Near Little Cottonwood Trail
Hiking during peak foliage.
Near Little Cottonwood Trail
A little hazy from the smoke, but the sunset from the top!
Near Little Cottonwood Trail
A picture of the trail as it winds through an open valley filled with grasses and sagebrush as the sun rises over it.
Near Little Cottonwood Trail
A view of the hills and cliffs that surround the area
Near Little Cottonwood Trail
A view of the meadows and woods that surround the trail

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Driving Directions
Hike Trail

Little Cottonwood Trail

3.7 (6 Ratings)
A splendid trail through high meadows with great views of Logan Canyon and the Bear River Range.
5.6
mi
Distance
1,580
ft
Gain
moderate
Difficulty
Fall ColorsViewsWildflowersWildlife

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
5.62mi
Distance
1,580ft
Elevation Gain
440ft
Elevation Loss
15%
Max Grade
6,910ft
High Point
5,504ft
Low Point
Path Type
Point to Point
Description
Starting from the Right Hand Fork trailhead parking lot, you can hike back down the road a few hundred feet until you get to the corral. Stay to the right of the corral and go through the gate to start up the trail. The trail starts out at a pretty steady climbing grade as it climbs up and crosses a dry creek bed and ascends out of the trees into a vast meadow with rolling hills. At this point, the trail turns into a doubletrack, passes a few water troughs for livestock, and continues climbing the road. If you get here at the right time of morning the sun shines beautifully on the dew that settles on the grasses here, which creates a gorgeous picture. As you continue you'll reach a high point and start descending to another watering hole (which is quite disgusting later on in the year after the cows have all gotten to it). Pass it and start to ascend. As you do, you'll come to a gate and then continue up and around a hill. As you continue you should be able to see into a vast basin with forested hills in the background and grassy fields below. From here, you can see Mount Beirdneau and to the south of that is the mouth of Logan Canyon. As you continue along the trail, you'll hit the main high point of the trail as you ascend through a small grove of aspens. After this, the trail switches back a couple of times as you descend back into the meadows and around to the head of the Willow Creek drainage, where the trail meets up with the Temple Fork Road.

Route Conditions

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Willow Creek/Little Cottonwood

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Willow Creek/Little Cottonwood

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Hobbit Caves and Right Hand Fork Waterfall

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Hobbit Caves and Right Hand Fork Waterfall

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easy
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+0 ft
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Card Canyon Loop

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Old Jardine Juniper from Wood Camp

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Old Jardine Juniper from Wood Camp

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moderate
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+1,797 ft
Temple Fork Sawmill Out and Back

Hike Route

Temple Fork Sawmill Out and Back

Fall Colors
easy
5.26 mi
+668 ft
Contributors
Tomsen Reed