Updated July 2026
Donut Falls
Donut Falls is a popular waterfall in Big Cottonwood Canyon where Mill D South Fork tumbles through a hole worn in the rock, giving it a 'donut' appearance. The short family-friendly trail climbs gently through forest in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest (USFS) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Donut Falls drops about 30 feet. That makes it the 531st-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 23% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The Donut Falls Trail reaches it about 3.4 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 350 feet of elevation gain, rated easy. The nearest town is Salt Lake City. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest (USFS) for closures and current conditions.
Summer (June-September). Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
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