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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Salt Lake City, Utah
Backcountry Ski Beartrap Fork
5.04 mi / 2016 ft gainYou can access the trailhead to Beartrap by driving up Big Cottonwood Canyon 10.4 miles and parking on the right side of the road. You will see the "Bear Trap Fork Rd" sign on the left side of the road, this is where the trailhead begins. Make your way up the skin track through the dense aspens u...Read more -
Alta, Utah
Stargazing and Night Photography at Hellgate Spring
From the base of Little Cottonwood Canyon, follow the road approximately 7 miles until you reach the area between the Snowbird and Alta ski resorts. Looking north, several mountain peaks are visible, including both Mount Superior and Hellgate Spring. The mountain face of Hellgate Spring (GPS coor...Read more -
Sandy, Utah
Backcountry Ski Suicide Chute on Mt. Superior
5.00.6 mi / 1245 ft gainFirst of all it's not as scary as it sounds, or as scary as it looks. That being said it's a steep chute in dangerous avalanche terrain so only experienced skiers with backcountry skiing knowledge/equipment should attempt this route.Suicide Chute is located on the South face of Mt. Superior in L...Read more -
Sandy, Utah
Hike and Climb the S. Ridge of Mt. Superior
4.54.5 mi / 1800 ft gainApproach: Start by parking on the side of the road just above the Snowbird Cliff Lodge. Then there will be some bushwhacking as you work your way up the southern slopes of Mount Superior following the path of least resistance until reaching the winter avalanche path under the south face and to th...Read more -
Sandy, Utah
Photograph Little Cottonwood Creek at Snowbird
2.0Little Cottonwood Creek flows right through Snowbird Ski Resort and there are a few beautiful locations to go shoot the river at. The best place to start hiking down the river is right by where the tram takes off. That is just below the Cliff Lodge and right by the Peruvian Lift. There's a res...Read more -
Park City, Utah
Hike, Run, Bike Rob's Trail in Park City
4.02.8 mi / 705 ft gainRob's Trail is a perennial favorite among Park City locals for year-round hiking, trail running, or mountain biking. The trail is primarily an out-and-back, but it if you go a bit further it can be combined with other trails to create a loop. The trail meanders through aspen and pine trees on the...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Camp at Willow Lake
4.62.41 mi / 659 ft gainThe trailhead to Willow Lake is about 11 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon and is on the north side of the road right after the passing lane begins. It can be easy to miss, and is only marked with a plaque on a rock (40.630302, -111.604639). As you hike a little in from the road you will see the tra...Read more -
Salt Lake County, Utah
Willow Lake
4.52.41 mi / 659 ft gainThe Trail: Follow the marked trail and you'll hike less than a mile up to the edge of Willow Lake. Moose like to hang out in the thick willows there, so make lots of noise to warn them that you're coming and you won't startle any. Standing on the shoreline, you'll have a great view of Solitude ...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Backcountry Ski Willow Fork
3 mi / 1700 ft gainWillow Fork is just across the mountain from Solitude Ski Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon. You can access Willow Fork from a few different trailheads; either from the Willow Heights Trailhead or across the street from both the lower and upper Solitude parking lots. The Willow Heights Trailhead wi...Read more -
Salt Lake City, Utah
Photograph Wildlife at Willow Lake
2.2 mi / 629 ft gainWillow Lake has become my favorite spot in all of Utah. It feels so distant from civilization in the mountains, but is only a 25 minute drive from Salt Lake City. I have hiked to Willow Lake close to 10 times this year during different seasons, and have never seen more than 5 people on the trail...Read more -
Alta, Utah
Hike Mt. Superior and Monte Cristo
5.06.25 mi / 2500 ft gainMt. Superior, and its close neighbor, Monte Cristo, are two of the most iconic peaks in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Looming over Alta and Snowbird Ski resorts from the north side of the canyon, these two peaks dominate the Little Cottonwood skyline. Mt. Superior tops out at 11,132 feet, and Monte C...Read more -
Alta, Utah
Hike and Scramble Mount Superior
5.05 miThis is an intermediate to advanced hike. Scrambling up the ridge is more difficult but can be done by anyone with patience and a few maneuvering skills. It is best climbed in the summer months when the ridge is free of snow. However, it makes for a good winter climb for more technical experience...Read more -
Herriman, Utah
Drive Butterfield Canyon
4.5Butterfield Canyon is a little-known canyon on the west side of Utah Valley. Beautiful any time of the year, it is especially beautiful in the fall—all the leaves changing colors! When you reach the marked location, turn onto Butterfield Canyon Road. Drive until you reach the end of the road (it...Read more -
10230 East Little Cottonwood Lane, Utah
Cross Country Ski Alta Ski Area's Nordic Track
Drive up Little Cottonwood Canyon until the first entrance into Alta. Park in the Collins lift parking lot, throw your boots on, and head over to the nordic track. Its just next to the tow rope that runs through Albion Basin. Now thats left to do is to step into your skis and ski. The track has a...Read more -
Alta, Utah
Ski Little Cottonwood Canyon
5.0It's no secret that Little Cottonwood Canyon (LCC) is home to some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the lower 48, if not North America. What many people are not aware of is the extremely easy and quick access from Salt Lake City.Enter the Dawn Patrollers. Skiers and snowboarders from Salt L...Read more -
Alta, Utah
Snowshoeing Twin Lakes Pass
5.05.21 mi / 1781 ft gainStarting at the parking lot near the Albion Basin gate, travel up the summer road until the second switchback. Just past the second switchback and cabins, leave the summer road heading east. The Trail heads northeast into Grizzly Gulch. It should be easy to follow—it gets a lot of traffic. From h...Read more
