Big Cottonwood Canyon, in the Wasatch Range, opens onto the Salt Lake Valley. The canyon cuts east between Mount Olympus and Twin Peaks and then cuts to the south as it approaches Brighton. The lower portion of the canyon is a narrow, stream cut gorge with steep walls. The upper canyon is wide valley cut by the ancient glaciers. The canyon offers a full range of ecological transitions, from foothill brush to alpine tundra, and from rocky stream beds to forested zones. |
| Directions: |
|
| Coordinates: |
Map Coordinates (NAD83): 40 36.027N; 111 35.002W. |
| Weather: |
|
| Regulations: |
Watershed
Over 60 percent of the drinking water used by residents of the Salt Lake Valley comes from neighboring canyons, including Big Cottonwood Canyon. It is important to keep canyon watersheds clean. The following watershed regulations are strictly enforced:
- Dogs cannot be taken into a watershed area. Dogs cannot even be in a car in the watershed areas. This does not apply to seeing eye/hearing dogs or law enforcement dogs. Horses and any other domestic animal are also restricted.
- It is unlawful to swim, bathe, or wash clothes, diapers, utensils, or any other object in any spring, marsh, stream, or other water source.
- There is no camping within 200 feet of any open water.
All areas of Big Cottonwood Canyon, including the Silver Lake area, are a culinary watershed for Salt Lake County. These areas provide drinking water for Salt Lake County, and special laws were passed to protect the important water sources.
Watershed regulations are enforced by the Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office, the Salt Lake City-County Health Department, the USDA Forest Service, and the Alta Marshal's Office. Violations constitute a class "B" misdemeanor and a citation is issued to most violators.
These regulations apply in the entire canyon area, ridge top to ridge top, and not just in the immediate area of surface water.
|
