Grotto Falls – Payson Canyon – Utah

Grotto Falls – a short hike up Payson Canyon in Utah. Easy and family friendly, this trail leads you to a small waterfall.

Living in Utah, we are blessed with all kinds of outdoor activities, all within minutes of where we live. But with 3 children 4 years old and younger, it is sometimes hard to find activities that are easy enough for such little ones. But – there are some great locations!

Grotto Falls up Payson Canyon is one of them. A few weeks ago when my family went camping, we headed down the mountain a bit to the Grotto Trail that leads to Grotto Falls. The path is pretty short – well under a mile round trip. It was easy enough for Abbi to hike through, and while both of the little ones were carried, I’m sure that Easton could have hiked a lot of it himself as well.

Just a few miles up Payson Canyon, this short hike leads you to a small waterfall and cave that has been carved out from the waterfall. The water is cold, but the kids all had fun wading their feet in the shallow pool at the bottom of the waterfall. I have heard that in the spring, the water is a little higher and faster with the spring runoff, but it was very pleasant in the middle of the summer.

The hike is fairly easy, but it does have several places where you have to cross the stream on logs that have been placed across the water. The kids all thought it was fun, and the logs have been flattened out which makes it easy for the kids to cross. It can get busy at times in the summer, so be prepared for others to be with you on the trail and in the grotto.

If you find yourself up Payson canyon, I think this is a great spot to explore!

Grotto Falls
about 7 miles up the Mount Nebo Scenic Route