Donut Falls
- Height
- 20 ft
- Hike
- 1.5 mi round trip
- Road
- Paved
- Permit
- Not required
- Dogs
- Not allowed
Donut Falls flows May through August. Donut Falls is a 20 ft waterfall on Big Cottonwood Creek in Salt Lake County, Utah. Reaching it is a 1.5 mi hike round trip.
Closures and warnings
Approach to the donut hole and cave requires scrambling on wet rock; a rockslide changed the view from below. Climbing above the falls is not allowed on private/restricted ground historically noted near the site. As of September 28, 2026.
The falls
| Height | 20 ft |
|---|---|
| Flows | May through August |
| Flow note | Creek plunges through a round hole in rock into a pothole pool (Doughnut/Donut Falls). |
| Water type | Waterfall basin |
|---|
Access
| Hike | 1.5 mi round trip |
|---|---|
| Road | Paved |
| Road note | Big Cottonwood Canyon Road about 9 miles to Mill D / Jordan Pines spur south to the Donut Falls parking lot (summer). Winter access often starts from Mill D North at the canyon road. |
| Parking | Donut Falls trailhead parking above Jordan Pines; Mill D North roadside lot is the winter and overflow start. |
| Fee | $10/vehicle multi-day, $20/week, $60 season (Donut Falls REA). America the Beautiful and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache passes OK. |
| Reservation or permit | Not required |
| Managed by | Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest (Salt Lake Ranger District) |
Rules
| Dogs | Not allowed |
|---|
Common questions
Common questions
Is Donut Falls open?
Approach to the donut hole and cave requires scrambling on wet rock; a rockslide changed the view from below. Climbing above the falls is not allowed on private/restricted ground historically noted near the site. As of September 28, 2026.
How tall is Donut Falls?
Donut Falls drops about 20 ft.
How long is the hike to Donut Falls?
It's a 1.5 mi hike round trip. The road in is paved. Big Cottonwood Canyon Road about 9 miles to Mill D / Jordan Pines spur south to the Donut Falls parking lot (summer). Winter access often starts from Mill D North at the canyon road. Parking: Donut Falls trailhead parking above Jordan Pines; Mill D North roadside lot is the winter and overflow start.
Do you need a reservation for Donut Falls?
No reservation or permit is required.
Is there a fee at Donut Falls?
The fee is $10/vehicle multi-day, $20/week, $60 season (Donut Falls REA). America the Beautiful and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache passes OK.
When is Donut Falls flowing?
It flows May through August. Creek plunges through a round hole in rock into a pothole pool (Doughnut/Donut Falls).
What are the rules at Donut Falls?
Dogs are not allowed.
Nearby
Camping nearby
Fishing nearby
Public land
Just outside: Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest (under 0.1 mi) .
Sources
5
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doughnut_Falls (accessed September 30, 2026; backs waterfall.heightFt / waterbodyName / access.hikeDistanceMi, waterfall.flowNote, waterfall.flowMonths)
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/uinta-wasatch-cache/passes (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.fee / manager)
- https://cottonwoodcanyons.udot.utah.gov/tips/what-you-need-to-know-about-forest-service-recreation-enhancement-act-rea-fee-areas-in-the-cottonwood-canyons/ (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.fee, manager)
- https://www.utahhikes.net/doughnut/doughnut.shtml (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.roadNote / access.parking / access.hikeDistanceBasis, hazardNote)
- https://www.saltlakecounty.gov/health/water-quality/watershed/ (accessed September 30, 2026; backs rules.dogs)