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Salt Lake City, Utah

Looking for the best hiking in Salt Lake City? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Salt Lake City. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Hiking Spots in and near Salt Lake City

  • 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...
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  • Sandy, Utah

    Backcountry Ski Suicide Chute on Mt. Superior

    5.0
    0.6 mi / 1245 ft gain
    First 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...
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  • Sandy, Utah

    Hike and Climb the S. Ridge of Mt. Superior

    4.5
    4.5 mi / 1800 ft gain
    Approach: 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...
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  • Sandy, Utah

    Photograph Little Cottonwood Creek at Snowbird

    2.0
    Little 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...
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  • Park City, Utah

    Hike, Run, Bike Rob's Trail in Park City

    4.0
    2.8 mi / 705 ft gain
    Rob'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...
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  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Camp at Willow Lake

    4.6
    2.41 mi / 659 ft gain
    The 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...
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  • Salt Lake County, Utah

    Willow Lake

    4.5
    2.41 mi / 659 ft gain
    The 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 ...
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  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Backcountry Ski Willow Fork

    3 mi / 1700 ft gain
    Willow 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...
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  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Photograph Wildlife at Willow Lake

    2.2 mi / 629 ft gain
    Willow 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...
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  • Alta, Utah

    Hike Mt. Superior and Monte Cristo

    5.0
    6.25 mi / 2500 ft gain
    Mt. 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...
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  • Alta, Utah

    Hike and Scramble Mount Superior

    5.0
    5 mi
    This 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...
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  • Park City, Utah

    Ride the RTS Trail

    2.6 mi / 366 ft gain
    The RTS trail at Utah's Olympic Park (ski jumping, bobsled, skeleton, and luge), is a fantastic beginner-to-intermediate trail. Since it's a short loop at only 2.6 miles and 366 feet of elevation gain, it's perfect for kids and beginners. Most of the sections are smooth dirt that winds through as...
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  • Layton, Utah

    Adams Canyon

    4.8
    3.55 mi / 1434 ft gain
    The trailhead is at a dirt parking lot with a lot of parking, but on Saturday mornings it can get full and people are forced to park on the street. As you start off, there are a few steep and sandy switchbacks. They don't last too long but on a hot day it can seem like forever. After that, the t...
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  • Alta, Utah

    Albion Meadows Trail

    4.9
    2.86 mi / 696 ft gain
    At Albion Basin, wildflowers you will see include lupine, Indian paintbrush, American bistort, sunflowers, fireweed, and many more! Drive to the very top of Little Cottonwood Canyon and park at the Albion Grill. There is a trail just behind the Grill that takes you through a variety of wildflowe...
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  • Alta, Utah

    Backcountry Ski Grizzly Gulch

    1.5 mi / 1400 ft gain
    To get to the Grizzly Gulch trailhead, drive up Little Cottonwood until you reach Alta Ski Resort. Keep left along the road and park in the upper Alta parking lot. Head up the cat track with all the cats and snowmobiles parked to the side. About 100 yards up, you'll take a left and head up the st...
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  • Alta, Utah

    Cecret Lake from Albion Basin

    4.9
    4.48 mi / 1214 ft gain
    The out-and-back trail from Albion Basin to Cecret Lake climbs a gentle slope and along the way there are interpretive signs with information about the basin, its plants, animals and geology. From the lake you can return the same way you came, or explore the area more. If you head there during t...
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