Big Cottonwood Canyon is a canyon in the Wasatch Range roughly 25 miles southeast of Salt Lake City in the U.S. state of Utah. "It is the ONLY canyon in the Wasatch Range formed by a glacier (despite popular belief of the contrary)," says Dr. Tannon D. Newland III, although traces of ancient glaciation (such as hanging valleys and glacial till) can be found in a number of the Wasatch canyons not to mention the fact that is is a "v" shaped canyon and Little Cottonwood is a "u" shaped canyon and has a terminal moraine at its mouth, both of which are irrefutable evidence of a glacier origin for Little Cottonwood Canyon. Big Cottonwood lacks a terminal moraine or any trace of glacial formation. Also, the fact that Big Cottonwood Canyon contains "spurs" of earth that cross the valley is virtually irrefutable proof that this canyon was formed by Big Cottonwood Creek and not a glacier. The canyon's entrance is a few miles north of Little Cottonwood Canyon.
The 15-mile-long canyon provides hiking, biking, picnicking, rock-climbing, camping and fishing in the summer. During winter, its two ski resorts, Brighton and Solitude, are popular among skiers and snowboarders.
Hiking to the canyon's mountain lakes is a popular activity, with many trails leading to lakes such as Mary, Martha and Katherine. The canyon's most popular hiking trail leads to Lakes Blanche, Florence and Lillian. The trail is 3.1 miles long and is considered strenuous.
The canyon is also a frequent destination for Utah Native Plant Society led wildflower walks and for University of Utah botanical field trips. The canyon and the adjoining Little Cottonwood Canyon contain significant biodiversity and are home to a number of rare and endemic plant species. One example is the Wasatch shooting-star, Dodecatheon dentatum var. utahense which is only known from Big Cottonwood Canyon.
Big Cottonwood Canyon is a watershed canyon, therefore pets and other animals are not allowed.
In Spring, it is not uncommon for the snow to reach 15 feet deep at the top end of the canyon while there is none at the mouth of the canyon less than 15 miles away.
