17 Of The Best Kid Friendly Hikes in Utah

Are you looking for some kid-friendly hikes in Utah?  Basically, that is easy hikes in Utah that anyone can do! 

In this post, I am going to be focusing on the kid-friendly hikes near Salt Lake City. This list will include fun family hikes in Utah. Focusing on the short hikes in Utah that everyone can participate in without complaining.  We will even include some of the best hikes in Utah with waterfalls! 

Utah is our home state, so we get to enjoy the mountains all the time! We know which hikes our kids love and which ones they hate!

There are so many hikes near Salt Lake City that I could not possibly list all of them.  I plan to add more to this list as I discover more amazing hikes!

Let’s explore the easy kid-friendly hikes in Utah! 

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Kid-Friendly Hikes in Utah – Wasatch Boulevard Hikes

The following hikes are just to the southeast of Salt Lake City. What is great about the trails accessible along Wasatch Blvd. is that you don’t have to drive up a canyon to get to them.  This is such a beautiful area with lots of trees right at the base of the mountains.

These hikes provide exceptional views of Salt Lake Valley!

1. Rocky Mouth Falls

Location: This hike is located off of Wasatch Blvd at 11250 S., in Sandy, Utah

Parking: There is a small parking lot located off of Wasatch Blvd.  If the parking lot is full, you can park along Wasatch Boulevard.

Miles: This hike is .7 miles from the parking lot, but it seems shorter.

What to Expect

Rocky Mouth is probably one of the most kid-friendly hikes in Utah!  What we love most is that there is a waterfall at the end of this short Utah hike.  My kids love this hike.

After you park you will ascend a staircase that will lead you to a neighborhood. You might be thinking, “am I in the right spot?”  The answer is yes. You will walk about a block and see trail signs that will direct you to the trailhead.

Once you get to the trailhead from the neighborhood, you will have a semi-steep climb, but within a few minutes, you will reach a point where it levels out.

The great part about this hike is that there are no drop-offs, it isn’t long, but has a waterfall at the end to reward you and the kiddos.

Sights to Explore

There are a couple of other great sights along the way too. On your left (on your way to the waterfall, there is an area that seems like caves. Our little one loves to peek in and imagine what creature is lurking inside.

There is also a bridge on a path that goes off from the main hike (you will see it to your right on the way to the waterfall at a fork). We call this the troll bridge, probably because our little guy is thinking of lurking creatures after the caves got his imagination going.

This is a really popular hike with only one way in and one way out. I have never felt it was too crowded the many times I have been there.  This is a fast and easy hike in Utah!

The waterfall is pretty cool, and you can walk up through the water a way to get closer to it without worrying about a rapid flow of water. With that said, keep in mind that the water flows differently at different times of year.

Another Hiking Option in this Area

If you are up for more hiking after visiting the waterfall you can take the path that leads down the troll bridge.  We decided to see where the path led on our last hike and found that it connects with the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.  We took the trail all the way to the Hidden Valley Park to the south.  Our 4 year old loved it and walked the entire way. But it was a long walk!

Please also note that this section of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail goes across private property that is accessible by the public, at least when we last went. But in the past, the gate has been closed, in which case you will need to turn around and go back.

2. Bonneville Shoreline Trail (Bear Canyon Suspension Bridge

Location: The Bear Canyon Suspension Bridge is located along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, and you can access it from Sandy (Hidden Valley Park on Wasatch Boulevard) or Draper (Orson Smith Park).

Parking: There are parking lots at both locations.

Miles: Starting at the Orson Smith Park trailhead, it is a 2.3-mile hike round trip.  Starting at the Hidden Valley Park, it is 3 miles.

So 2.3 miles is easier than 3 miles, right? No brainer for kids? Wrong.  Yes, 2.3 miles sounds easier but it’s not!  We have hiked from both origin points, and starting in the Sandy location is easier. The parking lot is at a higher elevation, and while there are some hills to climb, you don’t have to climb as much overall.

Bonneville Shoreline Trail

The easier trail to the suspension bridge is the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.  This trail also gives you some cool views of the valley, even before getting to the suspension bridge.

Orson Smith Trail

The trail from Orson Smith Park, the Orson Smith Trail, has a bunch of switchbacks at the beginning to gain elevation. It is still a doable hike for kids.

When you get to the end of the switchbacks, you will arrive at a wide dirt trail, which is the Aqueduct Trail. Make sure to go left (to the right goes toward Corner Canyon), and you will see a sign that will lead you up to the bridge. This is one of the family-friendly hikes in Utah that we do the most. 

