Upper 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; upper falls beyond the Lower Falls junction
The walk: Road Trip Ryan lists the Upper Falls hike from the Preservation Trailhead as 5.9 miles
Ground & access: Well-used trail, steep and rocky above the reservoir. The section above the Lower Falls junction is rocky and less traveled. Slippery rock around the falls.

Upper Bells Canyon Falls is on the creek in Bells Canyon above Sandy, about 20 minutes up the trail beyond the Lower Falls. From the east side of the upper parking lot at the Preservation Trailhead, 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. At the major side trail to the Lower Falls, take the right-hand trail instead. A few minutes higher, a side trail on the left goes to Bells Towers; stay right. Pass a meadow and a small cascade, which is not the upper falls. The upper falls is on the left a little higher, with a granite slab to view it from. Return the same way. People have been injured and killed slipping into the Bells Canyon falls, so keep back from the edge.

Plan your visit

Bells Canyon Preservation Trailhead off Wasatch Boulevard in Sandy, past the lower reservoir and the Lower Falls junction, then up the right-hand trail to the Upper Falls

Road Trip Ryan gives these trail segments: 0.6 miles from the Preservation Trailhead to the reservoir, 1.6 miles from the reservoir to the Lower Falls, and 0.7 miles from the Lower Falls junction to the Upper Falls. It lists the Upper Falls hike from the Preservation Trailhead as 5.9 miles.

Well-used trail, steep and rocky above the reservoir. The section above the Lower Falls junction is rocky and less traveled. Slippery rock around the falls.

Where to start

Bells Canyon Preservation Trailhead, the first left after the stoplight where Wasatch Boulevard meets Little Cottonwood Road. The smaller Boulders and Granite trailheads are nearby. All can fill up on busy summer weekends.

Timing & water

Road Trip Ryan says snow can linger above the upper falls well into midsummer in a heavy snow year.

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.

Open location map