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Family Friendly Winter Hikes in Utah
Trail Reviews

Family Friendly Winter Hikes in Utah

By February 17, 2020 No Comments

Just this morning I was asked which family-friendly trails are good in the Winter. The answer? All of them. Kind of…

You see, most family-friendly trails are frequently visited which means any of the snow you might be worried about is likely packed down and won’t require extra snowshoes or spikes. The one exception is mud.

When the trails begin drying out, they go through the mud phase. Let’s face it, I’d rather not be hiking than bringing home muddy kids. So, with cold conditions or recent snowfall, any of your Summer favorites should be good to go.

So, with that preface in mind, here are four of my favorite, family-friendly hikes in the Utah Winter:

1. Tibble Fork (American Fork Canyon)

  • Tibble Fork Reservoir is a generally popular place during the Summer and Winter months alike. The $6 toll to get in the canyon doesn’t seem to deter the many sledders, snowmobilers, or hikers. However, the American Fork Canyon scenery will prove why. There are several short, or segments of, trails that shoot off of the main reservoir (keep left at the fork). The views of Mount Timpanogos are breathtaking and it is really common to see Big Horn Sheep!
    • 3.5 Miles Roundtrip
    • 964 Feat in Elevation Gain
    • Dogs: Yes
    • Parking: Park at the Tibble Fork Reservoir parking lot and walk through gates on the old dirt road until you get to the bridge. Walk across the bridge and follow the trail markers.

2. Suspension Bridge (Orson Smith Park, Draper)

  • This is a heavily trafficked looped trail that is good for all skill levels. The suspension bridge is fun/safe for all hikers and makes for unique photo ops. Your little ones will love swaying and bouncing on the bridge. If you take the short hike past the suspension bridge, you’ll stumble upon the old pine bridge.
    • 2.3 Miles Roundtrip
    • 439 Feat in Elevation Gain
    • Dogs? On leash only.
    • Parking: Orson Smith Park

3. Anne’s Trail (Corner Canyon, Draper)

  • Anne’s Trail is a heavily mountain biked trail in the Summer, but in the Winter you can hike short segments of it that find spectacular overlooks that give you a view of the Salt Lake Valley and picturesque photo ops of the Draper, Utah temple.
    • 7.1 Miles (However, you can hike shorter segments)
    • 1,000 Feat in Elevation Gain
    • Dogs? On leash only
    • Parking: Potato Hill Parking lot and hike East towards the tunnel, then stay left.

4. Donut Falls (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

  • I don’t care how cliche or popular this hike is. It is one of my favorites. Donut Falls is located towards the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon. The trail is easy (note that the road leading to the real parking lot is usually closed during the Winter months) and showcases beautiful powder meadows and thick Alpine forest scenery. The end result is a cavern of icy water with a waterfall dumping water through a round (donut) shaped hole in the top. NOTE: Hiking to the cavern might require a bit more scampering, climbing, etc.
    • 3 miles Round Trip
    • 530 Feat Elevation Gain
    • Dogs? NO DOGS in Big Cottonwood Canyon (this is heavily enforced)
    • Parking: Park at the large general parking lot off the side of the main road — Look for Spruces Campground sign.

 

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