The best waterfalls near Salt Lake City, Utah are Hidden Falls, Scout Falls, Provo River Falls and 6 more, ranked by visitor ratings and distance from the city. The closest is Hidden Falls, about 12 miles southeast of Salt Lake City.
For more waterfalls around Salt Lake City, browse the nearest towns: Cottonwood Heights, Granite, Snyderville, Cedar Hills, Lindon, Kamas, Orem, Manti. You can also see every waterfall on the Utah waterfalls page.
How we picked: We looked at the 9 publicly accessible Utah waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Salt Lake City that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
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1. Hidden Falls
12 miles southeast of Salt Lake City. Our top pick near the city 4.8 out of 5 from 49 reviews.
Salt Lake County, UT 84121 (GPS 40.6354, -111.7236)
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Hidden Falls is about 12 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, near Cottonwood Heights. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 49 Google reviews, and 88% of them give it five stars.
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2. Scout Falls
27 miles southeast of Salt Lake City. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 28 reviews.
Utah County, UT 84604 (GPS 40.4172, -111.6399)
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Scout Falls is about 27 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, near Cedar Hills. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 28 Google reviews, and 89% of them give it five stars. In short: "A 3-mi. roundtrip hike reaches this small, scenic waterfall in American Fork Canyon." Reviews most often mention climbing tree roots, steep slope, and great trails.
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3. Provo River Falls
50 miles east of Salt Lake City. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 112 reviews.
Summit County, UT 84036 (GPS 40.6566, -110.9454)
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Provo River Falls is about 50 miles east of Salt Lake City, near Kamas. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 112 Google reviews, and 93% of them give it five stars. Older records also call it Upper Provo Falls.
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4. Bridal Veil Falls
33 miles southeast of Salt Lake City. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 670 reviews.
Utah County, UT 84604 (GPS 40.3379, -111.6007)
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Bridal Veil Falls is about 33 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, near Orem. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 670 Google reviews, and 87% of them give it five stars. In short: "River canyon waterfall close to the highway with a paved trail & picnic area with tables." Reviews most often mention paved trail, walk to the falls, and steep hike.
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5. Upper Falls
33 miles southeast of Salt Lake City. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 29 reviews.
Utah County, UT 84604 (GPS 40.3440, -111.5906)
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Upper Falls is about 33 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, near Orem. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 29 Google reviews, and 83% of them give it five stars.
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6. Doughnut Falls
15 miles southeast of Salt Lake City. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 226 reviews.
Salt Lake County, UT 84121 (GPS 40.6297, -111.6547)
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Doughnut Falls is about 15 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, near Snyderville. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 226 Google reviews, and 85% of them give it five stars. In short: "Hiking through spruce & aspen forest to a cascade pouring through a rock hole & into a cave."
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7. Lisa Falls
16 miles southeast of Salt Lake City. Rated 4.6 out of 5 from 47 reviews.
Salt Lake County, UT 84092 (GPS 40.5727, -111.7277)
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Lisa Falls is about 16 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, near Granite. Visitors rate it 4.6 stars across 47 Google reviews, and 81% of them give it five stars. In short: "Cascading waterfall attainable by a short hiking path with boulders & mild elevation." Reviews most often mention short hike, steep hike, and amazing views. The USGS gazetteer describes it as: Approximate location.
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8. Stewarts Cascades
30 miles southeast of Salt Lake City. Rated 4.6 out of 5 from 18 reviews.
Utah County, UT 84604 (GPS 40.3863, -111.6038)
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Stewarts Cascades is about 30 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, near Lindon. Visitors rate it 4.6 stars across 18 Google reviews.
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9. Smooth Rock Falls
50 miles east of Salt Lake City. Rated 3.8 out of 5 from 5 reviews.
Summit County, UT (GPS 40.6004, -110.9676)
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Smooth Rock Falls is about 50 miles east of Salt Lake City, near Kamas. Visitors rate it 3.8 stars across 5 Google reviews.
Waterfall Day Trips From Salt Lake City
| Waterfall | Distance | Nearest town | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hidden Falls | 12 mi southeast | Cottonwood Heights | 4.8 |
| Doughnut Falls | 15 mi southeast | Snyderville | 4.7 |
| Lisa Falls | 16 mi southeast | Granite | 4.6 |
| Scout Falls | 27 mi southeast | Cedar Hills | 4.8 |
| Stewarts Cascades | 30 mi southeast | Lindon | 4.6 |
| Upper Falls | 33 mi southeast | Orem | 4.8 |
| Bridal Veil Falls | 33 mi southeast | Orem | 4.8 |
| Smooth Rock Falls | 50 mi east | Kamas | 3.8 |
| Provo River Falls | 50 mi east | Kamas | 4.9 |
Straight-line distances from downtown Salt Lake City. Driving distances are longer, especially in the mountains.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best waterfall near Salt Lake City?
Hidden Falls tops our 2026 list. It is about 12 miles southeast of Salt Lake City and rated 4.8 stars from 49 Google reviews.
What is the closest waterfall to Salt Lake City?
Of the waterfalls on this list, Hidden Falls is the closest, about 12 straight-line miles southeast of the city, near Cottonwood Heights.
How many waterfalls are near Salt Lake City?
We track 9 publicly accessible, reviewed waterfalls in Utah within 100 miles of Salt Lake City, 8 of this list's picks within 50 miles. See every waterfall in the state on the Utah waterfalls page.
How was this list made?
We looked at the 9 publicly accessible Utah waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Salt Lake City that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
Are there waterfalls in southern Utah's desert?
Yes, though they are few. Lower and Upper Calf Creek Falls in Garfield County are spring-fed and flow year-round, and Cascade Falls in Kane County emerges from limestone on the Markagunt Plateau. Many other desert falls are pour-offs that run only after storms.
Summary
Hidden Falls is our top waterfall pick near Salt Lake City, rated 4.8 out of 5 and about 12 miles from the city. Ratings and review counts reflect public data at the time of writing and can change, and trail access and water levels vary through the year, so confirm conditions before you go.
In the Wasatch and Uintas, waterfalls peak with snowmelt, typically from late May through June, though big snow years can extend high flows into July. Lower-elevation falls such as Bridal Veil in Provo Canyon run earlier, while the Mirror Lake Highway to Provo River Falls usually stays closed by snow into late spring. Late summer flows drop considerably. In southern Utah, spring-fed Calf Creek flows year-round, and spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons to hike there because summer heat is intense. The summer monsoon, generally July through September, brings thunderstorms that can create temporary falls over canyon rims but also dangerous flash floods. Winter freezes many Wasatch falls into ice.
For more Utah waterfalls, see the full Utah waterfalls page, or read 13 Best Waterfalls in Utah, 10 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Utah and 5 Must-See Waterfalls in Utah.