Parking & Trailheads

Where to park (and when to arrive)

Parking sets the tone for a Bells Canyon hike. The trail is one of the most popular on the Wasatch Front, the Granite and Boulders lots are small, and the surrounding streets are strictly no-parking — but the newer Preservation Trailhead added a 133-stall lot that changed the game. Here's how to actually get a spot.

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Do not park on Wasatch Boulevard or in the neighborhoods. Street parking around all three trailheads is prohibited, signed, and enforced with tickets and towing. If the lots are full, your options are to wait, come back later, or get dropped off — not to improvise a spot.

The three trailheads

Pick your starting point

All three converge at the Lower Reservoir within the first mile, so the choice mostly comes down to parking odds and how steep you like your warm-up.

Preservation Trailhead

Largest lot · best facilitiesFree

Location: east side of Wasatch Boulevard about a block south of Little Cottonwood Road (9400 South), Sandy — the Bell Canyon Preservation Trailhead, opened in 2022.

133 parking stalls — by far the biggest lot serving the canyon, and the last to fill
Year-round restrooms with flush toilets, plus a drinking fountain
Bike rack, benches, picnic tables, and a paved all-abilities loop trail
The default choice for most hikers — best parking odds and amenities

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Granite Trailhead

Small lot + overflowFree

Location: 3450 E Little Cottonwood Road (9400 South), Sandy — on the right side of the road just below the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon.

Small lot (roughly a dozen cars), with a city overflow lot just around the corner on Wasatch Blvd
Fills very early on summer and fall weekends
Gentlest start of the three approaches (≈0.7 mi to the reservoir)
The classic starting point for falls and Upper Reservoir hikes

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Boulders Trailhead

Smallest lotFree

Location: east side of Wasatch Boulevard at about 10122 South, Sandy, among the namesake granite boulders.

Very small lot — arrive early, especially weekends and holidays
Shortest, steepest route up to the Lower Reservoir
No parking anywhere on Wasatch Blvd or nearby residential streets
Good choice for a quick sunrise reservoir loop on a weekday

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Timing

When the lots fill

When	What to expect	Strategy
Summer & fall weekends	Granite and Boulders typically full by 7–8 am; the 133-stall Preservation lot holds out longest but can still fill on peak mornings	Arrive before 7 am, head straight to Preservation, or come after 4 pm for an evening reservoir hike
Weekday mornings	Usually spots available before 9 am; busiest at sunrise in summer	The most reliable window for falls and Upper Reservoir hikes
Spring runoff season	Waterfall traffic spikes on warm May–June weekends	Treat weekends like mid-summer: dawn arrival or evening visit
Winter	Lightest demand of the year; lots rarely fill	Watch for ice in the lots and on the lower trail; bring traction

Good to know

Parking playbook

If the lots are full

Start at Preservation: with 133 stalls it's the best first stop; then try Granite (plus its overflow lot) and Boulders — turnover is constant on the short reservoir hike
Get dropped off: rideshare or a friend at the Granite lot solves the problem entirely
Shift your day: the reservoir at golden hour is arguably better than at noon anyway
Never park on the boulevard shoulder, in the bike lane, or in the subdivision — towing here is not a bluff

At the trailhead

No fees or passes required at any of the three lots
Year-round flush restrooms at the Preservation Trailhead; none up-canyon — plan accordingly
Drinking fountain at Preservation; no water sources at the other trailheads or on the trail — bring everything you need
Don't leave valuables visible in your car
Gates and lot hours can change seasonally — check Sandy City notices