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Lower Bell Canyon Reservoir
4.8 ★★★★★ 626 Google reviews · Running trail in Sandy, Utah · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- 1 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Lower Bell Canyon Reservoir's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Kid-friendly hiking area offering views of a reservoir, valleys, and abundant wildlife.
What runners say about Lower Bell Canyon Reservoir
“the lake is beautiful and clear and you’ll see ducks all around like it’s a movie.”
“Fun, fairly easy hike that should take you about twenty-thirty minutes at a leisurely pace from the parking lot to get to the reservoir.”
Highly recommend the first mile is a moderately step hike until you hit the lake. If you'd like to continue onwards to waterfall and resuvour is about 3-6 mile occasionally step hike. Highly recommend, it's a gorgeous hike beautiful views and plenty of fresh water.
Awesome nature and views for a hiking. You can see mountains and lakes. Stepping in the water with barefoot is so refreshing. The only downside I think is the starting of the hike that the path is too narrow, each group have to walk in line formation. And if another group is crossing, you or they have to wait to pass.
Absolutely love this hike. Would recommend to everyone. It's a quick 1.3 miles up to a small, but beautiful reservoir. You hike to one side of the water and can circle all the way around the reservoir. My 5 year old did it just fine. The hardest part is actually the very beginning.
The best! 15 minutes hike to a world class lake in the mountains setting? Amazing! Don't bring your dog. This is a watershed and there are other good options like Ferguson canyon nearby.
Trail conditions & character
“Love to hike here, the reservoir is nice to walk around, but if you decide to go up to the waterfall there is a spot right before it I call "the stairway of hell.”
“And it’s at a very high elevation (like 1800 meters above sea level), so you will be breathless unless you’ve acclimated or you run marathons.”
“Once we reached the lake, we stopped for a bit to let our daughter play and then hiked around the lake before heading back to the parking lot.”
“This is a protected watershed site so no dogs allowed.”
“Having better than just basic everyday shoes helps to get through the rocky terrain.”
“Very nice views with the short loop that I was on with a group.”
“And it’s at a very high elevation (like 1800 meters above sea level), so you will be breathless unless you’ve acclimated or you run marathons.”
Plan your run at Lower Bell Canyon Reservoir
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- Loop distance1 mi back to where you parked
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–10 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–10 PM |
Running trails near Sandy
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Bell Canyon Boulders Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 537 reviews
Hikes to the Bell Canyon Reservoir, with views of the valley, flowers, and a waterfall, plus longer hikes to Twin Peaks.
Bell Canyon Granite Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,169 reviews
Family-friendly hike featuring waterfalls and valley views.
Dimple Dell East Trailhead
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Well-kept trail system for hiking, dog-walking and mountain biking, with mountain vistas.
Granite Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 377 reviews
Quiet neighborhood park with a kids' playground and mountain trails.
Dimple Dell Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 74 reviews
Area for hiking on meandering bark or dirt/sand trails through scrub oak and grass with views.