3. Ghost Falls

Location: This is not along Wasatch, however it does connect with Bonneville Shoreline Trail.  Ghost Falls is in Corner Canyon in Draper Utah.

Parking: The parking is the worst! You have to drive up a narrow road with a drop-off to get to the parking lot.  It is awful! 

Miles: 2.9 miles round trip

Ghost Falls has a cool name that will get your kids excited. The majority of the trail is actually wooded and if you use your imagination can be spooky! It is a beautiful trail.  

My kids really liked it. You have to be careful when hiking in Corner Canyon.  It is known as a mountain biking area so bikes fly down these trails.  It makes me a little nervous because of the speed of the bikes.  When we went there were not too many bikes.  

Ghost Falls

The parking lot is at the top of the hill. This means that you will hike down to the falls.  It is really a great kid-friendly hike, just watch out for mountain bikes! 

4. Aqueduct Trail 

Location:  This trail is located at the Hidden Valley Park.  (same parking lot for the Bonneville Shoreline Trail in Sandy that gives access to the suspension bridge).

Parking:  There is a parking lot at the park.

Miles: This is a two-mile hike round trip if you turn around before the “hill”.

This is a great hike. Instead of following the signs to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (which is the path going up from the pavilion), go the opposite direction to the paved loop.

As you walk along the loop, there is a paved path that forks off and will get you back to the access to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail if you stay on it. But you will see a dirt path off to the right shortly after forking off with a sign that says trail to the Aqueduct Trail. That’s the path you want to take.

What to Expect

It starts out in a beautiful forest area. You will soon cross a bridge and, at least in the late spring, see pretty purple wildflowers along the path.  As you keep going, you will get a great view of the city.

You eventually will get to a fork. Keep right (going left will take you up to Bonneville Shoreline Trail, which you may want to take on the way back to mix things up). As you go through another tree-lined part of the path, you will soon get to a wide, open path, which is the Aqueduct Trail.

You can walk along the path for quite some time, but we generally go to a steep hill and turn around (this is about a mile in).  I usually run on this trail a few times a week. I love it!  It is an easy hike in Utah that is great for a trail fun but also the perfect kid-friendly hike.  

Dogs are allowed on this trail.

5. Bell Canyon Trail 

Location: This hike is located on Wasatch Blvd.

Parking: There are two parking lots! The larger parking lot is on Wasatch Blvd but is only accessible going north on Wasatch.  The other is on Little Cottonwood Road, just off of Wasatch, at the Granite Trailhead.

Miles: .7 to the reservoir –  5.3 to lower falls

Okay, to make this a kid-friendly hike only go to the reservoir! We made the mistake of going to the waterfall!  It was brutal for me!  The kids actually did amazing getting there. (On the way back down our 3-year-old fell asleep and had to be carried)

Reservoir Vs. Waterfall

What to Expect

The reservoir can be really pretty if Utah has had a good snow/rain season.  The last time we went the water levels were very low and it really isn’t as pretty.  If you like water, spring and early summer are great times to go.

Reservoir

There are two ways to get to the reservoir (and from there to the falls). If you park off of Wasatch, you start along a trail that goes by homes, It is an incline and takes a bit longer to get to the reservoir.  There is a new parking lot at the trailhead that has 131 parking spots, a picnic area, and a helipad.  

If you start at the Granite Trailhead, you will be faced with switchbacks, but may save a bit of time.  The waterfall can be a great sight, especially if there is a good snowpack and you go in late spring.

The path close to the waterfall is very rocky and at a steep incline.  Shockingly our kids were rejuvenated at this point and bounded up this last 1/5 mile (while the adults languished).

No dogs are allowed on this trail.  This is a great option for family-friendly hikes in Utah.

Kid-Friendly Hikes in Utah – Easy Hikes in Big Cottonwood Canyon 

Big Cottonwood Canyon is the home of Brighton and Solitude Ski Resorts.  But you don’t have to go all the way up to the ski resorts to find some kid-friendly hikes in Utah. 

6. Hidden Falls Trail

Location: Drive 4.4 miles into Big Cottonwood Canyon

Parking: Roadside parking lot. (off to your right at the beginning of the S curve; if you go up the curve you’ve gone too far). There is limited parking, and this lot can fill up quickly, in which case you will need to find a place along the street. You will need to cross the street to access the hike.

