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Ok. You hiked to Lake Blanche. Yeah. So has, like, everybody. It’s the Mona Lisa of hikes in the Wasatch, gotta get that sundial shot for the ’gram. Which is why you’ve never even heard of Broads Fork, or maybe you saw the trail sign on your way up to your precious Blanche and thought, “That looks dumb.” Well, you’re dumb.
The Broads Fork Trail starts at the same trailhead as Blanche. Next time you watch the Was-Angeles traffic starting up to Blanche, take the trail less traveled.
Although … there is a reason why it’s less travelled. It’s a butt-kicker of a hike. Broads Fork is a 4.5-mile out-and-back that gains 2,100 feet of elevation. The payoff is a spectacular high-mountain cirque where Twin Peaks, Dromedary Peak and O'Sullivan Peak rise thousands of feet above the valley floor.
Section 1: The Forest Climb (0.0–1.5 miles)
This hike starts climbing right from the jump through a cool forest of fir, pine and aspen. The grade is consistent and often steep, gaining elevation quickly above Big Cottonwood Canyon. The sound of rushing water follows you much of the way as the trail parallels Broads Fork Creek far below.
Watch for: Plenty of shade and a lush atmosphere that feels more Pacific Northwest than Utah.
Section 2: Bridges, Waterfalls and Riparian Habitat (1.5–2.0 miles)
Around the midway point, the trail crosses a picturesque footbridge near a small cascade. The forest begins to thin and the creek becomes more visible. In early summer, snowmelt transforms this section into a vibrant corridor of rushing water, wildflowers and dense greenery.
Watch for: Columbine, lupine, paintbrush and other wildflowers from late June through August.
Section 3: The Meadow Basin (2.0–2.3 miles)
One of the great reveals in the Wasatch occurs as the trail suddenly leaves the trees and enters the upper Broads Fork basin. Beaver ponds and wet meadows spread across the valley floor. Willow-lined streams braid through the landscape while steep talus slopes rise toward the surrounding peaks.
Watch for: Moose, mule deer, yellow-bellied marmots, American pikas, red foxes and soaring golden eagles. During summer, the meadows bloom with Colorado blue columbine, lupine, Indian paintbrush, elephant's head lousewort and monkshood, while willows, mountain alder and groves of aspen frame the creek and wetlands.
The Payoff
At the upper end of the basin, hikers stand beneath a dramatic cirque dominated by Twin Peaks, Dromedary Peak and O'Sullivan Peak. The peaks soar above the meadow, creating one of the most photogenic mountain amphitheaters in the central Wasatch. Avalanche paths scar the surrounding slopes and, if you time it right, it’s a carpet of wildflowers. Take that, Lake Blanche.
Broads Fork Trail
Distance: 4.5 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 2,100 feet
Difficulty: Strenuous
The Payoff: Exceptional
Crowds: Moderate
Family Friendly: No
Dog Friendly: No
Wildflowers: Popping
For Peak Baggers
The Broads Fork basin serves as the approach route for the ascent of Twin Peaks, one of the most prominent mountains on Salt Lake City's skyline. Continuing beyond the maintained trail requires an additional 3,000-plus feet of climbing over talus and steep terrain, transforming the outing into a demanding 8.5- to 9-mile summit adventure with more than 5,000 feet of elevation gain.
Getting There
Drive east up Big Cottonwood Canyon on State Route 190 for approximately 4.5 miles. Park at the Mill B South Fork Trailhead, the same lot used by hikers heading to Lake Blanche. The Broads Fork Trail begins on the west side of the parking area, opposite the more heavily traveled Lake Blanche route. Arrive early on summer weekends; parking fills quickly.
