Lower Bells Canyon Waterfall

Salt Lake County, Utah

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height: Not recorded
Location: Salt Lake County, Utah
Access status: Steep canyon trail from a signed trailhead to a short spur
The walk: About 2 miles from the trailhead, per Road Trip Ryan
Ground & access: Well-used trail, steep and rocky above the reservoir. Slippery rock around the falls.

Lower Bells Canyon Waterfall, UT
Photo credit
Photo: JacquesDemien, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Lower Bells Canyon Falls are on the creek in Bells Canyon above Sandy. Road Trip Ryan recommends the Preservation Trailhead: from the stoplight where Wasatch Boulevard meets Little Cottonwood Road, continue straight and take the first left, signed for the trailhead. Leave the east side of the upper parking lot and follow the trail over a ridge to the lower reservoir. Follow the left side of the reservoir on an old jeep road to a signed junction, and turn left onto the trail. Cross a bridge, enter the wilderness area and climb steeply. After a steep, rocky section and a small side stream, the main trail goes left about 4 minutes to the Lower Falls; the right branch goes on to the upper falls. Return the same way. People have been injured and killed slipping into the falls, so keep back from the edge.

Plan your visit

Bells Canyon Preservation Trailhead off Wasatch Boulevard in Sandy, past the lower reservoir and up the Bells Canyon trail to the side trail for the Lower Falls

Road Trip Ryan says the lower falls are 2 miles from the trailhead. It gives 0.6 miles from the Preservation Trailhead to the reservoir and 1.6 miles from the reservoir to the Lower Falls, and lists the Lower Falls hike from the Preservation Trailhead as 4.5 miles. 10Adventures puts the Lower Falls spur about 2.3 km past the reservoir.

Well-used trail, steep and rocky above the reservoir. Slippery rock around the falls.

Where to start

Bells Canyon Preservation Trailhead, the first left after the Wasatch Boulevard and Little Cottonwood Road stoplight; restrooms at the trailhead. The smaller Boulder and Granite trailheads are nearby. All can fill up on busy summer weekends.

Timing & water

10Adventures says the trail can be icy in winter and recommends traction devices such as microspikes then.

Before you go

No fee is mentioned.

Visitor information

Visit sources

More waterfalls nearby

Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.

Explore Utah

Waterfall location

Salt Lake County, Utah.

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