areas close by If you make the trip to donut falls you should also stop off and see Hidden falls (you drove by it on the way to Donut falls.. what were you thinking!). Donut falls is 9.4 miles up the road. At 4.5 miles up the road there was a fall less than 1 minute from the road. Remember on the way up about halfway up you went through a tight S turns with a small parking lot? Well stop there on the way back! Cross the street (to the north) and walk in for about 30 seconds and you get to see Hidden falls (picture shown to the lower right).
There are also a few miles of trails here (see below) including one that goes to the top of the falls. We followed these for a short while and they look like nice little hikes with some good elevation gains.