Big Cottonwood Canyon is on the east side of the Salt Lake City Valley. Get there by taking I-215 to the east, taking exit 6 off the interstate and heading east.

Follow 6200 South which becomes Wasatch Blvd for 1.8 miles to the stop light and signs for Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Turn left at the light and reset your odometer.

Drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon. The trailhead is 12.2 miles up the canyon at Solitude Entrance 1. The trail starts on the west side of the parking lot.

To Honeycomb Fork (1.3 miles from the parking lot)
Enter the ski resort and go to the west end of the parking lot. Follow the Queen Bess single track trail marked with a blue marker. It goes under the ski lift, then crosses a dirt road. Go left on the dirt road as it begins to climb a bit. It continues west, then south at it bends around the edge of the mountain. A single-track trail goes off on the left here, stay right on the dirt road.

The road soon reaches the base of the ski lift and becomes a single track. When the single-track divides, go left. (right goes to Silver Fork)

To the Top of Honeycomb Fork (1.8 miles)
The trail now begins to climb up Honeycomb Fork in earnest, with a few very rocky sections. This section is steep and punctuated by lovely meadows interspersed with forested sections. There are no side trails, so navigation is easy. When the Honeycomb Cliffs come into view, several tailing piles and old mining ruins are visible. Continue up, with the trail steepness not relenting until crossing the ridge to a ski lift.

Down Solitude (3.5 miles)
From the ski lift, follow the dirt road down. Be sure, after about 5 minutes of walking, to go left toward Solitude, not right toward Brighton. This is well signed for skiers. Continue down the dirt road. It meanders down, passing Lake Solitude en route. If in doubt, always stay on the most used dirt road going down.

Not far after Lake Solitude, the road climbs a little bit and passes the Round House Café (closed in summers). After the Round House, the road goes west, then makes a bend and heads back east. A lesser used dirt road joins on the left after the bend. This is a scenic route back to the parking lot, though it is a bit rocky in spots. Follow the road back down to the parking lot.