Little Cottonwood Canyon
Little Cottonwood Canyon in Utah is a high-elevation alpine corridor east of Salt Lake City, famous for world-class ski resorts and steep, scenic hikes.
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Geography
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Region | Mountain West |
| Subregion | Western U.S. |
| Country | United States |
| State | Utah |
| County | Salt Lake County |
| Timezone | AmericaDenver |
| Latitude | 40.5742 |
| Longitude | -111.6358 |
| Maps |
7:15 PM LOCAL TIMELittle Cottonwood Canyon is a steep, dramatic valley climbing east from Salt Lake City to the summit of Deseret Peak and beyond. Carved by alpine glaciers, the canyon is lined by towering granite cliffs and heavily forested slopes that receive some of the highest snowfall in the southwestern U.S. Key access points include the base areas of Snowbird and Alta, both renowned for steep slopes, backcountry access and year-round mountain activity. Beyond skiing, the canyon offers challenging hikes to alpine tarns, rock climbing, and year-round recreation; road conditions and avalanche danger can be severe, so prepare accordingly. Nearby services cluster near the trailheads, but long drives and seasonal closures require careful planning for overnight stays and transit.
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