Greg Witt - Best Easy Day Hikes Salt Lake City

Greg Witt lives the adventures he writes about. As an adventure guide, he leads hikers in the Swiss Alps and throughout Utahs Wasatch Mountains. In a recent summer he hiked over 700 miles, gaining nearly 100,000 vertical feetthe equivalent of climbing Mount Everest nine times. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and has authored nearly a dozen outdoor adventure and travel books. He lives in Provo, Utah, in the shadows of Mount Timpanogos.

Rob Witt is an adventure enthusiast who considers the outdoors his second home. He never goes on an adventure without his camera and values the opportunity to share his experiences through photographs. His work has appeared in several hiking guidebooks, art shows, and within the online photography community. He loves backpacking, rock climbing, hiking, snowboarding, and running. In addition to his photography, Rob works with pixels as a graphic and UI/UX designer. He lives with his wife in Salt Lake City below two of the canyons described in this bookBig and Little Cottonwood.

Dallin Witt is a perennial thrill-seeker, which is why he is so at home in his native Utah. Ever the advocate for Utahs outdoors, he finds time almost every day to run into the mountains and woods that define it. He is a passionate cyclist, backpacker, traveler, and skier. While his outdoor adventures have taken him all around the planet, he still likes Utah best. Dallin lives in the heart of beautiful downtown Salt Lake City, where he works as a writer and editor.

FALCON GUIDES

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available

ISBN 978-1-4930-4125-1 (paperback)
ISBN 978-1-4930-4126-8 (e-book)

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Printed in the United States of America

The authors and FalconGuides assume no liability for accidents happening to, or injuries sustained by, readers who engage in the activities described in this book.

Its tremendously exciting to welcome the arrival of a fourth edition, with new hikes, updates, and enhancements. I want to especially thank Brian Brinkerhoff, who conceived this guide over sixteen years ago and who continues to inform, inspire, and entertain those who love the outdoors through Western Life Radio .

The scenic variety and natural diversity of the Wasatch Range continues to amaze me. Much of the credit for that amazement goes to the Wasatch Mountain Club for their work in trail conservation and for enhancing the wild and natural qualities of Utahs backcountry.

Finally, Im pleased to be joined in this edition by Dallin Witt, whose love of Utahs outdoors shines through all of his work and will inspire you to enjoy every one of these hikes.

With mountains on every side, Salt Lake City is the most varied and vibrant hiking destination in the country. Name another city where within 300 yards of the states capitol and the downtown center you can be walking in a protected nature reserve, spotting elk and raptors. Where else can you have easy access to five federally designated wilderness areassome within walking distance of residential neighborhoods? And just beyond the urban areas of the Salt Lake Valley, youll find a stunning array of alpine lakes, snow-clad mountain peaks, fragrant evergreen forests, and deep-canyon waterfalls.

While there are some spectacular mountain summits and challenging long-distance trails to choose from in the Salt Lake area, the focus of this guide is on the easier trails, along with routes suitable for individuals with disabilities. Trails in this guide vary in length and difficulty, although most routes are short and can be covered within a few hours. This guide focuses on hikes accessed within the Salt Lake Valley and in nearby Big Cottonwood Canyon and Little Cottonwood Canyon.

Many of the hikes in this book have been selected because of their relatively short trail lengths, less-steep inclines, and rewarding views. Although listed hikes vary in length and difficulty, all have two key features in common: each is approximately 2 hours or less in duration and the trailhead is less than an hours drive from the city center.

Most importantly this guide is about finding enjoyment in the outdoors and discovering the scenic wonders, rich natural history, and human history that surrounds us. Remember that its not important to arrive at a destination within a specific time frame, but to enjoy the scenery and travel at a comfortable pace. If the trail appears too dangerous or difficult, feel free to stop and return again on another occasion when conditions are better.

With the large number of trail users in this state, courtesy has become increasingly important in maintaining positive outdoor experiences for all backcountry visitors. The following suggestions can help make everyones visit more enjoyable and memorable.

Adopting a zero impact philosophy encompasses a wide range of outdoor ethics, including staying on the trail (to avoid trampling vegetation and contributing to erosion), packing out litter, and leaving the environment better looking than when you arrived. The book Leave No Trace (falcon. com) is a valuable resource for learning more about these principles.

The following list ranks the hikes in this book from easiest to more challenging.

Easiest
Temple Quarry Trail
Mill B South Interpretive Trail
Silver Lake Interpretive Trail
Snowbird Barrier-Free Trail
Lisa Falls
Little Cottonwood Trail
Ghost Falls
City Creek Park
Jordan River Parkway
City Creek Canyon
Doughnut Falls
Ensign Peak
Albion Meadows Trail
Lake Mary
Cecret Lake
Willow Heights
Twin Lakes
The Living Room
Mill B North Fork Trail to Overlook
The Avenues Twin Peaks
Lake Solitude
Lake Catherine
Sugarloaf Road
More Challenging

Best Hikes for Waterfalls

Best Hikes for Great Views

Best Hikes for Children

Best Hikes for Wildlife