Salt Lake City's Best Local Hikes

Catch sunset from the top of Ensign Peak on one of Salt Lake City’s best local hikes. Photo by Brandon Flint

After Work

Ensign Peak, Ensign Peak Nature Park

You could hit either Cottonwood Canyon for a quick fix, but this 1-miler offers a better view.Brigham Young was so taken with this local hill in 1847 that he named it himself. Go for sunset.

Trailhead40.791679, -111.888263Drive time 10 mins. Infobit.do/EnsignPeak

Dayhike

Lowe Peak Loop, Oquirrh Mountains

Sunrise more your thing? Check it out from Lowe Peak, the first stop (mile 2.8) in this three-peak, 12-mile loop topping out at 10,589 feet. You’ll cross dozens of streams in Ophir Canyon and touch the tops of Lowe, Rocky, and Peak 9530 with views of the Wasatch Range rising behind the city.

Trailhead 40.400609, -112.229672Drive time 1 hr. 10 mins. Info bit.do/LowePeak

Overnight

High Uinta Lakes, High Uinta Wilderness

Visit nine alpine lakes in a meandering, 13-mile high-country out-and-back. From the Crystal Lake trailhead outside of Kamas take the Smith Morehouse Trail to the lake basin. Weir, Duck, Island, and Marjorie Lakes have good jump-in spots and camping.

Trailhead40.681783, -110.963275Drive time 1 hr. 30 mins.Info 3-day Rec. Pass, $6; bit.do/Uintas

See the rest of the country’s best local hikes