Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS — While winter brings billions in tourism dollars to Utah's economy, it also brings the dreaded inversion — and some of the worst air quality in the United States.
Escaping the air pollution caused by the inversion during winter usually involves skiing or snowboarding at Utah's world-famous resorts. However, those price tags often keep families away from the resorts for the majority of the winter. So how can you still enjoy the snow and escape the inversion?
Take a hike— literally. There are a few great hikes well within a short drive of Salt Lake City that are friendly to families of all ages and athletic ability — and they'll all get you above the nasty smog that permeates the Wasatch Front during the winter months.
Let's look at a few of those hikes.
Donut Falls
This is arguably one of the more popular summer hikes, but for the winter? It's just as enjoyable, if not more so, due to the lack of crowds.
Related Stories:
5 family-friendly hikes in Utah
With school back in session and the temperatures (possibly) cooling down, many might think hiking season is over. In Utah, however, fall is one of the best times to hit the mountain trails in pursuit of fitness, flora and fauna. Sadly, some would-be hikers avoid the sport, as many local trails are less than kid-friendly.The road to the Donut Falls Trailhead is not generally open to the public during the winter months, so hikers will likely need to park off the canyon road and walk to the trailhead. With the added walking, your round-trip hike will last about 3 miles.
You'll want to head up Big Cottonwood Canyon to the Mill D trailhead, hang a right to the Jordan Pines area, and then follow the signs for Donut Falls.
This hike, located at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon in Sandy, is lower in elevation but should put you above the smog most days.
This is a steeper, more adventurous hike, but the views of the southern end of the Salt Lake Valley are hard to beat. It's roughly a mile from the parking lot to Bells Canyon Reservoir, which will definitely be frozen over this time of year.
To get there, take Little Cottonwood Road (state Road 209) right to the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon. After crossing Wasatch Boulevard, you'll see a parking lot on the right, and the trail.
Silver Lake
This hike is for the athletically inclined — you'll need snowshoes or cross-country skis. During the winter, this popular Big Cottonwood Canyon destination is managed by the Solitude Nordic Center, which charges a day-use fee. However, since it's an easier hike as far as walking through the snow is concerned, it's a great place for beginners to learn the basics of winter hiking.
To get there, head up to the Solitude Nordic Center and consult their maps for specific directions to the Silver Lake Trail. The Nordic Center offers gear rentals, as do many other outdoors shops in the Salt Lake Valley.
Stay safe
The most important part of winter hiking is to remain avalanche aware. Checking the avalanche forecast for the particular mountain you plan on hiking is always advised, and you can take avalanche awareness classes at nearly every outdoors-related shop or educational center along the Wasatch Front. It's an education well worth the time.
Where's your favorite winter hiking destination? Let us know in the comments.
