Willow Heights (Willow Lake)

A short, moderate forest climb off SR-190 in upper Big Cottonwood Canyon to a quiet aspen-ringed beaver pond. Most of the gain comes in a steep first half mile before the grade eases through aspen and conifer to the water. The pond sits inside the 155-acre Willow Heights Conservation Area — open space saved from condo development in 2001 — and the willows on its east side make it one of the central Wasatch's most reliable moose-viewing spots. A fall-color favorite when the aspens turn in late September.

Quick stats

Distance

2.4 mi round trip

Elevation gain

620 ft

Time

1.5–3 hrs

Difficulty

Moderate · family-friendly

Dogs

Not allowed

Best months

Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Getting there & parking

From Salt Lake City, head up Big Cottonwood Canyon (SR-190) about 11.6 to 12 miles, past the Solitude Nordic Center; the trailhead is a small pullout on the right (south) side of the road, marked by a stone Utah Open Lands sign. It's easy to drive past — watch for it shortly after the Nordic Center. A standard passenger car is fine. There's no lot and no facilities; park considerately in the pullout. Big Cottonwood Canyon requires approved snow tires or traction devices from October 1 through April 30.

No reported day-use parking fee at the Willow Heights roadside pullout itself, but several other Big Cottonwood Canyon trailheads carry a Forest Service / Cottonwood Canyons recreation.gov day-use fee, so confirm current signage on arrival. Big Cottonwood Canyon's seasonal traction law also applies: approved snow tires or traction devices are required October 1 through April 30, and avalanche control can close SR-190.

Know before you go

No dogs. Dogs are banned. The entire Willow Heights / Willow Lake trail lies within Salt Lake City's protected Big Cottonwood Canyon drinking-water watershed, where dogs are prohibited everywhere — as is swimming or wading in the pond. The dog-friendly 'Dog Lake' people think of is the separate hike in Mill Creek Canyon, not this watershed.

No hiking permit required.

The route

Distances vary by source and GPS track (roughly 1.9 to 2.7 mi round trip); about 2.4 mi is a reasonable midpoint. The first half mile is a steep, sustained climb that banks most of the elevation, then the grade eases to the pond.

• 0 mi · Willow Heights Trailhead — Roadside pullout on the right (south) side of SR-190, about 11.6–12 mi up Big Cottonwood Canyon, just past the Solitude Nordic Center; stone Utah Open Lands marker.
• 0.3 mi · Steep climbing section — Sustained switchbacking grade gains most of the route's elevation in the first ~half mile through aspen.
• 1.2 mi · Willow Lake / Willow Heights pond — Aspen-ringed beaver pond and marsh; prime moose habitat on the east side. No swimming or wading. Trail forks (left = stream crossings, right = rockier) near the lake.

When to go

Summer through early fall is the window; late September is the draw for golden aspen color. The trail holds snow in winter and into spring, and the marsh edges stay muddy as it melts out.

The trail is snow-covered in winter and spring. Big Cottonwood Canyon (SR-190) requires approved snow tires or traction devices from October 1 through April 30, and the road can be closed for avalanche control — check the canyon road status before you drive up.

Check current conditions before you go:

• UDOT Cottonwood Canyons road status
• Utah Avalanche Center — Salt Lake forecast

Safety & hazards

Frequent moose at and near the pond, especially in the willows on the east/marsh side. Moose are large and can be aggressive — keep your distance, make noise on approach, and never get between a cow and a calf. If a moose is on or near the trail, give it room and wait it out rather than pushing past.

SR-190 (Big Cottonwood Canyon) requires approved snow tires or traction devices October 1 through April 30 and can be closed for avalanche control; the trail itself is snow-covered in winter and spring. Check the canyon road status before driving up.

Steep, sustained grade in the first half mile; rocky or muddy footing on the rockier (right) fork and near the marsh edges.

Wildlife & geology

Mixed aspen-conifer forest opening to a willow-and-sedge marsh around a beaver-dammed pond. The marshland on the east side of the pond is a noted moose feeding ground and habitat; deer and beaver are also present. The 155-acre Willow Heights Conservation Area protects a diverse wildlife population and the watershed. Brilliant aspen fall color.

Wildlife you might see: moose, beaver, mule deer.

The pond is impounded by beaver dams in a glacially shaped Wasatch drainage on the west slope of the range. Surrounding slopes are forested with aspen over the canyon's Paleozoic sedimentary and intrusive bedrock typical of the central Wasatch.

History

Named for the willows that ring the beaver pond and fill the marsh; 'Willow Heights' is the name of the conservation area surrounding the pond commonly called 'Willow Lake.'

The land was slated for second-home and condo development before being saved in 2001, when Salt Lake City purchased the parcel from United Park City Mines Company with help from Utah Open Lands and the state Quality Growth Commission.

Nearby hikes

• Silver Lake (Brighton) Loop — Big Cottonwood Canyon
• Lake Mary — Big Cottonwood Canyon
• Donut Falls — Big Cottonwood Canyon