Little Cottonwood Creek

Little Cottonwood Creek carves through one of Utah's most iconic canyon corridors — the same drainage that leads to Snowbird and Alta ski resorts. The creek is smaller and more intimate than its neighboring Big Cottonwood, but what it lacks in volume it makes up for in character. Wild brown trout populate the tighter canyon reaches above the valley floor, holding in small plunge pools and pocket water formed by the canyon's granite boulders. The water runs cold and clear, fed by snowmelt and high-altitude springs. The fishing demands precise short-line presentations and careful wading on slick, moss-covered rocks. Best accessed in late spring after runoff clears and again in early fall when temperatures drop. The canyon's sheer granite walls make for dramatic scenery, and the relative difficulty of access keeps pressure low compared to the Provo.