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
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South Jordan, Utah
Fish at the East Riverfront Fishing Ponds
5.00 mi / 0 ft gainThese are great little ponds located at 11267 S. River Front Pkwy in South Jordan. It is just off of a section of the Jordan River. Kidney Pond is the one located just by the parking. Midas is just above and you can see it from the parking. You can fish here for rainbow trout, channel catfish, bl...Read more -
Sandy, Utah
Upper Bell Canyon Reservoir via Bell Canyon Trail
4.39.12 mi / 4285 ft gainThis is one of my favorite spots in the state of Utah! It is completely secluded high up on the Wasatch front. You can hike here for a nice relaxing day, an overnight camping trip, or do a little fly fishing and hook some fun little brooke and cutthroat trout. The Bell Canyon trail is one of the...Read more -
Sandy, Utah
South Thunder Mountain via Bell Canyon
11.78 mi / 5968 ft gainStarting at the Bell's Canyon trailhead, the trail follows a river for most of the way, passing two reservoirs and two waterfalls. This trail is intermediate, depending on your destination. The first and most commonly visited section of the trail is the first reservoir. An easy hike of less than ...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Mountain Bike Dog Lake, Millcreek Canyon
4.4 mi / 1260 ft gainIf it’s an even day and you’re in Salt Lake and you’re in possession of a mountain bike, put down your phone and spend the next 2 hours in pure bliss. Mountain bikers are only allowed to use the trails of upper Millcreek Canyon on even days, which makes for a busy route, but well worth it. This i...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Trail Run Upper Big Water Trail to Dog Lake
4.06.2 mi / 1267 ft gainDrive all the way to the top of Millcreek Canyon until you can't drive any further. (They close the road further down the canyon in the winter so this trail is not accessible to cars in the winter.) There is a small parking lot at the end of the road, park here. The trail head is going to be on t...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Hike Old Red Pine Road Trail
5.04.2 mi / 1000 ft gainThe trail begins at the parking lot at the very top of Millcreek, called Upper Big Water. The trail begins on the east side of the lot, where bathrooms are available. Walk to trail sign and head left to Old Pine Road Trail.From there, the trail remains relatively flat with some steep gains. The t...Read more -
Brighton, Utah
Hike or Trail Run Butler Fork
5.07.2 mi / 1964 ft gainTo get to the trailhead, drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon 8 miles. The parking lot is on the left side of the road. The first half mile is the steepest of the whole trail so don't get too intimidated by it, it mellows out a lot after. You will come to fork in the trail about a mile in, you can eith...Read more -
Brighton, Utah
Backcountry Ski Butler Fork
2 miThe trail head for Butler Fork is 8 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon on the left side of the road. Throw your gear on and head up the trail. Continue along the skin track and after about 20 minutes you'll come upon a fork in the trail. The right trail will take you up the East Fork towards Butler B...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Hike to Big Cottonwood Canyon's Desolation Lake
4.67.4 mi / 1900 ft gainDrive 9 miles into Big Cottonwood Canyon and park at the Mill D North Trailhead (on the left). On the right side of the road, there is a restroom. The trial head begins on the left, there is a visible sign you cannot miss before beginning.The trail is about 7.4 miles round trip, about half way t...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Winter Backpack to Dog Lake and Backcountry Ski Reynolds Peak
4.55 mi / 1500 ft gainThe hike is considered moderate, but the 1500ft. elevation gain (2100ft. to Reynolds Peak) will definitely get your heart rate up. Snowshoes/skins are recommended but the trail is often packed enough to do without them.After crossing the street from the Spruces parking lot, follow the trail past...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Hike from Mill D to Desolation Peak
10 mi / 2500 ft gainLargely runnable trail up through pines and aspens with a few steep climbs. Incredible wildflowers. You can stop at Desolation Lake then continue up towards the ridge and up to Desolation Peak. You have to listen and watch for descending bikers coming fast around corners.Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Hike Cardiff Fork
8 mi / 2880 ft gainCardiff Fork and Donut Falls share the same parking lot, so depending on what time of week you go exploring here, it may be the most packed parking in all of the Wasatch. Head up on a weekday for less crowds. The Cardiff Fork trailhead is follows the rocky jeep road around the parking lot to the...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Donut Falls
4.11.53 mi / 413 ft gainThe Trail Follow the trail for just a little bit and when it forks, stay to the left and you will arrive to Donut Falls. Once at the waterfall, climb up the rocks to get to the cave at the top, which is not visible from the bottom. To take pictures inside of the cave, you will most likely get yo...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Kessler Peak in Utah's Big Cottonwood Canyon
4.74.66 mi / 2733 ft gainKessler Peak is a 10,403-foot peak located in Big Cottonwood Canyon. From the top, you can see all the way to the Uintas to the East, The tram at Snowbird to the south, and the Salt Lake Valley to the west. To the north is Mount Raymond and Gobblers Knob. Kessler Peak is the terminus and highes...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Big Cottonwood Canyon Astrophotography
Located in the Wasatch Mountains, less 30 minutes from Salt Lake City, Big Cottonwood Canyon, provides some of the best rural dark-sky viewing of the Milky Way in the Wasatch.The Donut Falls trail head/Mill D trail head, close to the ski resorts of Brighton and Solitude, additionally provides one...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Snowshoe to Cardiff Mine
7 mi / 1500 ft gainThe trail starts from the same trailhead as Donut Falls which is extremely popular. In the winter, the gates are closed and you need to park just off the highway. Follow the road and crowds along the trail but once you cross the bridge continue straight ahead instead of following the trail that c...Read more
