Stay Wild at Bells Canyon Reservoir

This year, the goal is a peak. Together. The whole crew.

Getting there means stacking up the miles — longer hikes, more elevation, and learning how to manage snacks, water, and attitudes when you've got a full crew on the trail. Hiking season arrived early this year, which gave us the green light to start preparing.

First stop: Bells Canyon Reservoir.

Why Bells Canyon?

Hey, it's Tyler — a.k.a. Granola Guy. Welcome back to the Stay Wild: Adventure Report Series, where I share guides to hikes, ski lines, backpacking trails, and bike routes that keep us exploring. My goal is simple: help you feel ready, motivated, and fueled (with Granola Girl Granola in your pack, of course) for your next adventure.

Simple. Bells Canyon is close to home. It's also familiar. Two years ago we hiked to the waterfall, a much more strenuous hike. So this shorter version to the reservoir was an easy sell.

A cool spring day made for the perfect experience on this mostly exposed track.

Trail Stats

Distance	Elevation Gain	Difficulty	Best Season	Time
1.5–2 miles RT	400–500 ft	Easy–Moderate	Apr–May	.75–1 hrs

Trailhead & Starting Out

The relatively new parking option at the Bells Canyon Preservation Trailhead makes this such an easier experience. Parking is plentiful and there's a bathroom, which is almost always needed.

Getting onto the correct path is always the challenge. There's a lovely ADA accessible path that loops back on itself, and we've accidentally circled it before.

Bells Canyon is a watershed, so no dogs or swimming on this adventure.

Breaking Down The Hike

The Climb Up

The first stretch is a steady push up to the reservoir. Rocky switchbacks make for a good warm-up — testing balance, finding rhythm, and calling out the views.

The kids kept shouting "Salt Lake City!" the whole way up, watching the valley open up all the way to downtown.

This time of year, the mountains are starting to turn green and vibrant again. It reminds us of our lush green upbringings and feels like a reset every spring.

The Side Quest

When we got to the Reservoir the youngest pointed at a boulder above the trail and said, "I want to go up there!"

It was a steep, sandy scramble — the kind that makes you re-learn to step on solid rock for sure footing. I'm not always one for going off-trail, but the view was worth it. And when her brother followed her up, something magical happened. They figured it out together.

Around the Reservoir

There's a high route around the lake that winds through trees and over a bridge. We ended up on the lower route instead — which included a fun stream crossing and some mud the kids would not classify as fun.

The Way Down

We met a friendly little squirrel on our way out, looking for a snack and posing for pictures. The kids were thrilled.

Final Thoughts & Tips

• Bring Snacks — so many benches to sit and enjoy the views
• Make the Loop — walking around the entire reservoir makes this more of an adventure
• Entertain the Side Quest — exploring the side-trails made this one extra fun
• Check the Trail — easy to start on the wrong path, so double-check at the trailhead

A perfect kid-friendly adventure early season to get back in the swing of hiking together.

The peak is still ahead. But the crew is ready.