Hiking to Heugh’s Canyon Waterfall

Hiking to Heugh’s Canyon Waterfall

Heugh’s Canyon Waterfall is a canyon is situated between Big Cottonwood Canyon and Mt. Olympus, making this a dog friendly hike. The trail starts from the elite Cove Canyon neighborhood on the East side on Wasatch Blvd.

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It’s my new favorite after work hike. It’s very forested (not what you think of if you’ve hiked Mt. Olympus), it follows Heugh’s Creek, in Spring several flowers are blooming, and it leads to a gorgeous waterfall. At only a few minutes from SLC, this canyon makes you feel like you are in the Pacific Northwest, away from the city bustle. At only 2 miles round trip, kids and families visiting would even enjoy this hike.

Directions

Head South on Wasatch Blvd from 4500 South. Park along Wasatch Blvd on the corner of Wasatch Blvd and E Canyon Cove Drive, on the east side of the road where there is a dirt pullout. Park here, as no public parking is allowed in the neighborhood. You can also type in “Heugh’s Canyon Trailhead” to your map app and it should pull up. It’s across from the golf course.

Begin walking to the actual TH. Walk up Canyon Cove Drive, then an immediate left turn onto Oak Canyon Drive, then right on Canyon Winds Lane. From here, awkwardly cut through a neighbor’s driveway to get to the dirt trail. There are no official signs. See map below. Driving map

Trail Info

Distance: 2 miles RT (from the TH, not parking area)

Elevation gain: 1,042 ft

Time: 1-2 hours

Dog friendly? Yes, off leash

Kid friendly? Yes

Fees/permits? None

New for 2019

Parking has moved locations for the Heugh’s Canyon TH. Here’s where you need to park, then walk up.

New parking location – this adds on 0.4 miles before reaching the actual TH, making this 1.4 miles each way to reach the waterfall. Keep in mind that dogs need to remain on leash until you reach the dirt trail.

A sign that is sometimes there, sometimes not. Not sure why it keeps disappearing. Turn right here.

Go around the gate (yes, its public access).

Walk up the private road. Charlie knows we are about to hike – he’s giving me that certain smile. Dogs need to be leased on the road, but are allowed off leash once on the trail.

Cut across the neighbor’s drive way to the dirt path. This is where the trail starts, but you won’t see any official TH signs.

As you walk up the trail in the first few minutes you will hear the rush of Heugh’s Stream. The trail starts out in lower shrub coverage, and immediately starts to gain elevation.

This is a great hike for dogs since they can drink out of the stream. Please be a responsible dog parent and bring doggie poop bags with you (and carry them out!).

Several flowers were blooming. My best guess on this purple flower is an Annual Honesty.

There were TONS of yellow Glacier Lilies.

Remnants of the old water pipe can still be seen.

The trail started to open up a little.

Cross the first bridge.

About 3/4 of the way to Heugh’s Canyon Waterfall, you will see this old structure. I can’t tell how long it’s been there, but it looks like it’s been used not too long ago.

Cross the 2nd bridge. Right after this bridge, the trail gets even steeper.

Once you get to the boulder field, look to your right (where my arrow is pointing) and you can start to see the top of the falls.

Heugh’s Canyon Waterfalls looks cool from a distance, but you can also get to the base of it. Simply cut down and across the boulder field, to the left of the falls. Be careful on which rocks you step on – they aren’t always in a solid position. After a rain, they may be slippery too.

Once at the bottom of the boulder field, just follow along this rock wall. If you hike here after a big rainstorm (as I did), there’s no place to step on that will keep you dry. Either bring water shoes or be ok with your hiking shoes getting wet.

At the base of the falls. It was raging!

June 2018

A few months later when the waterfall had slowed down – we hiked up in our swimsuits and played in the falls! Just be careful the rock was really slippery.

December 2018