Nestled between the sprawling sparkle of the Great Salt Lake and the spectacularly steep-rising front of the Wasatch Mountains, Salt Lake City enjoys one of the most dramatic settings of any metropolis in the United States. Given the immediacy of the Wasatch Front, it’s little surprise both residents and visitors have absolutely world-class hiking at their fingertips here.
Below, we’ve detailed the nine best hiking spots in Salt Lake City, ranging from beginner-friendly spots to more challenging forays beyond the SLC front-country and covering both hinterland hikes and in-town possibilities.
1. Mount Olympus
- Trailhead Address/Location: Wasatch Blvd. (-40.6237, -118.806)
- Difficulty: Strenuous
One of the great signal peaks of the Salt Lake Valley, Mount Olympus forms the 9,793-foot high point of an eponymous federal wilderness area covering more than 15,000 acres and boasting better than 40 miles of trails. The route to the summit from town covers only 3.75 miles, however, it involves over 4,000 feet of elevation gain. The summit is well-regarded to worth the trek given the sweeping views and backcountry ambience.
2. Neff’s Canyon
- Trailhead Address/Location: White Park off Park View Terrace Dr
- Difficulty: Moderate
Located near the north flanks of Mount Olympus, Neff’s Canyon offers a fabulous and efficient portal into the glories of the Wasatch Front, making it one of the best spots for hiking near Salt Lake CIty. This dog-friendly trail runs some 3.5 miles up the canyon, crossing a stream and skirting aspen groves and bold outcrops to reach a gorgeous meadow rung with cliffs and bursting with wildflowers in summer.
3. Bonneville Shoreline Trail
- Trailhead Address/Location: Multiple
- Difficulty: Easy
The Bonneville Shoreline Trail is an under-construction multi-use path traced along the terrace carved into regional hillsides by vanished Lake Bonneville, the prehistoric predecessor of the Great Salt Lake. While much of its proposed 280-odd-mile route between the Idaho line and Nephi is still in the planning stages, there are multiple sections to explore out of Salt Lake City, with such access points as the City Creek, Dry Creek and Parley’s Canyon trailheads. The Bonneville Shoreline Trail also gives you access to some spur hikes, including that up Mount Van Cott—not to mention the notable mountain-biking descent called the Bobsled.
4. Dog Lake
- Trailhead Address/Location: Lower Big Water Trailhead in Mill Creek Canyon; Mill D or Butler Fork trailheads in Big Cottonwood Canyon
- Difficulty: Moderate
Cradled among aspens and conifers below the southwestern flank of Little Water Peak between Mill Creek and Big Cottonwood canyons, Dog Lake is indeed a popular place to hike to with your pet, as long as you start from the pet-friendly Mill Creek Canyon trailhead as dogs aren’t allowed coming up from the Big Cottonwood Canyon side. The lake is set at about 8,740 feet.
5. Grandeur Peak
- Trailhead Address/Location: Church Fork Picnic Area in Mill Creek Canyon (plus other options)
- Difficulty: Moderate
Another striking sight along the Wasatch Front, Grandeur Peak makes another prime contender for the best spot for hiking in Salt Lake City. This roughly 8,300-foot peak, set between Parley’s and Mill Creek canyons, can be reached from a few different approach options. The best all-around way is via the Church Fork Picnic Area, which comes out to a 3.4-mile (one-way) hike tackling about 2,300 feet of elevation gain. Given it ascends mainly via the peak’s more sun-exposed south face, the trail is doable for the majority of the year. The panorama view from the top is an impressive one, encompassing the city below and sweeping up and down the mountain front from Francis Peak to Neff’s Canyon.
6. White Pine Lake
- Trailhead Address/Location: White Pine Trailhead (Little Cottonwood Canyon)
- Difficulty: Moderate
An abandoned service road forms this must-do trail, one of the Salt Lake City top places to hike given the sublime Wasatch scenery. White Pine Lake awaits you up in lovely timberline country against the eastern foot of Thunder Mountain in the 30,632-acre Lone Peak Wilderness and big views define much of the 4.5-mile ascent, which is pretty forgiving given the broad, well-treaded track and its elevation-eating switchbacks.
7. Red Pine Lake
- Trailhead Address/Location: White Pine Trailhead (Little Cottonwood Canyon)
- Difficulty: Moderate
From the same trailhead in Little Cottonwood Canyon, you can reach another stunning alpine spot: Red Pine Lake, located to the west of White Pine Lake in the Lone Peak Wilderness. The main trail leads to the lower lake, but there are clear paths that take you further up to the even more impressive Upper Red Pine Lake.
8. City Creek Canyon
- Trailhead Address/Location: Memory Grove Park
- Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Both a walkable paved road and foot-traffic-only dirt path ascend up City Creek Canyon from the heart of Salt Lake City, which means you can stroll your way up into wild-feeling riparian loveliness directly from downtown. As a long standing part of the Salt Lake City municipal watershed, this canyon comes drenched in local history: Its mouth was where Mormon settlement here began and the defile was named by none other than Brigham Young. Historic picnic sites such as Hidden Grove and The Grotto lie along the route, which can be extended to reach fetching City Creek Meadows.
9. Ensign Peak
- Trailhead Address/Location: Ensign Vista Drive
- Difficulty: Easy
A stone-cold classic among the top hiking spots in Salt Lake City, Ensign Peak overlooks the State Capitol and is easy and quick-enough of a trek to serve as a go-to lunchtime and sunset spot. On July 26, 1847, Brigham Young and companions stood atop this little spur peak and envisioned the layout of their new planned city; a mountaintop monument commemorates the moment. The trail’s only about a mile long and a great choice for families with young kids. Views from the top extend beyond the Salt Lake Valley out to the Great Salt Lake and the unmistakable profile of bison-roamed Antelope Island.
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