Miles: .3 Miles

What to Expect

This is a very easy hike in Utah if the water is not high. You can pretty much see the waterfall from the road.  But in late spring the water can be high and it can be difficult to access the trail. When we went, folks were crossing the stream by walking across fallen tree trunks.

Yes, this hike is very short and has a great view of a waterfall, but use caution and plan a late summer hike.

If you are up for a little more hiking there is a path just off to the side of hidden falls. It doesn’t have a name (it eventually leads to the Desolation Trail), but we decided to check it out.

It was a pretty steep climb but my kids did fine.  We went up to a point where you had to cross a small stream.  We didn’t follow the path all the way so I am not sure where it leads! It had great views of the canyon. We enjoy this easy Big Cottonwood Canyon hike! 

7. Silver Lake

Image Courtesy of Utah.com

Location: The top of Big Cottonwood Canyon

Parking: There is a parking lot designated for the hike.

Miles: .9 Miles Loop

This may be one of the best kid-friendly hikes in Utah!  You can even push a stroller on this hike.  There is a wooden plank path around a beautiful lake.  We have been on this path many times and love it!

For those of you who are not as adventurous but still want to enjoy the outdoors, this is the hike for you.

Visitor Center

They also have a visitors center where you can learn about the area.  There is a scavenger hunt you will want to pick up before you go on the hike so you can look for certain animals as you hike.

If you are up for more of an adventure there are trails on the other side of the lake but with little kids, I do not recommend it for younger kids. This is my all-time favorite family-friendly hikes in Utah

8. Donut Falls

Location: Big Cottonwood Canyon

Parking: There is a large parking lot at the trailhead.

Miles: 3.3 miles round trip

Donut Falls is one of the most popular hikes in Utah.  There is a beautiful waterfall at the end of the trail.  This trail is an out and back trail.  

I hesitated to add this to our kid-friendly hikes in Utah post because my kids struggled big time on this trail. Yet, this hike has the reputation of being the most family-friendly trail in Utah.

Best Time of Year to Go

I think our major problem was we went too early in the season (May).  There was still snow on the ground and the waterfall was frozen, so It wasn’t quite what we were expecting.  June – October is the best time to go.  

Fun Hikes in Utah

One way to make this hike a fun kid-friendly hike is to bring donuts and eat them at the top of the hike.  We did this as a motivation for our kids.  

Kid-Friendly Hikes in Utah – Easy Hikes in Little Cottonwood Canyon 

Little Cottonwood Canyon is the canyon where Alta and Snowbird Ski Resorts are located.  In the summertime, this is a great canyon to explore.  Let’s explore some of the kid-friendly hikes in Utah, particularly in this area.

9. Lisa Falls

Location: Little Cottonwood Canyon

Parking: Parking is available off both sides of the road; access is located on the north side (on the opposite side of the road from you as you are driving up)

Miles: .4 miles to the waterfall

This hike is probably one of the shortest and most kid-friendly hikes in Utah!  We literally got out of our car and walked up a short way to see an impressive waterfall.

Trailhead

The trailhead is not well marked, so make sure to use Google Maps or another navigation option.  You will see openings from the parking lot. You will begin in an area that is open with rocks to the left of the trail. Trees will obscure your view of the waterfall, but soon you’ll arrive.

It is a really beautiful waterfall.

10. Little Cottonwood Trail

Location: Little Cottonwood Canyon

Parking: Same parking lot as Lisa Falls.

Miles: 1-mile hike (Trail extends for mountain bikers only)

Once we were done with the hike, our kids still had some energy. We had parked on the other side of the road, and there’s another trail, called Little Cottonwood Trail. You will see a sign and stairs leading down to the trail.

It was less than a mile and very wide.  You will walk along a beautiful river.  We came to a point where there was a gate and the trail then become a mountain biking trail.

11. Cecret Lake Trail

Image Courtesy of Utah.com

Location: Top of Little Cottonwood Canyon

Parking:  The parking lot is located at the top of the mountain.

Miles: 1.8 miles round trip

Okay, funny story from years ago. Cecret Lake Trail was one of those trails we accidentally came upon.  We were trying to go to Silver Lake which is located at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon.

My mom and dad were with us and we assured them the hike would be easy (my mom was in sandals).  Haha, the joke was on all of us. We went up the wrong canyon and went to Cecret Lake!

Cecret Lake Hike

This was not a flat boardwalk trail like Silver Lake. The lake is a ways up but definitely makes the list for our kid-friendly hikes in Utah.

Luckily, it was an easy enough hike for our kids to enjoy.   You do have to ascend up to the lake, and once you get to the lake, the path does not go around the lake. But the views along the way are amazing, and there can be beautiful wildflowers.

