Damage from winter avalanches now being revealed in Little Cottonwood Canyon

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Little Cottonwood Canyon was hit particularly hard by Utah’s record-setting 2022-2023 winter season. Abundant snowfall caused numerous avalanches, which led to canyon closures that lasted for days in some cases.

As the winter snowpack continues to melt, the damage from those avalanches is now being revealed.

“I think it’s the worst I’ve seen,” said Tony Korologos. “I mean, I’ve seen a few big winters like this, but obviously this is the biggest one we’ve ever had.”

Korologos is a native Utahn who’s been skiing and recreating in the canyon for most of his life. He knew avalanche damage would likely be considerable even before the snow started to melt.

“I’ve been thinking about it all winter,” Korologos said. “The thought of the possible damage has been on my mind for quite a while.”

Korologos recently shot drone video of damage he saw by Tanners Flat Campground. The video shows countless downed trees and structures, like bathrooms, obliterated by avalanches.

“Hundreds of trees just sawed off,” Korologos said. “It’s pretty amazing.”

RELATED: Unrelenting avalanches cause historic shutdown in Little Cottonwood Canyon

Forest Service officials confirmed the damage and said they’re likely to discover more as more snow melts.

“Across the forest, we’ve been unable to assess everything but we know we’re finding damage here and there,” said David Whittekiend, forest supervisor with the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. “This was a big year for avalanches. The canyons were closed probably more than they ever have been. We had late season avalanches. It was really a pretty big year.”

Korologos said the damage, which is easily visible from the road, has people asking questions about cleaning things up.

“I had a gentleman up here asking me if they’re gonna clear the trees or what are they gonna do about the mess,” Korologos said. “It’s nature. This is what happens. It’s been happening since long before we were here. I don’t think you need to do anything."

RELATED: PHOTOS: Avalanches tear out trees, threaten resorts, close Little Cottonwood indefinitely

Whittekiend confirmed that clean-up will only take place around trails and campgrounds.

“We don’t want piles of material just sitting around,” Whittekiend said. “It blocks trails so we will clean them. Our campgrounds, we try to have them nice and clean and well-managed.”

As for other areas of the forest, Whittekiend said they’ll let nature take its course.

“We’re not gonna go into a natural avalanche path that doesn’t affect one of our campgrounds or a trail and do any work,” he said. “That would just be part of nature.”

Whittekiend also warned that access to favorite trails and campgrounds will likely be delayed this year as crews assess and mitigate affected areas.

“It’s going to be a while before we get a lot of trails open and we’re assessing those areas,” he said.

MORE: Utahns urged to expect unexpected as historic snowfall preludes unpredictable summer

Korologos has taken several trips into the backcountry this spring and said damage is just as bad in those places.

“In places that are pretty high traffic for the backcountry, I’ve seen downed trees and damage that I’ve never seen before,” Korologos said. “This is in places you wouldn’t think you’d have big avalanches.”

Forest Service officials said they hope to get help from volunteers this spring and summer to help repair and improve trails that were impacted by the harsh winter. For more information on volunteering, you can visit the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest’s website.