Big Cottonwood Creek

Boat Ramps: 0
Access Points: 12
Species: 6

Big Cottonwood Creek is a significant waterway located in Utah that offers excellent fishing opportunities for anglers of all skill levels. The creek flows through Big Cottonwood Canyon in the Wasatch Mountains and is an important water resource in the area. Known for its clear, cold waters and beautiful scenery, Big Cottonwood Creek supports a healthy population of trout and provides both recreational opportunities and ecological value to the surrounding watershed. The creek is the third largest watershed tributary west of the Sacramento River and the largest undammed watershed on the west side of the Sacramento Valley, with a drainage area covering 938 square miles and an annual runoff of 586,000 acre-feet.

Utah licenses and regulations4 to check before you go

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at Big Cottonwood Creek and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

Rainbow Trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Brown Trout

Salmo trutta

Brook Trout

Salvelinus fontinalis

Cutthroat Trout

Oncorhynchus clarkii

Common Carp

Cyprinus carpio

White Bass

Morone chrysops

Fish stocking schedule

All stockings · 4

Cutthroat Trout2,704 fish · 2.3 inSep 21, 2022
Cutthroat Trout4,513 fish · 2.3 inOct 13, 2021
Cutthroat Trout3,000 fish · 2.2 inOct 7, 2020
Cutthroat Trout3,008 fish · 2.6 inOct 2, 2019

Source

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Updated Nov 13, 2026. Sizes are the length the agency reports. Dates are as precise as the agency reports them.

Open stocking page

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on Big Cottonwood Creek. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

Know where you can legally fish on Big Cottonwood Creek

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

Utah licenses and regulations

Utah Boating Regulations

When using any type of watercraft to access a body of water, it is important to follow all federal, state, and local rules and regulations. These rules and regulations include boat permitting and licensing, invasive species inspections and stamps, life jacket and PFD rules, motor size and horsepower restrictions, noise limitations, restrictions on personal watercraft, and many more. Visit the web link below for the most current rules and regulations for this body of water.

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Utah Fishing License

If you’re 12 years of age or older, you must purchase a fishing license or a combination license to fish in Utah.

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Utah Fishing Regulations

This river has a variety of species and regulations, including potential floating and/or watercraft restrictions. Because this river is specially managed for species, seasons, angling methods, and watercraft, it is strongly encouraged you check all federal, state, and local regulations before fishing. Visit any of the links below, inquire locally, or contact a local fly shop to learn current regulations and restrictions.

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Utah Stream Access Laws

The law does not allow recreational water users (including anglers, kayakers, tubers, hunters and others) to walk on the private bed of a public waterbody. This means that if you are fishing or recreating in public water that flows over private property closed to trespass, you may not walk on the land beneath the water without obtaining landowner permission.

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Take Big Cottonwood Creek with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

Use the map without signal
Download the map around Big Cottonwood Creek to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Big Cottonwood Creek to find where and when fish are biting for you.

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