My family recently bought a place outside of Park City, Utah, and being the mountain fanatic that I am, I immediately decided to spend a few weeks out there. The perks of a remote job, am I right?!
I wanted to bring my two dogs, so I drove out there on May 1 and was there until the 17th. Since it was shoulder season—AKA snow on the ski hills, but not enough to ski—I usually drove to Salt Lake City to hike since it was drier and hotter there.
Here are some general things I’ve learned about hiking near Salt Lake City:
- If you are hiking when it’s hot out (above 70 degrees), watch out for rattlesnakes. When I was there in mid-May, I didn’t see any, but they do come out in the heat.
- Bring water! Hiking is a workout and it’s always good to be prepared. Consider bringing a snack to eat at the top, too. 🙂
- Remember that uphill has right-of-way. When you’re coming back down, step off to the side of the trail to let uphill hikers pass.
- The sun is stronger in the mountains. Wear sunscreen or cover up.
- Consider bringing hiking poles if you have knee problems (I do sometimes!)
- If you remember, use the AllTrails app and download the trail map beforehand so you don’t get lost.
Here are my favorite dog-friendly trails near Salt Lake City!
EASY HIKES
Although this trail starts out steep and difficult, it eventually flattens out and you’re rewarded with stunning views of Salt Lake City pretty quickly. The Canyon itself is so beautiful and I absolutely loved this one. My friends did this in February and had a great time, too.
Length: 3.3 mi
Elevation gain: 816 ft
Things to know:
- Dogs are allowed off-leash on odd-numbered days, but they must be leashed on even-numbered days.
- It costs $5 to be in the canyon—there is a toll booth that you’ll pay when exiting. When I was there, they only accepted cards.
- There are bathrooms at the trailhead.
MODERATE HIKES
This trail is short, but the steep elevation gain makes it more moderate than easy. I did this with my mom and she was really glad she brought hiking poles!
The top of the hike has rock formations that look like couches and chairs with an overlook of Salt Lake City, which makes this trail unique. Make sure to put on sunscreen and bring a hat because this trail is completely exposed.
Length: 2.0 mi
Elevation gain: 895 ft
Things to know:
- There is plenty of street parking at the trailhead.
- I’d recommend downloading the map because the trail is hard after the initial ascent past a creek. Feel free to ask around if you get lost, but once you’re on the right trail it’s smooth-sailing.
HARD HIKES
Grandeur Peak East Trail from Church Fork
This trail has incredible views and is easily accessible from Salt Lake. I did this in early May and only saw a little snow at the top that was off the trail. I had never stood at the actual peak of a mountain before, so this was exciting!
The trail starts out pretty steep with a steady incline for the middle section, and another steep section at the top. The trail itself is narrow but you’ll have beautiful views of the Wasatch mountains, and a 360-view at the top.
Length: 5.9-7 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: 2365-2700 vertical ft
Things to know:
- Dogs are allowed off-leash on odd-numbered days, but they must be leashed on even-numbered days.
- It costs $5 to be in the canyon (this hike is a short drive past Rattlesnake Gulch).
- I had to park on the main canyon road because it was gated off. If you have to do this, the trail is closer to 7 miles round-trip.
Those were my favorite dog-friendly Salt Lake City trails. I hope you love them!
