Scenic Drive
Big Cottonwood Canyon to Silver Lake
A close-to-the-city mountain drive with granite walls, creekside pull-offs and an accessible boardwalk at the top when weather permits.
At a glance
The route
- Starting point
- Mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon on SR-190
- Ending point
- Silver Lake Recreation Area, Brighton
- Distance
- 15 miles one way to Silver Lake
- Driving or walking time
- Plan about 45 minutes each way before stops; check live canyon traffic
- Recommended total time
- 3–5 hours
- Best season or time
- May–October for the boardwalk, subject to weather; fall color draws heavier traffic
- Difficulty / effort
- Easy drive; optional 0.9-mile lake loop
- Overall vibe
- Cool air, tall rock, creek noise and a genuine change of altitude
Three primary stops
Give the day three anchors.
The canyon mouth
Reset the day here: confirm conditions, put the phone away and let SR-190 narrow the view to rock, water and road.
Cardiff / Mill D area
A useful middle anchor for a short creekside pause or trailhead stop. Park only in posted legal spaces and display the required pass inside a posted fee area.
Silver Lake
The Town of Brighton describes the lake as fifteen miles up-canyon, with an accessible interpretive boardwalk open roughly May through October, weather permitting.
Before you go
Practical considerations
- Check UDOT’s live Cottonwood Canyons page before leaving; closures, traction restrictions and uphill controls can change quickly.
- Posted Forest Service recreation fee areas include Cardiff / Mill D and summer access at Silver Lake. The current local pass listed by Brighton is $10 for three days per vehicle.
- Big Cottonwood Canyon is a protected watershed: dogs and swimming are prohibited. Service-animal exemptions apply under the posted order.
- In winter, canyon traction rules are stricter than ordinary Utah roads and parking systems may require reservations at resort destinations.
Optional detour
Continue around the Brighton Loop only if parking and traffic are calm. A full lot is a good reason to keep moving and save the walk for another day.
Worth knowing
The road is the main event. Choose one walk, not four; if a trailhead is crowded, the better day may be a slow drive and a long lunch back in the valley.
Sources and verification
Check again before leaving.
Travel details change. This guide was last checked on . Open the official sources below for same-day conditions, fees and access.
- Cottonwood Canyons road and parking status
Utah Department of Transportation
Live road status, closures, traction rules and transit guidance
- Silver Lake recreation and parking passes
Town of Brighton
Distance, seasonal boardwalk access, accessibility, watershed rules and current pass price
- Forest Service recreation fee areas
Town of Brighton
Current fee-area list and pass display guidance
- Cottonwood Canyons traction requirements
Utah Department of Transportation
Current tire, tread and traction-device rules