{"id":89440,"date":"2019-11-04T12:24:39","date_gmt":"2019-11-04T20:24:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=89440"},"modified":"2023-09-18T18:44:11","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T01:44:11","slug":"hiking-near-salt-lake-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/hiking-near-salt-lake-city","title":{"rendered":"Best Hikes Near Salt Lake City"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"cb-itemprop\" itemprop=\"reviewBody\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Perhaps most famously known for skiing, Salt Lake City and the Wasatch Front also boast a plethora of hiking trails. With everything from easy summit hikes on the edge of town to rugged adventures in the canyons and mountains beyond, there are more than enough trails to keep everyone entertained. Though many of these hikes can be done year-round (especially if you\u2019re <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/learn\/expert-advice\/cold-weather-hiking.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">practiced in winter travel<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and avalanche awareness), the best time to explore is in early summer or autumn, when you can enjoy wildflowers or changing leaves.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/utah.com\/hiking\/ensign-peak\"><b>Ensign Peak Trail<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>Location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 2.5 miles north of downtown Salt Lake City<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Length<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 1.0-mile out-and-back<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Difficulty Rating<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Easy\/intermediate<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A quick hike on the edge of town<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Dogs: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leashed<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just minutes from downtown Salt Lake City, this hike is great for urbanites looking to get out for a stroll. The trail begins on the edge of a residential area, and though it\u2019s a little steep at times, the route is well-maintained with city views almost the entire way up. At the top, you\u2019ll find an 18-foot-tall stone monument dedicated to the Mormon pioneers, but it\u2019s the viewing platform that will make you want to stay and watch the sun set over the valley below.&nbsp;<\/span><br><!-- END Hiking Project --><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/utah.com\/hiking\/fifth-waterfalls-trail\"><b>Fifth Water Hot Springs<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>Location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 20.4 miles southeast of Mapleton<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Length<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 4.5-mile out-and-back<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Difficulty Rating<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Easy\/intermediate<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A mellow hike to a popular hot spring<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Dogs: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leashed; courtesy would dictate not letting your dog swim in the pools<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though the hike is pleasant in its own right, the numerous hot springs along the last mile of trail are the main draw. Take your time soaking in the many built-up pools, which vary in size, temperature and even color, ranging from clear to milky blue. The trail ends at a cold waterfall that plunges into the warm water. While technically illegal, nudity does happen at the springs, so keep that in mind as you plan you trek.<\/span><!-- BEGIN Hiking Project --><!-- BEGIN Hiking Project --><!-- END Hiking Project --><br><!-- END Hiking Project --><br><a href=\"https:\/\/utah.com\/hiking\/cecret-lake\"><b>Cecret Lake Interpretive Trail<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>Location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 2.2 miles southeast of Alta<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Length<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 1.6-mile out-and-back<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Difficulty Rating<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Intermediate<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A short hike to a beautiful alpine lake<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Dogs: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No dogs<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It seems impossible that you could reach such a beautiful spot in such a short distance. But just because the hike to Cecret Lake (pronounced like secret) is quick, there\u2019s no need to rush it. The grade is manageable, the high elevation keeps things cooler than the Salt Lake Valley below and the interpretive signs that line the route mean you and the kids are sure to learn something along the way. Of course, you may forget everything you learned once the beautiful high alpine lake comes into view.<\/span><!-- END Hiking Project --><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/utah.com\/hiking\/salt-lake\/the-living-room\"><b>The Living Room<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>Location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 4.2 miles east of downtown Salt Lake City<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Length<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 2.4-mile out-and-back<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Difficulty Rating<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Intermediate<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A popular hike to a unique overlook<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Dogs: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leashed<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s a good reason why The Living Room is one of the busiest hikes near Salt Lake City. Over the years, hikers have used the area\u2019s flat rocks to build all types of \u201cfurniture,\u201d including the couches, footstools and chairs which give the lookout its iconic name. Bring a snack and a headlamp for the return trip and settle into a cozy rock chair to watch the sunset. (Keep in mind that though this is an established practice at this overlook, making new rock furniture is <a href=\"\/learn\/expert-advice\/leave-no-trace.html\">not LNT<\/a>, so respect the area by leaving it as you came.)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.utahoutside.com\/2011\/09\/hiking-sunset-peak-from-brighton\/\"><b>Brighton Lakes to Sunset Peak<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>Location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Brighton on the south end of Brighton Loop Road<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Length<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 6.1-mile out-and-back<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Difficulty Rating<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Intermediate\/difficult<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Flexible milage and stunning views<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Dogs: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No dogs<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This route takes you to one of the most beautiful sights in the Wasatch area, but since it\u2019s in the alpine, you\u2019ll need to be prepared for changing conditions. Although the goal is to top out on Sunset Peak to enjoy the panoramic views of the Brighton Lakes and the valley below, if you aren\u2019t up for the distance, shorten the trek by turning back at the lakes. Don\u2019t worry about missing out. After enjoying a relaxing afternoon by the water, you won\u2019t care about tagging the summit. Just remember, swimming is not allowed to protect the watershed.