Lower Bells Canyon Reservoir
A family-friendly climb to a glassy reservoir with the Wasatch peaks mirrored on its surface. A gentle loop circles the shoreline — one of the valley's favorite sunrise spots.
Lower Reservoir details →
The first reservoir
Sandy, Utah · Wasatch Range · Lone Peak Wilderness
Bells Canyon Trail
Two alpine reservoirs, two roaring waterfalls, and nearly 4,300 feet of granite-walled canyon between them. Everything you need to hike one of the Wasatch Front's most beautiful — and most demanding — trails.
The first waterfall
Round-trip range
1.4–9.6 mi
Lower Reservoir loop to Upper Reservoir
Max elevation gain
≈4,200 ft
Trailhead 5,140 ft → Upper Reservoir 9,388 ft
Waterfalls
2
Lower Falls at ~2.4 mi, Upper Falls ~0.6 mi beyond
Dogs allowed
No
Protected watershed — no dogs, no swimming
Four destinations, one canyon
Choose your turnaround point
Bells Canyon works like a ladder — each rung is a worthy destination on its own, and each one roughly doubles the effort of the last.
Lower (First) Waterfall
The classic Bells Canyon hike. A steep, rocky climb alongside Bells Canyon Creek ends at a powerful cascade pouring over granite slabs — thunderous during spring runoff.
Lower Falls details →Upper (Second) Waterfall
Only about 0.6 miles past the first falls, but noticeably steeper and quieter. A taller, wilder cascade with far fewer visitors and big views back over the Salt Lake Valley.
Upper Falls details →Upper Bells Canyon Reservoir
A true alpine objective at 9,388 ft, tucked beneath Lone Peak's granite cirque. Faint trail, boulder fields, and relentless grade — one of the toughest maintained-trail day hikes on the Wasatch Front.
Upper Reservoir details →
Know before you go
The four things that surprise first-timers
⚠️
Stay back from the waterfalls. The granite slabs around both falls are polished and deceptively slick, and people have been seriously injured and killed here. During spring runoff (May–June) the creek is fast, deep, and ice-cold — keep children close and never climb beside the falls.
🐕
No dogs, no swimming — it's the law. Bells Canyon is a protected culinary watershed for the Salt Lake Valley. Dogs and any water contact (swimming, wading) are prohibited and actively ticketed.
🚗
Parking fills before sunrise on weekends. The Granite and Boulders lots are tiny and go first — the 133-stall Preservation Trailhead lot is your best bet. Street parking on Wasatch Boulevard and in the neighboring subdivisions is prohibited and enforced with towing. See the parking guide for strategies.
⛰️
It's steeper than the mileage suggests. Beyond the lower reservoir the trail averages well over 1,000 ft of gain per mile in places, on rocky, uneven tread. Budget more time than you would for a typical trail of the same length, and carry more water than you think you need.
At a glance
Trail quick reference
| Destination | Round trip | Elevation gain | Difficulty | Best season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Reservoir | 1.4–1.7 mi | ≈300–450 ft | Easy | Year-round |
| Lower (First) Falls | 4.6–4.8 mi | ≈1,500–1,600 ft | Moderate–Hard | May–October |
| Upper (Second) Falls | ≈5.9 mi | ≈2,300 ft | Hard | May–October |
| Upper Reservoir | ≈9.6 mi | ≈4,200 ft | Very Hard | July–early October |
Distances vary slightly by trailhead. Figures are approximate and compiled from published trail guides — see sources.