Best Hikes Near Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City has a geographic advantage that most major cities do not: the Wasatch Mountains rise immediately to the east of downtown, and the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest begins within minutes of the city limits. Big Cottonwood Canyon and Little Cottonwood Canyon are both under 30 minutes from downtown. That proximity means genuine mountain hiking is not a weekend-only activity here. These are the trails worth knowing.
The Short List
Mount Olympus is the defining summit hike for SLC locals: brutal, unmistakable from the city, and deeply satisfying. Donut Falls is the easiest introduction to Big Cottonwood Canyon for families and first-timers. Lake Blanche is the best full-day objective in the Wasatch if you want a real alpine lake without driving more than 30 minutes. Cecret Lake earns its spot every July when the wildflowers in Albion Basin peak. For a longer summit objective, Mount Timpanogos is the marquee peak of the range and worth a full day.
Big Cottonwood Canyon (20 to 35 minutes from Salt Lake City)
Big Cottonwood Canyon is a watershed protection area, which means dogs are not allowed on trails and swimming is prohibited in the streams. Plan accordingly.
Donut Falls
3.6 miles out-and-back, 610 ft elevation gain, easy-moderate
A family favorite that ends at a waterfall you can walk through. The falls drop through a circular hole in a granite shelf into a cave-like chamber below, which is how the trail got its name. The creek crossing at the start is straightforward in summer but can be tricky in early spring snowmelt. The trailhead is at the Mill B North Fork area, about 9 miles up the canyon from the mouth. No permit required. Best from May through October; the falls are at their most dramatic in May and June.
Read the full Donut Falls trail guide
Lake Blanche
6.8 miles out-and-back, 2,600 ft elevation gain, strenuous
One of the best alpine lake hikes in the Wasatch. Lake Blanche sits in a glacially carved cirque below the Twin Peaks Wilderness at about 8,900 feet, with two smaller lakes (Lillian and Florence) nearby. The trail gains elevation steadily through forest and then opens into a boulder-field approach to the lakes. It's a serious effort for the mileage, but the payoff is a remote-feeling cirque that's hard to believe is 30 minutes from downtown. Best from late June through October.
Read the full Lake Blanche trail guide
Little Cottonwood Canyon (25 to 40 minutes from Salt Lake City)
Little Cottonwood Canyon is narrower and steeper than Big Cottonwood, and it holds the approaches to some of the most impressive terrain in the Wasatch.
Cecret Lake
1.8 miles out-and-back, 440 ft elevation gain, easy
The easiest high-elevation hike in the Wasatch, starting from the Albion Basin Campground at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon (9,500 ft elevation). The trail crosses a wildflower meadow that peaks in mid-July with larkspur, paintbrush, and columbine before reaching the small, clear lake below Sugarloaf Peak. The short distance makes this a good option for children, visitors acclimating to elevation, and anyone who wants genuine alpine scenery without a long commitment. Parking is limited at Albion Basin; arrive before 9 a.m. on summer weekends. Best from mid-July through September.
Read the full Cecret Lake trail guide
Bells Canyon Lower Falls
3.6 miles out-and-back, 900 ft elevation gain, moderate
Bells Canyon cuts into the Wasatch south of the ski resorts and provides access to two tiers of falls. This guide covers the lower falls; the upper falls add another 4 miles and significant elevation and are a separate objective. The lower trail climbs steadily through scrub oak and maple, with the canyon opening up as you approach the falls. The creek here runs strong through June and slows in late summer. The trailhead is in the upper reaches of the Sandy/South Jordan area, south of Little Cottonwood. No permit required. Best from May through October.
Wasatch Front (15 to 30 minutes from Salt Lake City)
The ridgeline immediately above Salt Lake City offers some of the most dramatically situated summit hikes in the country, given how directly they rise from the valley floor.
Mount Olympus
8.0 miles out-and-back, 4,059 ft elevation gain, strenuous
Mount Olympus (9,026 ft) is the craggy peak visible from most of Salt Lake City's east side. The standard route from Wasatch Boulevard climbs through scrub oak and then into exposed rocky terrain, finishing with a scramble to the summit block. The elevation gain is significant for the mileage, and the upper section involves Class 2-3 scrambling on loose rock. The views from the top look directly down on the city grid and across the valley to the Oquirrh Mountains. Start early; the south-facing lower slopes get hot in summer. No permit required. Best from April through November; summit conditions improve significantly once snow clears in May.
Timpanogos Cave National Monument (45 minutes from Salt Lake City)
Timpanogos Cave
3.0 miles out-and-back, 1,065 ft elevation gain, moderate (plus cave tour)
Technically a National Monument managed by the National Park Service, not a national forest unit, but worth including given the proximity to SLC and the unusual format. The hike climbs a paved trail to the cave entrance on the limestone cliffs above American Fork Canyon. Inside, the cave tour (about 1 hour) passes through three chambers of stalactites, stalagmites, and helictites. Cave tour tickets are required and sell out weeks in advance during peak season; book through recreation.gov. The hike itself closes when the tour season ends, typically in October. Best from May through October. Cave temperature is a constant 45 degrees Fahrenheit; bring a layer.
When to Hike Near Salt Lake City
July through September is the primary season for high-elevation trails. Cecret Lake, Lake Blanche, and the upper Bells Canyon route are snow-free and at their best. Afternoon thunderstorms are common from mid-July through August; plan to be off exposed terrain by noon.
May and June open up the lower canyon trails (Donut Falls, Bells Canyon Lower Falls, Mount Olympus) and offer the best waterfall flow. Snow lingers at elevation through June; check conditions before heading above 9,000 feet.
April and November work for Mount Olympus and lower Wasatch Front trails. The canyon roads stay open, and the lower scrub oak zones are comfortable.
Winter brings world-class ski conditions to the same canyons, but hiking is limited. Snowshoeing is excellent in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons on designated routes, and some lower trails are accessible with microspikes.
Salt Lake City's access to the Wasatch is its defining outdoor advantage. Most cities require a multi-hour drive to reach terrain this dramatic. Here, you're at an alpine lake in under an hour from downtown. Review the Leave No Trace principles before heading into Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, where the watershed restrictions exist for good reason. The trick is arriving early on summer weekends, when canyon parking fills before 9 a.m. and the most popular trailheads require shuttles or timed entry. For two more Wasatch objectives worth adding to a longer Salt Lake trip, see the Grandeur Peak trail (the classic early-season summit above the city) and the Red Pine Lake guide in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Plan accordingly and the Wasatch is as good as hiking gets in the Mountain West.