Big Cottonwood Canyon is on the east side of the Salt Lake City Valley. Get there by taking I-215 to the east, taking exit 6 off the interstate and heading east.

Follow 6200 South which becomes Wasatch Blvd for 1.8 miles to the stop light and signs for Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Turn left at the light and reset your odometer.

Drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon. At 8.9 miles, where there is a large parking area on each side of the road. This is the trailhead. Park on the left (north) side of the road.

To Dog Lake/Lake Desolation Junction (1.8 miles)
From the trailhead, follow the Dog Lake/Lake Desolation trail that leaves the north side of the parking lot. The trail makes a wide sweep before entering the Mill D drainage. 1.8 miles of seemingly relentless uphill hiking take you to the Dog Lake/Lake Desolation junction. Go right here.

To Lake Desolation (2.2 miles)
From the Dog Lake/Lake Desolation Junction, the trail continues the steep ascent, then levels out. The first big views of the south side of Big Cottonwood come into view here, and the trail begins passing through a couple of high mountain meadows.

Past the meadows, the trail has one more section of uphill before Lake Desolation comes into view. This is a stunning area.

Optional Loop
To the Beartrap Top (1 mile)
If wanting to descend Beartrap Fork (recommended), the goal is to reach the ridgeline east of the lake. The easiest option is to continue on the main trail on the left (north) side of the lake to the ridge, then go right along the ridge to the well-defined junction at the top of Beartrap Fork, the descent canyon. This section of trail is commonly used by bicyclists.

A much less used option is to follow an old well-defined social trail on the right side of the lake that also climbs to the ridge. Once on the ridge, be sure to follow the ridge north/east to the junction of the main trail and Beartrap Fork.

Down Beartrap (2.3 miles)
The trail down Beartrap is easy to follow and starts as a steep, thigh-busting descent. About 1/2 way down, the trail levels a bit as it meanders down along the stream. Near the main road, several old jeep roads split off in different directions. Always stay on the well-defined main trail that heads down.

To the Trailhead (1.6 miles)
Once at the main Big Cottonwood Canyon road, the trailhead is 1.6 miles down the canyon. Hopefully, you have a car spotted, or are a better hitchhiker than I am! If you have to walk it, it goes surprisingly quickly.