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/utah.com\/hiking\/lake-blanche-trail\"><b>Lake Blanche Trail<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>Location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 6.2 miles east of Cottonwood Heights<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Length<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 7.0-mile out-and-back<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Difficulty Rating<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Intermediate\/difficult<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A more challenging hike to a gem of a lake<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Dogs: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No dogs<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While you can tackle this hike in a day, Lake Blanche is a wonderful place to camp and do some stargazing. Although the trail up the canyon is densely forested, it opens up on occasion offering viewpoints along the way. When you pop out into the basin, you\u2019ll be greeted by rocky peaks above and Lake Blanche nestled at their base. The scenery here is even more stunning in autumn when the aspens are changing. If you do spend the night, make time to scramble up a nearby peak and explore the other lakes in the basin.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/utah.com\/hiking\/mt-olympus-trail\"><b>Mount Olympus Trail<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>Location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 3.1 miles south of Holladay<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Length<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 6.7-mile out-and-back<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Difficulty Rating<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Difficult<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A strenuous but iconic summit hike<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Dogs: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leashed<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll earn some bragging rights for completing the hike up Mount Olympus. There\u2019s no warm-up leading into the 4,000-plus-foot ascent. But while it&#8217;s steep, the route is never too difficult, with just a minor bit of scrambling at the very top, meaning it&#8217;s a great option for blooming mountaineers, especially in summer and early fall if you want an escape from the heat. If you find yourself at an exposed section, you\u2019re likely off course and should backtrack.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/utah.com\/hiking\/mt-timpanogos\"><b>Mount Timpanogos Loop<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>Location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 11.9 miles east of Cedar Hills<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Length<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 14.9-mile lollipop loop<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Difficulty Rating<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Difficult<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A long day-hike in the Wasatch<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Dogs: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leashed<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With everything from canyons, open meadows, waterfalls, alpine lakes, steep rocky ascents, a technical snowfield crossing and the occasional mountain goat, you\u2019ll need to come prepared for this hike. And if an adventure as promising as that isn\u2019t enough to make you want to tackle this one, the breathtaking 360-degree view from 11,757-foot tall Mount Timpanogos surely will. Take your time crossing the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">snowfield<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on the descent. (It&#8217;s dangerous and not recommended unless you have the knowledge and skills to tackle it. If you don\u2019t, head back the way you came.) A break for lunch at Emerald Lake is a great idea before continuing down the canyon.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Perhaps most famously known for skiing, Salt Lake City and the Wasatch Front also boast a plethora of hiking trails. With everything from easy summit hikes on the edge of town to rugged adventures in the canyons and mountains beyond, there are more than enough trails to keep everyone entertained. Though many of these hikes [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":193307,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[387,388],"tags":[707,1540,770,12,140],"internal-tag":[1442],"class_list":["post-89440","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hike","category-travel","tag-hiking","tag-mountain-west","tag-salt-lake-city","tag-travel","tag-utah","internal-tag-seo"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/hike\/hiking-near-salt-lake-city","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Best Hikes Near Salt Lake City","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/hiking-near-salt-lake-city","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/hiking-near-salt-lake-city"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/11\/Salt-Lake-City-Kenley-Employee_062409_56538-e1695087477151.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/11\/Salt-Lake-City-Kenley-Employee_062409_56538-e1695087477151.jpg?fit=2000%2C1300"},"articleSection":"Hike","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Michelle Flandreau"}],"creator":["Michelle Flandreau"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["hiking","mountain west","salt lake city","travel","utah"],"dateCreated":"2019-11-04T20:24:39Z","datePublished":"2019-11-04T20:24:39Z","dateModified":"2023-09-19T01:44:11Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"Best Hikes Near Salt Lake City\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/hike\\\/hiking-near-salt-lake-city\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/hike\\\/hiking-near-salt-lake-city\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2019\\\/11\\\/Salt-Lake-City-Kenley-Employee_062409_56538-e1695087477151.jpg?resize=150%2C150\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2019\\\/11\\\/Salt-Lake-City-Kenley-Employee_062409_56538-e1695087477151.jpg?fit=2000%2C1300\"},\"articleSection\":\"Hike\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Michelle Flandreau\"}],\"creator\":[\"Michelle Flandreau\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Uncommon Path \\u2013 An REI Co-op Publication\",\"logo\":\"\"},\"keywords\":[\"hiking\",\"mountain west\",\"salt lake city\",\"travel\",\"utah\"],\"dateCreated\":\"2019-11-04T20:24:39Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-11-04T20:24:39Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-09-19T01:44:11Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/rei.com\/p.js"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/11\/Salt-Lake-City-Kenley-Employee_062409_56538-e1695087477151.jpg?fit=2000%2C1300","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89440","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=89440"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89440\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":193310,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89440\/revisions\/193310"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/193307"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=89440"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=89440"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=89440"},{"taxonomy":"internal-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-tag?post=89440"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}