Payson, Utah

Looking for the best hiking in Payson? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Payson. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Hiking Spots in and near Payson

  • Salt Lake County, Utah

    Hidden Falls

    4.2
    0.16 mi / 138 ft gain
    Hidden Falls is a beautiful little waterfall with minimal crowds. When I say minimal, I mean I've only seen another person there 1 of the 5 or 6 times that I have been. Take it in. Stay a while. Scramble around the small canyon for different perspectives of the falls or the creek. If you don't ha...
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  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Hike the Mineral Fork Trail

    4.0
    9.3 mi / 3500 ft gain
    The trailhead begins along Big Cottonwood Canyon Road, with a relatively small parking lot at the trailhead. Starting early in the day is advised, as on nice summer days it will fill up quickly. The trail has a steady ascent for the first 2 miles starting around 6700' through aspen forests and cr...
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  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Photograph Wildlife at Willow Lake

    2.2 mi / 629 ft gain
    Willow Lake has become my favorite spot in all of Utah.  It feels so distant from civilization in the mountains, but is only a 25 minute drive from Salt Lake City. I have hiked to Willow Lake close to 10 times this year during different seasons, and have never seen more than 5 people on the trail...
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  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Backcountry Ski Willow Fork

    3 mi / 1700 ft gain
    Willow Fork is just across the mountain from Solitude Ski Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon. You can access Willow Fork from a few different trailheads; either from the Willow Heights Trailhead or across the street from both the lower and upper Solitude parking lots. The Willow Heights Trailhead wi...
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  • Salt Lake County, Utah

    Willow Lake

    4.5
    2.41 mi / 659 ft gain
    The Trail: Follow the marked trail and you'll hike less than a mile up to the edge of Willow Lake. Moose like to hang out in the thick willows there, so make lots of noise to warn them that you're coming and you won't startle any. Standing on the shoreline, you'll have a great view of Solitude ...
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  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Camp at Willow Lake

    4.6
    2.41 mi / 659 ft gain
    The trailhead to Willow Lake is about 11 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon and is on the north side of the road right after the passing lane begins. It can be easy to miss, and is only marked with a plaque on a rock (40.630302, -111.604639). As you hike a little in from the road you will see the tra...
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  • Holladay, Utah

    Hike Heughs Canyon (Olympus Waterfall)

    4.5
    2 mi / 1000 ft gain
    Heughs Canyon starts right on the edge of Salt Lake City, but within minutes, you’re in a shady forest next to a gurgling stream. This is the prefect after-work hike that can be enjoyed year-round. Two miles round-trip and just over 1,000 feet, the path takes you to a beautiful waterfall that flo...
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  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Donut Falls

    4.1
    1.53 mi / 413 ft gain
    The Trail Follow the trail for just a little bit and when it forks, stay to the left and you will arrive to Donut Falls. Once at the waterfall, climb up the rocks to get to the cave at the top, which is not visible from the bottom. To take pictures inside of the cave, you will most likely get yo...
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  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Kessler Peak in Utah's Big Cottonwood Canyon

    4.7
    4.66 mi / 2733 ft gain
    Kessler Peak is a 10,403-foot peak located in Big Cottonwood Canyon. From the top, you can see all the way to the Uintas to the East, The tram at Snowbird to the south, and the Salt Lake Valley to the west. To the north is Mount Raymond and Gobblers Knob.  Kessler Peak is the terminus and highes...
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  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Snowshoe to Cardiff Mine

    7 mi / 1500 ft gain
    The trail starts from the same trailhead as Donut Falls which is extremely popular. In the winter, the gates are closed and you need to park just off the highway. Follow the road and crowds along the trail but once you cross the bridge continue straight ahead instead of following the trail that c...
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  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Backcountry Ski Cardiff Fork

    4 mi
    Drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon until you reach the Mill D South parking lot (aka Donut Falls parking). Head up the main road until you reach the bathrooms at the Donut Falls trailhead. Here you can either keep straight past the bathrooms, but the best way to go is to keep right along the road. Yo...
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  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Hike Cardiff Fork

    8 mi / 2880 ft gain
    Cardiff Fork and Donut Falls share the same parking lot, so depending on what time of week you go exploring here, it may be the most packed parking in all of the Wasatch. Head up on a weekday for less crowds.  The Cardiff Fork trailhead is follows the rocky jeep road around the parking lot to the...
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  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Hike Days Fork

    5.0
    7.5 mi / 2494 ft gain
    To get to the trailhead drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon to Spruces Campground. Once in the parking lot, walk to the southwest corner of the parking lot and go up the road past the bathrooms. The trailhead will be next to the overgrown baseball field.  The trail is awesome single track the whole wa...
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  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Backcountry Ski Days Fork

    3.2 mi
    Days Fork is on the south side of Big Cottonwood Canyon behind the Spruces parking lot. The trail head begins on the south west corner of the parking lot. The approach to Days Fork is long, but gradual. Continue south along the skin track until you reach the end of the Days Fork Basin. Here you c...
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  • Holladay, Utah

    Winter Hike to Mt. Olympus

    5.0
    7 mi / 4200 ft gain
    Approach: You can access the well traveled Mount Olympus Trail the same as you would any other season. Park in the trailhead lot or along Wasatch Blvd. The trail starts on the south side of the parking lot.Route Description: Even in the winter the Mount Olympus trail should be pretty straightforw...
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  • Park City, Utah

    Deer Valley Resort

    5.0
    7.51 mi / 1161 ft gain
    Deer Valley Resort is a loop trail where you may see local wildlife located near Park City, Utah.
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