Skip to content
Out And Back · Big Cottonwood Canyon

Beartrap Fork

A short, relentlessly steep connector trail from Big Cottonwood Canyon to the Wasatch crest.

Also known as: Bear Trap Fork, Beartrap Fork Trail #161

A steep connector trail (USFS Beartrap Fork Trail #161) that climbs straight from the floor of Big Cottonwood Canyon to the Wasatch crest. It is the principal on-foot route from the canyon to the Great Western / Wasatch Crest Trail and the high country toward Desolation Lake. The grade is relentless for the short distance, the lower start crosses private access road, and the tread goes faint and unmarked near the ridge — this is a routefinding climb, not a casual stroll. The whole ascent sits inside Salt Lake City's protected watershed, so dogs are banned everywhere, including in parked cars.

Quick stats

Distance
4.4 mi round trip
Elevation gain
2240 ft
Time
3–5 hrs
Difficulty
Strenuous
Dogs
Not allowed
Best months
Jul, Aug, Sep

Getting there & parking

From Salt Lake City, drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon (SR-190) about ten miles. The trailhead is unmarked on the north side of the road, roughly half a mile downcanyon from Silver Fork Lodge; sources place it variously between mile 8.9 and 10.7, so watch closely. Parking is limited and informal. Big Cottonwood Canyon requires approved snow tires or traction devices from October 1 through April 30, and the canyon road can close for avalanche control.

No trailhead parking fee at this unmarked roadside access. Big Cottonwood Canyon requires approved snow tires or traction devices from October 1 through April 30.

Know before you go

No dogs. Dogs are banned in all of Big Cottonwood Canyon — including dogs left in your car — because it is Salt Lake City's protected drinking-water watershed. Violations are Class B misdemeanors with first-offense fines up to $650. The same rules prohibit swimming and wading and bar camping within 200 feet of water. Note that the rules flip on the Mill Creek (Millcreek) side beyond the crest, where dogs are allowed off-leash on odd-numbered days and leashed on even days — but that is a different canyon, not the Beartrap Fork ascent.

No hiking permit required.

The route

Short on paper but relentlessly steep, with no flat recovery. Plan on a slow, sustained grind up and a careful descent. The USFS lists 2.21 miles one-way; some guides put the round trip nearer 5 miles.

  • 0 mi · Beartrap Fork gate / trailhead (unmarked) — Unmarked start on the north side of SR-190. The route begins on a dirt private access road.
  • 0.5 mi · Road ends, trail begins — The access road gives way to primitive single-track as the grade steepens through forest.
  • 1.4 mi · Open slope — The trail opens onto a steep, often slippery slope climbing the fork.
  • 2.2 mi · Wasatch crest junction (Great Western / Wasatch Crest Trail) — Tops out at the crest (~9,800 ft) where the tread is faint. Connect here toward Desolation Lake and Scotts Pass, or turn around.

When to go

Roughly June through October once the snow clears. The open upper slopes hold snow late and turn slick early; microspikes extend the shoulder season. In winter this is a popular backcountry ski zone with real avalanche terrain.

The trail is not a winter walking route — the upper fork is avalanche terrain and a known backcountry ski zone, so anyone traveling here in winter needs avalanche gear and training and should check the Utah Avalanche Center forecast. Microspikes help in the shoulder season for slick, snow-dusted slopes. Big Cottonwood Canyon also requires approved snow tires or traction devices from October 1 through April 30, and the canyon road can close outright for avalanche control.

Check current conditions before you go:

Safety & hazards

A relentless, sustained steep grade with little relief for the short distance — strenuous out of proportion to the mileage. Pace conservatively and carry more water than the distance suggests.

The trailhead is unmarked and the upper tread goes faint and hard to follow near the ridge. Routefinding is required. Carry a map or GPS track.

Steep open slopes are often slippery, especially with shoulder-season snow or mud. Microspikes advised early and late in the season.

The connecting crest and Mill D trails carry fast mountain-bike traffic; cyclists come quickly around corners. Listen for riders and step aside on the crest.

The upper fork is avalanche terrain in winter — a popular backcountry ski zone with hazard described as relatively low but real. Winter travel requires avalanche gear, training, and a current forecast check.

Wildlife & geology

The climb passes through conifer, aspen, and open meadow. Moose and mule deer use the Big Cottonwood drainages.

Wildlife you might see: moose, mule deer.

Beartrap Fork is a steep drainage cut into the north wall of Big Cottonwood Canyon, climbing to the Wasatch crest. Specific formations along the route were not sourced.

History

Named for the Beartrap (also written 'Bear Trap') Fork drainage. USGS maps and the Wasatch ski atlas use one word, 'Beartrap'; the road sign and some guides use two, 'Bear Trap.' No authoritative source for the name's origin — for example any historical bear-trapping — was found, so none is asserted here.

Long used as a foot connector between the Big Cottonwood floor and the Wasatch crest.

A former 'Bear Trap Fork' lodge site once sat at the mouth of the fork.

Frequently asked questions

How hard is the Beartrap Fork hike?
Strenuous. It climbs about 2,240 feet in roughly 2.2 miles, so the grade is relentless with almost no flat recovery. The trailhead is unmarked and the upper tread goes faint near the ridge, so plan on routefinding. The USFS classes it as a primitive route that is difficult to follow.
Are dogs allowed at Beartrap Fork?
No. The entire Beartrap Fork ascent is in Big Cottonwood Canyon, which is Salt Lake City's protected drinking-water watershed. Dogs are banned everywhere — including dogs left in your car — with first-offense fines up to $650. The rules change on the Mill Creek side beyond the crest, but that is a different canyon, not this climb.
Where does the Beartrap Fork trail go?
It climbs from the floor of Big Cottonwood Canyon to the Wasatch crest, topping out around 9,800 feet at a junction with the Great Western / Wasatch Crest Trail. From there you can continue toward Desolation Lake and Scotts Pass, making longer loops possible.
When is the best time to hike Beartrap Fork?
Roughly July through September, once the snow clears. June and October are shoulder months — the open upper slopes hold snow late and turn slick early, and microspikes help. In winter the fork is avalanche terrain and a backcountry ski zone, not a casual walk.
Where is the Beartrap Fork trailhead and is it marked?
It is an unmarked pullout on the north side of SR-190 in Big Cottonwood Canyon, roughly ten miles up and about half a mile downcanyon from Silver Fork Lodge. Sources place the milepost anywhere from about 8.9 to 10.7 miles, so watch closely. The route starts on a dirt private access road before becoming trail.
Is there a fee to park at Beartrap Fork?
No trailhead parking fee is charged at this unmarked roadside access. Note that Big Cottonwood Canyon requires approved snow tires or traction devices from October 1 through April 30, and the canyon road can close for avalanche control.
Is it 'Beartrap' or 'Bear Trap' Fork?
Both spellings appear. USGS maps and the Wasatch ski atlas use one word, 'Beartrap'; the road sign and some guides use two words, 'Bear Trap.' We use 'Beartrap' as the canonical spelling and note the variant. No authoritative explanation of the name's origin was found.

Nearby hikes