Salt Lake City is a place of clear blue skies and wide-open spaces. Surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges and stunning landscapes, it is practically impossible to visit without enjoying the great outdoors. The local mountains are easy to get to and offer some great opportunities to explore the area. The following hikes are just a few of the great experiences perfect for getting to know SLC and its raw natural beauty.
A short hike to the “living room,” an arrangement of rock “furniture” overlooking the city, is a great way to spend a few hours outdoors. The trailhead starts just 10 minutes from downtown SLC and is only 2.2 miles round-trip through Red Butte Canyon. The hike is fairly easy and appropriate for all skill levels — you can even bring your dog! This trail is best hiked from spring through fall.
Ensign Peak Trail and Overlook
Another short and easy hike located close to the downtown area, the trail to the Ensign Peak Overlook is a great way to enjoy the spectacular views of the valley and Great Salt Lake. This trail is best done in the evening so you can enjoy the spectacular sunset over the valley below. Less than one mile round-trip, the hike won’t take much time so you will be able to stretch your legs, get some fresh air and still have plenty of time to explore the city.
Overlook of Salt Lake City from Ensign Peak. © Xerimaster | Dreamstime.com
This trail is for experienced hikers but offers some of the most stunning scenery. This 6.7-mile trail is quite popular among locals and visitors to the Salt Lake area. While the lake is off-limits for swimming and dogs are prohibited on the trail, the trek is well worth the effort for the beautiful scenery you will experience along the way. The trailhead can easily be located within the Mill B South Fork Picnic Ground within Big Cottonwood Canyon, southeast of Salt Lake City.
If your family is looking for an all-day hiking experience, then the trail to the summit of Mount Timpanogos is for you. This hike requires skill and endurance as the trail is long and steep in some parts, but the breathtaking views once you reach the summit more than make up for the hard work. Southeast of Salt Lake City near Provo, head into American Fork Canyon and take the Timpooneke Trail from the Timpooneke Campground. The 15-mile round-trip trek offers beautiful wildflower and wildlife viewing along the way to the summit.
Read This Next
5 Family-Friendly Museums in Charleston
Destinations / North America
Aug 22, 2024#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedNorth America
Sep 3, 20266 Winnipeg, Canada, Destinations for Family Travel
It’s time to start dreaming of your next family trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through Winnipeg, Canada, with us.
Sponsored Content
GET TO KNOW TAP FORBIZ
Unlock flexible, refined business travel with TAP Air Portugal’s program, TAP FORBIZ. Developed for small, medium and large Companies, with options for corporate events, TAP FORBIZ offers exclusive advantages adapted to each type of business.
Hotels
Sep 3, 20263 Caribbean, Latin American Marriott Hotels for Multigen Trips
Multigenerational travel continues to grow in popularity, with family travelers moving away from traditional getaways for meaningful trips with family members of all ages. The Caribbean and Latin America are growing destinations of interest for this type of travel, and three Marriott properties offer opportunities for multigen families to create lifelong memories.
Destinations
Sep 2, 2026Look Past the Traditional Classroom with Scott Dunn’s Back-to-School Itineraries
Parents looking to provide their kids with hands-on learning experiences going beyond textbooks by visiting unique destinations with family-centric approaches will find that and more with Scott Dunn's private, expert-led itineraries. These experiences provide lessons the classroom cannot.
Sponsored Content
Best of Both Worlds
Enjoy the best of both worlds when you fly with TAP Air Portugal thanks to the Portugal Stopover program. With the program, TAP passengers, whether traveling for business, leisure or both, can stop in Portugal for up to 10 days at no additional airfare on the way to their final destination. What does this mean for travelers wishing to explore by both land and sea? It means after flying to Portugal with TAP and experiencing the country in an entirely new way, travelers can then embark on scenic river and ocean cruises from Portugal’s port cities, or fly with TAP to another European destination.
Destinations / North America
Sep 2, 2026Visit an Old-Fashioned County Fair in Maine
Celebrate autumn with a family trip to a traditional New England county fair. These annual celebrations of agriculture and country life are filled with sights and activities for the whole family to enjoy, from admiring prize pumpkins and meeting live animals to witnessing horse shows, listening to country music and dancing, and doing craft demonstrations. Most fairs also have carnival rides and hands-on activities for kids.
ShareThis