The Dell Canyon area is rich in history. The first people to frequent this area were Native Americans for hundreds or even thousands of years before the first white settlers. Immigrant pioneers traveled through this area as part of the California Trail on their way to settle the West. The first group of pioneers to pass through Dell Canyon was the ill-fated Donner-Reed Party in 1846. The Mormon Pioneers who settled in the Salt Lake Valley used the trail from 1847 to 1860. The site was also used as a station for the Pony Express trail from 1860 to 1861, with a monument erected at Little Dell to commemorate this historic route.

While water quality preservation is the primary management goal of Little Dell Reservoir and the Parley's Canyon Protected Watershed, watershed conservation provides the added benefit of a pristine natural habitat and recreational escape from urban noise, pollution and pressures within 20 minutes of Salt Lake Valley.

The Little Dell Reservoir was built in 1993 for drinking water supply, flood control, and wildlife enhancement as a joint venture between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County. The reservoir and recreation area is operated and maintained by the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities.

This area is a Protected Watershed area: please recreate responsibly and protect your drinking water supply!

• Use restrooms
• Pick up Trash
• No swimming, bathing, or washing in the reservoir or streams
• Non-motorized boats only. Motorized boats are not allowed
• Take fish home to clean - Cleaning fish is not allowed
• Prevent Erosion - Stay on trails
• No potable water services
• No fires or charcoal grills allowed - propane and camp stoves only
• Dogs and other domesticated animals are prohibited

"What you see in the Watershed today you may drink tomorrow!"

Access from I-80 Parleys Canyon via the East Canyon Exit to State Route 65. The Little Dell Recreation Area is about 3 miles north on SR-65 past Mountain Dell Reservoir and Mountain Dell Golf Course, Access from Emigration Canyon Road over Little Mountain Pass to SR-65, turn north and go about ¼ mile to the Recreation Area entrance. Coming from East Canyon , Little Dell is about 6 miles south of the Big Mountain Summit on East Canyon Road (SR-65).

See the Canyon Park map for locations of picnic sites and amenities such as toilets.
Click here to see area map (PDF)

• Picnic areas fees are $5.00 a day. No overnight camping.
• Season Passes are available to purchase at the guard shack
  • Regular Season Pass - $50
  • Senior Citizen Season Pass - $25
• 56 picnic sites many ADA accessible. No large group picnic facilities.
• 2 hand boat launches
• 5 restrooms (men & women ADA accessible)
• Numerous trails for hiking and biking, including trailhead access to the historical California Trail , the Donner-Reed Trail cutoff, and the Mormon Pioneer Trail . A Pony Express Station was located at this site, with a monument erected to commemorate this historic route.

Pedestrian Access:

The Recreation Area is open to pedestrian access during daylight hours all year long.

Vehicle and Non-Motorized Boat Access:

The recreation area entrance gate is open 8:00 a.m. to dusk each day from Memorial Day Holiday weekend in May to the end of October.

Restricted Areas:

For public safety and security reasons, the dam as well as the water and shoreline area within 300 feet (100 meters) of the dam is restricted from public access. This area is under camera and patrol surveillance.

• Non-motorized boats are allowed on the reservoir under the following restrictions:
• Non-motorized boats only
• Hand launch only
• No docking facilities
• Boats must be clean prior to entering the recreation area and launching. Cleaning debris from boats in the reservoir or protected watershed is prohibited.

• Wind surfing is allowed on the reservoir under the following restrictions:
• Wind surfers must wear a full dry suit. All other body contact is prohibited as studies show that human body contact in drinking supply source waters lead to increased incidence of illness.  Wet suits, swim suits, and wading are not allowed.
• Hand launch only

The recreation area speed limit is 15 mph for all motorized and non-motorized travel (including bicycles).

Fishing is allowed on Little Dell Reservoir in accordance with the current fishing proclamation issued by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources . Please clean and dispose of fish waste outside the canyon to protect the water supply and keep the area clean for others.

 

• Anglers must wear clean waders while in the stream or lake. Fishing from a float tube is allowed with a dry suit or rubber waders (wet suits is not allowed).
• All Cutthroat Trout must be immediately released
• Artificial flies & lures only
• Brook Trout limit is 4
• NO CLEANING FISH ON SITE or anywhere in the protected watershed canyon

The Little Dell Reservoir site is within the Parley's Canyon protected watershed area and falls under the guidelines and restrictions of the Salt Lake City Chapter 17.04 Watershed Ordinance.  A violation of any of these restrictions is a Class B Misdemeanor.  Penalties are up to $1,800 and/or jail. Please help us keep the water supply clean by observing the watershed regulations!

Questions concerning the recreation area or reservations, please call Watershed Management at (801) 483-6705.