Big Cottonwood Canyon facts for kids
Big Cottonwood Canyon is a beautiful canyon in the Wasatch Range of Utah. It is about 12 miles (19 km) southeast of Salt Lake City. This canyon is 15 miles (24 km) long. It offers many fun activities all year round.
In summer, you can enjoy hiking, biking, and picnicking. People also like rock-climbing, camping, and fishing here. When winter comes, the canyon becomes a popular spot for skiing and snowboarding. It has two well-known ski resorts: Brighton and Solitude.
You can get into the canyon using The Big Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway (SR-190). This road goes all the way to Guardsman Pass at the top. In summer, you can even travel from here to Park City. Guardsman Pass closes in winter. It becomes a great place for snowshoe hiking.
Many people enjoy hiking to the canyon's mountain lakes. Trails lead to pretty lakes like Mary, Martha, and Katherine. The most popular trail goes to Lakes Blanche, Florence, and Lillian. This trail is 3.1 miles (5 km) long and can be a challenging hike. The canyon was carved by Big Cottonwood Creek. This created many impressive rock shapes.
Big Cottonwood Canyon is an important watershed. This means it collects water that becomes drinking water for people in the Wasatch Front area. Because of this, pets and other animals are not allowed in the canyon. This rule helps keep the water clean and safe for everyone.
The canyon is also home to many different plants. It has a lot of biodiversity. Some rare plants grow here, like the Wasatch shooting-star. This plant is only found in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
Parts of some movies were filmed in Big Cottonwood Canyon. These include Berserker (1987) and Iced (1988). Also, parts of How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) were filmed at Solitude Mountain Resort.
Storm Mountain: A Fun Picnic Spot
Storm Mountain is a popular place for picnics. More than a hundred years ago, a man named R.D. Maxfield, Jr. built a home here. It soon became a relaxing spot for families to have picnics. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps built a small stage. This stage was used for public events and gatherings.
The Storm Mountain area is also interesting for its rocks. You can find special rock layers called rhythmites. These show how the tides changed long ago. There are also sandstones with unique patterns.
S-Curve Area: Rock Climbing Fun
The S-Curve Area is a popular spot for rock climbing in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Most of the climbing routes have bolts to help climbers. There are many different routes for all skill levels. A special feature of this area is the large overhangs on many routes. The S-Curve Area is located just 4.25 miles (6.8 km) from the canyon's entrance.
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In Spanish: Big Cottonwood Canyon para niños
