Big Cottonwood Canyon

Mystic Water, originally uploaded by LeggNet.

Big Cottonwood Canyon is a canyon in the Wasatch Range roughly 25 miles southeast of Salt Lake City in the U.S. state of Utah. The canyon's entrance is a few miles north of Little Cottonwood Canyon.

The 15-mile long canyon provides hiking, biking , picnicking, rock-climbing, camping and fishing in the summer. During winter its two ski resorts, Brighton and Solitude, are popular among skiers and snowboarders.

Hiking to the mountain lakes contained in the canyon is popular, with many trails leading to lakes such as Mary, Martha and Katherine. The canyon's most popular hiking trail leads to Lakes Blanche, Florence and Lillian. The trail is 3.1 miles long and is considered strenuous.

Big Cottonwood Canyon is a watershed canyon, therefore pets and other animals aren't allowed.

[source: Wikipedia]