Best Time to Go

The trail is fun but only available from late June – to October.  Even in the middle of summer, we found a huge snow pile that the kids thought was really cool to climb on.

As we continued on the hike there is a small section of switchbacks. We thought the path near the lake was a little hard to find and we actually took a wrong turn and realized we were headed off a steep drop.  Once we corrected ourselves we were able to make it to the beautiful lake.

Tip: Bring mosquito spray, especially for when you get to the lake. This is a beautiful kid-friendly hike in Utah with a lot of bugs! 

12. White Pine Trail

Location: Little Cottonwood Canyon

Parking: Small Parking lot and street parking available

Miles: 10.7 round trip (you will not go the entire way with kids)

White Pines Lake Trail is 10.7 however, you can walk less than a mile and still be totally satisfied with the scenery.  There is a bridge your kids will love to cross over and play around.  This is also the perfect place for family photos.  

We hiked about 1-2 miles and came to a beautiful stream.  At this point, you can decide if you want to hike to the White Pine Lake or the Red Pine Lake or turn back. This is an out and back trail so you will eventually turn back when you are ready.  

Best Time to Go

April – October is the best time to go. However, in April and sometimes May there will still be snow on the trail. You will need poles and waterproof shoes. We have been in October and it was the perfect time to see the leaves change and enjoy nature.  

White Pines Trail is an easy hike in Utah that your kids will love! 

Kid-Friendly Hikes in Utah – Park City Hiking Trails for Kids

Park City is one of the best places for Kid-friendly hikes in Utah.  It is such a beautiful area all year round. 

13. Bloods Lake Trail

Location: This hike is located on Guardsman Pass. If you are coming from Salt Lake City, you go up Big Cottonwood Canyon and turn left on Guardsman Pass almost immediately after you pass Solitude Ski Resort (if you get to Brighton, you went too far). You will head east on Guardsman Pass for about four miles.

This park is a technique in Park City territory so you can obviously get there from that direction as well.  

Parking: You will see a large dirt parking lot on your left if you’re going east (the parking lot is on the north side of the street), and you should see signs. We have also seen cars park along the road.

Dogs: Yes, you can bring your dog on this trail.

Miles: This hike is 1.4 miles in, and about 1.4 miles out.  This is one of my absolute favorite kid-friendly hikes in Utah! The trail has hardly any rocks, so you shouldn’t worry about tripping! As indicated by the name of the trail, there is a lake at the end of the trail.

What To Expect

It’s a decent size, but you can walk around the entire lake fairly easily.  You have some great views on this hike. The trail is flat for about the first ¾ of a mile.

As you get closer to the lake, there is a climb. The trail is still smooth, but you have switchbacks.  But hey, I made the hike in flip-flops and a dress. (I don’t recommend this; let’s just say I wasn’t planning on hiking, but I’m sure glad I did!)

This hike is doable for littles. I would say that if you have kids under five, you may want to bring a pack to carry your little one in. There were very few toddlers on the trail but I did see one couple pick up their kids and carry them up the steeper part.

Swimming

The lake is great for kiddos. We saw plenty of people swimming when we went.  We went in August, and the water was still a bit cold.  Guardsman Pass is only open for part of the year, generally between May and October. I imagine there is snow in some parts even in early June. I recommend going in late summer, or in the fall. The color change in the fall in this area is spectacular!

Sights to Explore

The lake is the highlight for me. If you’re lucky, you may even see some moose.

Loopine Trail

You can take a different way down from the lake than you came up (at the sign when you first get to the lake, take a left and there will be a trail that will take you back a different way to the parking lot).  It says it is the recommended way down. 

I disagree.  Loopine Trail is a downhill trail followed by a treacherous climb back up a hill.   It was not shaded like the Blood Lake Trail.  Ugh!  

Lackwaxen Lake

You can also continue from Bloods Lake another mile to Lackwaxen Lake. This is a more rugged terrain, and as such, I don’t recommend it for littles. But it may be good if you’re with tweens or teenagers. This is one of the best family-friendly hikes in Utah! 

Kid-Friendly Hikes in Utah – American Fork Canyon and Pleasant Grove Hikes

There is an entrance fee for the American Fork Canyon because it is a part of the USDA forest service.  It also leads to Mount Timpanogos Caves which is a National Monument.

14. Timpanogas Caves 

Location:  American Fork Canyon

Parking: There is a parking lot at the National Monument Site

Miles: 1.5 miles that are paved.

