Are you planning a big adventure and need a boost getting ready for it? You came to the right place. This is my go-to when I’m preparing to climb a big mountain. It’s hard to find a steeper trail in the area (that’s not a game trail), and the West Face is usually free of snow early in the season.

The hike is 4.6 miles round-trip with an elevation gain of 3,200 feet. Park in the lot at the northern end of Wasatch Boulevard and start marching east up the obvious trail. There are a couple forks early on, just stay on the path that takes you straight up the mountain, because that’s how this trail rolls, straight up.

It’s an exposed route with very few trees, so I don’t recommend hiking midday in the summer. Stick to mornings or evenings. In the spring, wildflowers are abundant, and in the fall, the hillside bursts with reds and yellows. 

On top, you’re rewarded with fantastic views in every direction. To the south, Mount Olympus juts from the valley with its granite slabs, and to the west, you’ll see the entire Salt Lake Valley. If your knees aren’t interested in the steep descent, you could take the more frequented eastern trail down into Millcreek Canyon, but that requires a shuttle.