Hidden Falls Guide Before Visiting 2026 Updated (Salt Lake County, UT)

Hidden Falls is a waterfall in Salt Lake County, Utah, about 4.7 miles east of Cottonwood Heights. This guide covers what to check, bring and expect before you go, using visitor ratings, official USGS records and live conditions for this exact location.

At a glance

Location

Salt Lake County, UT

Nearest town

Cottonwood Heights (4.7 mi)

Visitor rating

★★★★★ 4.8 from 49 reviews

Crowds

Quieter

Coordinates

40.63540, -111.72363

USGS topo

Mount Aire quad

Getting there

Hidden Falls sits about 4.7 miles east of Cottonwood Heights in Salt Lake County. Navigate to the coordinates 40.63540, -111.72363, which mark the waterfall itself; the trailhead or parking area may be some distance away.

Open directions in Google Maps or Apple Maps, or view the map on the Hidden Falls listing. Navigation apps sometimes route onto seasonal forest roads, so check road status if you are heading into the mountains.

Most of Utah's falls are on public land: the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache, Manti-La Sal and Dixie national forests in the mountains, and Bureau of Land Management land, including Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, in the south. Big and Little Cottonwood canyons are part of the Salt Lake City watershed, where dogs and swimming are prohibited. Canyon trailheads such as Doughnut Falls fill quickly on summer weekends. In the Wasatch, snowmelt streams are cold and fast, and wet rock around Doughnut Falls is slippery. In the canyon country, flash floods are the overriding hazard: check forecasts and avoid narrow canyons when storms threaten anywhere upstream. Carry ample water on desert hikes such as Lower Calf Creek, where sandy trails and summer heat take a toll.

What to bring

This checklist is tailored to Hidden Falls based on what visitors report and the conditions typical of Utah. For the complete list, see our waterfall hike packing guide.

• Offline map and coordinates. Save 40.63540, -111.72363 and download offline maps; cell service is often weak near waterfalls.
• Shoes with real grip. Rock near falling water stays wet and slick even in dry weather.
• Water and a snack. More than you think you need, even for a short walk.
• A light rain layer. Spray from the falls and quick-moving showers can soak you.
• Sun protection and extra water. Desert heat builds fast; carry more water than usual and check for flash flood warnings before entering any canyon.
• Headlamp. In case your visit runs later than planned; check sunset time in the conditions panel above.

How to prepare

Timing

In the Wasatch and Uintas, waterfalls peak with snowmelt, typically from late May through June, though big snow years can extend high flows into July. Lower-elevation falls such as Bridal Veil in Provo Canyon run earlier, while the Mirror Lake Highway to Provo River Falls usually stays closed by snow into late spring. Late summer flows drop considerably. In southern Utah, spring-fed Calf Creek flows year-round, and spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons to hike there because summer heat is intense. The summer monsoon, generally July through September, brings thunderstorms that can create temporary falls over canyon rims but also dangerous flash floods. Winter freezes many Wasatch falls into ice. With 49 reviews, it sees fewer visitors than the region's headline falls, so you may have it to yourself on a weekday.

Safety

Stay behind railings and off wet rock, never climb on the falls, and keep children within arm's reach near the water. Check the weather panel above for flood or storm alerts before you set out; water levels can rise fast after upstream rain. Our waterfall safety guide covers the most common hazards.

Respect the place

Pack out everything you bring, stay on established paths to limit erosion, and leave rocks and plants where they are. See Leave No Trace at waterfalls.

What visitors say

Hidden Falls holds a 4.8-star average across 49 Google reviews, and 88% of reviewers give it five stars. That makes it the number 2 waterfall by review count in Salt Lake County. Visitors have shared 63 photos.

See the rating breakdown or read reviews on Google.

History of the area

Hidden Falls was entered in the Geographic Names Information System on December 31, 1979, and it appears on the USGS Mount Aire 7.5-minute topographic map.

Its neighbors on the map tell the story of the surrounding land: Mill B North Fork (stream, 0.2 mi), Mill B South Fork (stream, 0.3 mi), Broads Fork (stream, 0.4 mi), and Moss Fork (stream, 0.6 mi).

Wasatch Front Canyons. The canyons of the Wasatch Range hold Utah's most accessible falls. In Provo Canyon, Bridal Veil Falls cascades down the canyon wall beside the highway and a paved trail, and the Upper Falls lies nearby. Above American Fork, Scout Falls is reached by a moderate hike, while Stewarts Cascades lie near Sundance. In Big Cottonwood Canyon, Doughnut Falls pours through a hole in the rock into a small cave, and Hidden Falls is a short walk from the road; Little Cottonwood Canyon's Lisa Falls is reached on a short, bouldery path. South along the Wasatch Plateau, Milky Falls in Sanpete County and a fall near East Carbon City are quieter spots.

Nearby waterfalls to add to your trip

Summary

Hidden Falls about 4.7 miles east of Cottonwood Heights is rated 4.8 out of 5 by 49 visitors. Check the live forecast and stream gauge above, save the coordinates for offline use, and pack for wet, uneven ground. Ratings, hours and access can change, so confirm conditions with the land manager before you drive out.

See the full Hidden Falls listing for the map, photos and nearby landmarks.