One of my very favorite summer traditions is packing up the kids every Monday morning, picking up Einstein Bagel’s Monday special, and heading up to the mountains to explore!

I’ve compiled a list of some of our go-to Utah hikes and I hope it’s a good resource for you as you plan adventures with your kids!

All of these hikes are kid friendly. I’ve done them all with my four little kids, usually with a baby on my back and a four, six, and nine year old hiking along. I’ve rated them based on the hiking abilities of my kids. So, moderate means moderately hard for my four year old, therefore it might be super easy for your 11-year-old. Know what I’m saying?

Anyway, I hope you find this list to be helpful. And don’t forget that I post about our adventures daily on instagram @wander_and_scout. I’d love for you to follow along!

SILVER LAKE—Big Cottonwood Canyon–*Easy
This one mile loop is a popular trail around a beautiful lake with areas of shade and sun. It’s a very easy, flat trail with a boardwalk portion of the trail that is stroller/wheelchair accessible. We’ve seen all sorts of different wildlife here. This is a great introductory hike for new little hikers. It’s definitely a popular trail and can be busy on the weekends! Here’s a link with  more info.

BELLS CANYON LOWER RESERVOIR–Mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon–**Moderate**
This 3 mile out and back trail is a great mix of hills, flat areas, and a few switch backs leading to a beautiful reservoir. It’s a great spot to stop and picnic and refuel before heading back down the mountain. There are some beautiful views of the valley from this trail. It can be quite hot in the summer months so I recommend going early so you’ll be hiking in the shade of the mountain, plus you’ll beat the crowds since this is a popular trail.

There are two trailheads for this hike, one is on Wasatch Blvd in Sandy and the Granite Trailhead (the one we did) is at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon. The parking lot is small and fills up fast but there is additional overflow parking on the right hand side if you continue east as you head toward the canyon.

More info here.

LISA FALLS–Little Cottonwood Canyon–*Easy*
This is a quick and easy 1 mile roundtrip hike takes you uphill to some waterfalls. There are some rocky drop offs at the top so you’ll want to keep a close eye on little ones, but over all it’s a great hike for all ages.

More info here.

BATTLE CREEK FALLS-Pleasant Grove–*Easy*
This is an easy 1.4 mile hike suitable for all ages that leads up to a waterfall. Bring clothes and shoes that can get wet since it’s fun to splash in the falls. This can be a pretty popular hike so it’s best to get an early start on a weekday. It’s also hot in the summer sun, so plan accordingly.

More info here.

STEWART FALLS–Provo Canyon–**Moderate**
This 4.2 mile out and back hike is right by Sundance and Aspen grove and it’s a great one for ambitious little hikers. The uphill trail leads to a beautiful waterfall with sprawling vistas down the canyon.

More info here.

SCOUT FALLS–American Fork Canyon–**Moderate**
This is a breathtakingly beautiful hike at the base of Mt. Timpanogos with groves of aspens, wild flowers, and scenic vistas. The 3 mile round trip hike is best for motivated little hikers and the reward at the top is a rushing waterfall and incredible views. This is the same trailhead as the Mt. Timpanogas hike, so it can be extremely busy on the weekends. I’d definitely recommend going on a week day! Park at the Timpanooke Campground parking lot and take the trail right by the restrooms.

More info here.

BLOODS LAKE–Big Cottonwood Canyon, Guardsman Pass–*Easy*
This is one of my very favorite hikes, especially in July when the wildflowers are showing off. It’s a quick little downhill jaunt to the gorgeous lake surrounded by evergreens. You can bring swimsuits to dip into the freezing cold water or explore around the lake where there’s a rope swing. The elevation is very high so bring a sweater even in the middle of summer just in case it’s chilly. I’d recommend waiting until July for this one since the snow will linger a long time up there.

More info here.

DONUT FALLS–Big Cottonwood Canyon–*Easy/Moderate*
I’ve honestly never completed this 3.7 mile hike.  I’m usually hiking with all of my kids on a weekday while Dan is at work and I haven’t been able to cross the stream on my own with all the kids. That being said, it’s a beautiful trail that is quite popular so be prepared for crowds on a weekend.

More info here.

CECRET LAKE–Little Cottonwood Canyon–*Easy*
Mid-late July is a gorgeous time to hike this 1.7 mile trail when the wildflowers are in bloom. One important thing to note is that this hike is not accessible until July 1st (or later) when the roads are open. The trail leads up to a pretty little lake great for picnicking.  There is very limited parking and it’s a popular trail so try to visit early on a weekday. There is a free shuttle service offered on weekends from Alta.

More info here.

ROCKY MOUTH TRAIL–Sandy, Utah–*Easy*
This quick and easy uphill trail that begins in a residential area leads to some waterfalls that are fun to explore. Find more info here.