Donut Falls: trailhead fee and winter route
Donut Falls is a short waterfall in Big Cottonwood Canyon, named for the hole in the rock that the water pours through above its pool. Most of the year the hike is a 1.5-mile round trip from the summer trailhead; since June 1, 2026, that trailhead sits inside a new U.S. Forest Service fee area, with a day-use parking pass required. The rest of the Wasatch Front canyons and the state's other falls, with their fees and passes, are in our waterfalls in Utah guide; for other states, start from the waterfalls near me map.
Fact box
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40.630°N, 111.655°W, Salt Lake County, per USGS GNIS (GNIS-1440533, listed there as "Doughnut Falls") |
| Trail length | 1.5 miles round trip from the summer trailhead; about 2 miles longer round trip in winter, when the road to the trailhead closes (Forest Service trailhead listing, as of August 2026) |
| Legal status | Public, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest |
| Parking pass | $10 for 3 days, $20 for a week or $60 for the season; interagency and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache passes honored (Forest Service fee area, as of August 2026) |
| Fee area effective | June 1, 2026, covering the Donut Falls summer trailhead in Big Cottonwood Canyon (UDOT fee overview, as of September 2026) |
| Season | No seasonal closure of the falls itself noted in the sources we checked (September 2026); the road to the summer trailhead closes for winter, adding distance |
Getting there and the fee
Donut Falls sits in Big Cottonwood Canyon, on Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest land. As of June 1, 2026, the summer trailhead falls inside a new Forest Service fee area covering several stops in the canyon (UDOT, Cottonwood Canyons fee overview): a day-use parking pass runs $10 for three days, $20 for a week or $60 for the season, and interagency and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache passes are honored, per the same overview as of August 2026. No separate permit is required to hike to the falls, only the parking pass at the trailhead.
The falls and the winter route
The trail runs about 1.5 miles round trip from the summer trailhead to a small waterfall that drops through a hole worn into the rock above its pool, which is where the name comes from. In winter, when the road to the summer trailhead closes for the season, reaching the falls starts lower down the canyon and adds roughly 2 miles round trip to the hike.
How this guide was researched
This page was compiled from the U.S. Forest Service's Donut Falls Trailhead listing, the Utah Department of Transportation's Cottonwood Canyons fee overview for the Forest Service's Recreation Enhancement Act fee areas, and the USGS GNIS record for the falls. We haven't visited this site ourselves. Parking fees and trailhead access can change. Last checked September 2026.
FAQ
How long is the hike to Donut Falls?
About 1.5 miles round trip from the summer trailhead. In winter, when the trailhead road closes, the hike starts lower and adds roughly 2 miles round trip.
Do you need a permit for Donut Falls?
No permit, but as of August 2026 the trailhead requires a Forest Service parking pass: $10 for 3 days, $20 for a week or $60 for the season.
Can you visit Donut Falls in winter?
Yes. The road to the summer trailhead closes for the season, so the hike starts lower down the canyon and runs about 2 miles longer round trip.
Are dogs allowed at Donut Falls?
We didn't find a posted rule for this trail in the sources we checked. Check trailhead signage or the Forest Service's Big Cottonwood Canyon pages before you go, since at least one nearby canyon trailhead does restrict dogs.
Why is it called Donut Falls?
The water drops through a rounded hole worn into the rock above the pool, which gives the falls its name. The USGS lists it as "Doughnut Falls."
We haven't visited these places ourselves, and every page says so rather than implying otherwise. Details are compiled from public land-manager, USGS and NOAA sources and cross-checked where possible; conditions, access rules and fees change without notice, so confirm with the managing agency before you go. Page last checked September 2026. Read our full methodology.