Timpanogas Cave National Monument is a paid hike that needs to be reserved ahead of time.  This is one of the best kid-friendly hikes in Utah because you actually get a guided cave tour once you reach the top!

As long as you don’t go in the heat of the day the hike is manageable.  We went and it was so hot.  This hike consists of quite a few switchbacks the entire way to the top.  I was carrying a 3-year-old on my back and thought it was pretty tough.  The other kids did great and had no problems.  I did have to turn on music to help distract us from how hot we were.

Cave Tour

Once we made it to the top we waited until our tour time started.  After being so hot stepping inside the cave was heavenly because it was so cold.  We loved getting a tour and highly recommend getting a reservation so you can experience this!

15. Battle Creek Falls 

Battle Creek Falls Trail (Pleasant Grove)

Location: This hike is in Utah County, east of Pleasant Grove. You can take 200 East, and it will dead-end at the trailhead and Kiwanis Park. You can take Interstate 15 to exit 275, Pleasant Grove – Lindon, and turn right on 200 East from Pleasant Grove Boulevard.

Parking: 200 East ends at the parking lot, which is a dirt parking lot. This parking lot can fill up, and if it does, you can park along 200 East.

Dogs: Yes, you can bring your dog on this trail.

Miles: The hike to the waterfall is approximately 1 mile (2-mile round trip). You can continue on the hike past the waterfall.

Description: This is a great hike for kids. It is easy to get to the trailhead, and compared to many other hikes, you can get to the waterfall in short order.

The path starts out very wide. This makes it easy to navigate any crowds. I do recommend going earlier in the day in the summer since there is not much shade on the wide path.

Sights Along the Trail

As you get closer to the falls, you will have a creek on your left as you go up, and the trail will narrow.  The change in the trail, the creek, and crossing a bridge are all sights that will keep the hike interesting for your kids.  And the waterfall is gorgeous! You can get in the water by the waterfall to cool off, and if you’re brave enough (perhaps brave is not the right word!), you can stick your head in the falls.

You may also see people repelling from the top of the waterfall.

Tips: Along with sunblock, bring water shoes that you can change into once you get to the falls.

Nearby Hikes

From Kiwanis Park, you can access the “G” Mountain Trail, a 2-mile round trip to the G on the mountain. This is a family-friendly hike, but one you should do early morning in the summer.

You can also access the Bonneville Shoreline Trail from the parking lot, and the Curley Springs Trail higher up.

You can also continue from Bloods Lake another mile to Lackwaxen Lake. This is a more rugged terrain, and as such, I don’t recommend it for littles. But it may be good if you’re with tweens or teenagers.

Kid-Friendly Hikes in Utah – Ogden Canyon Hikes

We usually spend a week in Ogden Canyon in the summertime. It is a lovely canyon.

16. Wheeler Creek Trail

Location: Ogden Canyon

Parking: Parking is along the road where a few parking spots are available.

Miles:  9.2 miles but we did not go that far!

What to Expect

Wheeler Creek Trail hike was a pretty easy hike as we did not do the whole trail.  It was pretty flat and led to a cool bridge! At that point, we turned around and came back.  We actually did this hike at our Utah family reunion.

Spending time hiking in the gorgeous mountains in Utah is something we have really enjoyed.

Kid-Friendly Hikes – Logan Canyon Hikes

Logan Canyon is Northwest of Salt Lake City.  Logan is a beautiful canyon that leads to Bear Lake.  Bear Lake is a stunning blue lake. The water is so blue you will think you should be in the Caribbean.  This drive through the canyon is just as good as the hikes you will experience in it.

17. Crimson Trail 

Location:  Drive 5 miles into Logan Canyon

Parking: There is limited parking just to the right of Spring Hollow Bridge Crossing

Miles: 4.3 miles round trip

What to Expect

This hike is a little more challenging. I would recommend your children be at least 7 or older.  The first mile is uphill but then the next two are flat as you reach the top.

There is a drop-off that is pretty steep at the top.  Great views but if you have little ones that are afraid of heights it might not be the best choice. This is an older kid-friendly hike in Utah!

Dogs are allowed.

Kid-Friendly Hikes in Utah 

Hopefully, this list has given you a few ideas of where you want to go hiking.  There are so many kid-friendly hikes in Utah and this list will keep growing. Make sure to come back often as there will be more and more hikes listed here.

This list does not include Southern Utah and the National Parks. That will be for another post!  It does include hikes in the Wasatch Mountains and surrounding areas. 

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