Salt Lake City, Utah
Recognized across the world as a premier skiing destination with resorts like Snowbird, Alta, and Park City less than an hour from the airport, Salt Lake City's Wasatch Front is also home to word-class hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, backpacking and camping. Plus, you're never more than a few hours' drive from other Utah adventure playgrounds like Moab, Zion National Park, and the Uinta Mountains.
Top Spots in and near Salt Lake City
-
Salt Lake City, Utah
Hike Mt. Aire
4.54 mi / 2000 ft gainMount Aire, standing around 8600 ft, certainly isn't the most inspiring peak in or around Salt Lake City, but to me it serves as a quick summit to catch the sunset when I'm short on time.Getting There:Start by heading up Mill Creek Canyon Rd. After passing the ranger booth, drive about 5.5 miles ...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Climb West Slabs of Mount Olympus
5.0Park at the top of Thousand Oaks Drive, and make your way to the dirt path heading east. It will be a well maintained, well-covered single dirt track which takes you to the base of a really impressive couloir. Follow the trail until you reach the couloir / rocky gully. You will then see the West ...Read more -
Centerville, Utah
Hike to the Rope Swing on Deuel Creek Trail
5.02.6 mi / 646 ft gainNot only is this hike absolutely gorgeous, but it also has an epic rope swing at the end! To get to the trailhead you'll need a vehicle that can handle rough roads—you have to drive up a bit on the side of the mountain to get to the trailhead. The beginning of the hike is marked with a little bul...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Hike Neff's Canyon
4.3From the parking lot, you will follow a 4-wheel drive track that runs straight up to the beginning of the different trailheads. You can also take an actual trail up to that same spot, situated below the 4-wheel gravel track on the righthand side.There are a few different trails that merge togethe...Read more -
Holladay, Utah
Mt. Olympus Trail
4.76.46 mi / 4124 ft gainThe trail begins right on Wasatch Blvd. and after the first 0.5 miles you're into the Superior Wilderness. This is a very strenuous hike and you will be gaining elevation the whole way from the parking lot (4830 ft) to the summit (9026 ft). About .2 mile from the summit you will reach a saddle....Read more -
Centerville, Utah
Hike to the Parrish Creek Pictographs
4.71 mi / 200 ft gainThe petroglyphs are pretty easy to find and it is such a short hike you can do it in about 45 minutes. To get to the trailhead, drive to Centerville, Utah and take 400 N all the way towards the mountain. The road with curve to the right with a small dirt road heading to the left. Take the dirt ro...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Little Mountain in Emigration Canyon
4.44 mi / 440 ft gainJust off of Highway 80, head up Emigration Canyon Road to the trailhead. There is a large parking area on the opposite side of the road from the trailhead. The parking area comes equipped with a bathroom if you need one. To get started, cross the road and start heading uphill. Keep in mind that...Read more -
Holladay, Utah
Winter Hike to Mt. Olympus
5.07 mi / 4200 ft gainApproach: You can access the well traveled Mount Olympus Trail the same as you would any other season. Park in the trailhead lot or along Wasatch Blvd. The trail starts on the south side of the parking lot.Route Description: Even in the winter the Mount Olympus trail should be pretty straightforw...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Grandeur Peak East Trail
4.45.97 mi / 2513 ft gainThis is the peak that can be seen from the valley located between Millcreek Canyon and Parleys Canyon. There are 2 trails that head up to this peak, but the one up Millcreek Canyon at the top of Church Fork is by far the more popular/enjoyable one (and the one described here). The other one heads...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake Overlook via Desolation Trail
4.14.76 mi / 1729 ft gainThis popular trail follows a portion of the Desolation Trail leaving from Mill Creek Canyon. The trail to the overlook is 4.75 miles round trip with a 1700 ft elevation gain. You begin at the Desolation Trailhead and then turn around once you have a view of the Salt Lake Valley. It is a perfect h...Read more -
Salt Lake County, Utah
Hike Thayne Canyon
6 mi / 2800 ft gainIf you want to avoid the crowds heading to the Salt Lake Overlook and are looking for a bigger challenge with better views, Thayne Canyon is the ticket. The trail is 6 miles roundtrip with 2,800 feet of elevation gain. It’s a great evening hike and the peak is a nice place to watch the sunset. Th...Read more -
Holladay, Utah
Hike Heughs Canyon (Olympus Waterfall)
4.32 mi / 1000 ft gainHeughs Canyon starts right on the edge of Salt Lake City, but within minutes, you’re in a shady forest next to a gurgling stream. This is the prefect after-work hike that can be enjoyed year-round. Two miles round-trip and just over 1,000 feet, the path takes you to a beautiful waterfall that flo...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Hike Porter Fork, Millcreek Canyon
5.06.8 mi / 3250 ft gainPorter Fork starts at the aptly named Porter Fork Trailhead about 4 miles up Millcreek Canyon. It’s actually Porter Fork Road for the first 1.5 miles of the trail. This section is a pleasant, paved path winding up through a dozen or so cabins. You’ll gain about 1,000 feet. If you make it past the...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Trail Run Burch Hollow Trail
5.3 mi / 2412 ft gainThe Burch Hollow trailhead is about a quarter mile up the Pipeline trail in Millcreek Canyon. After hiking along the switchbacks of the Pipeline trail, you'll see a sharp turn in the trail that leads you up the side of the mountain. This turn can easily be missed so keep a good look out for it. C...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Kayak at Little Dell Reservoir
3.8Located just 20 minutes from the heart of Salt Lake City, Little Dell Reservoir is the perfect quick getaway for a recreational paddler or angler.The reservoir is surrounded by mountains in Parleys Canyon, just off of Interstate 80 and along Utah State Route 65. The parking and ranger station are...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Hike Bowman Fork to Baker Pass
5.08.3 mi / 3375 ft gainTo get to the trailhead, drive up Millcreek Canyon about 4.5 miles until you reach the Terraces Picnic area. Turn here and drive up the small road until you reach the parking lot by the bathrooms. You'll see the Bowman Fork trailhead marker next to the parking lot. The trail climbs steadily and i...Read more
Only-In-Nevada Adventures
Discover the wide-open heart of Nevada. With 60 million acres of breathtaking landscapes, natural hot springs, epic rock climbing, star-studded skies, and so much more—the Silver State is yours to explore. So go on, get a little out there.
Learn More