Big Cottonwood Canyon, Natural canyon in Salt Lake County, United States

Big Cottonwood Canyon is a 15-mile (24 km) V-shaped canyon in the Wasatch Range, 12 miles (19 km) southeast of Salt Lake City. Big Cottonwood Creek formed the canyon, which has exposed rock forms and slopes covered in dark conifers, with snow on the upper ridges and summits. The Big Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway (SR-190) runs its length to Guardsman Pass.

The canyon's documented history centres on Storm Mountain, where R.D. Maxfield Jr. carved out a home for himself and his family more than a century ago. The site later became a picnic spot, and in the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps built a small stage there for public events. In November 2011 a proposal for a gondola linking Solitude through the canyon to Canyons Resort drew criticism over terrain and watershed impacts.

The canyon is home to two major ski resorts, Brighton and Solitude, which have shaped how people in Utah spend their winters since they opened in the mid-20th century. These places have become gathering spots where locals and visitors return year after year for snow sports.

A scenic road through the valley provides marked trails, camping areas, and picnic spots for different activities. Pets have restrictions to protect the water supply, so visitors should plan accordingly.

The Wasatch shooting star, Dodecatheon dentatum var. utahense, is known only from Big Cottonwood Canyon. Because the canyon is a watershed supplying drinking water to the Wasatch Front, pets and other domesticated animals are not allowed. In November 2011, a proposal for a gondola linking Solitude through the canyon to Canyons Resort drew criticism over sensitive terrain and watershed impacts.