Beautiful Bells Canyon in Sandy, Utah has a lovely reservoir with a short, moderate hike and then a stunning waterfall a few miles beyond. Just south of the entrance to Little Cottonwood Canyon, Bells Canyon is also called Bell Canyon. Some signs say “Bell Canyon”, but since the US Forest Service calls it Bells Canyon, I will use that name in this post.
Directions
The Preservation Trailhead is the newest and largest parking areas for Bells Canyon and is located between the Granite and Boulders Trailheads. It begins just below the entrance to Little Cottonwood Canyon on the east side of Wasatch Boulevard about a block south of Little Cottonwood Road (9400 South). This path is the easiest of the three since it joins a minute into the Granite and has more switchbacks than Boulders. In the map below, the Preservation Trailhead is circled in blue, the Granite in red, and the Boulders in Yellow. The trails are the same colors except the purple trail is the combined Preservation and Granite Trail. The green is shared by all and the orange is to the Lower Waterfall.
This is looking back at the Preservation Trailhead Upper Lot from the trail. The second is the view looking east from the same spot.
When you join the trail, make a sharp right immediately or you will accidentally head backwards down to the Granite Trailhead. In this photo, the correct way is right immediately after that first bush.
Very soon you have views of the city. That newer paved road to the left is the Preservation Trailhead.
The path then winds around through the trees.
Depending on the season there might be a few wildflowers along the trail.
From this trailhead you come out on the northwest side of the reservoir.
You can head south a tiny bit and then take the little trail to the west to the overlook or continue along the northside of the lake towards the waterfall.
You can also head to different spots around the lake for different views.
There are often birds and you can catch and release fish with artificial lures.
Here are a few more photos from the Bells Canyon Lower Reservoir.
Stats to Reservoir from Preservation Trailhead: Distance – 1.4 miles roundtrip
Approximate hiking time – 45 to 120 minutes
Elevation gain – 440 feet
Difficulty – Moderate
Trail – well maintained trail of dirt and rocks.
Bathrooms – At Trailhead
Seasons to hike – Year Round (in winter use micro-spikes)
Permits needed – None
Pets allowed – No
Stats to Waterfall: Distance – 4.6 miles roundtrip
Approximate hiking time – 2 to 4 hours
Elevation gain – 1453 feet
Difficulty – Difficult
Trail – well maintained trail of dirt and rocks.
Bathrooms – At Granite Trailhead
Seasons to hike – March – October (year round to reservoir)
Permits needed – None
Pets allowed – No
