OH the stairs, the stairs. They can be a blessing or a curse. Stairs were put in to help with the…read morevery steep elevation gain going up to Mount Olympus or Bonneville Shoreline Trail. Personally I like hiking just on the dirt trail, even though there is a very steep elevation. Because it has been so dry this trailhead is very slippery. I didn't use any poles coming up here, and thought maybe I should have to help me from slipping every which way. This is another busy, busy trail, and is narrow in parts which makes it hard to pass. There is no shade on this trail if you turn off on the BST, except if you hike all the way down to the subdivision right towards the end there is a bit of shade, but for the most part there is none. This is also a very noisy trail, and you hear traffic all the way along the trail, unless you go further up closer to Mount Olympus. There has been no parking for years except on the street, so I was glad to see that there is a small one being built right by the trailhead. **Dogs are allowed on this trail, but please pick up after them. ***No bathroom available

"What was I thinking?" That phrase went through my mind over and over again on this hike. This…read morewas hard. 1) Bring a lot of water. I went on a day that was about 90 degrees in the valley, so I thought I was prepared by taking 3 liters of water in my camelbak and then another 16 oz Gatorade. I ran out of liquid. I was sooo dehydrated by the end. I typically carry around a 40 oz hydroflask everywhere, so I do drink more water than most people... but still... be prepared. 2) Trekking poles are a good idea for this hike. Definitely not needed, but lots of people had them and I was grateful for mine. My upper body was able to take a lot of the stress off of my quads and knees. 3) Bring snacks. I ate an apple, some fruit snacks, some almonds, half a protein bar, and some Clif Shot Blocks. I also brought tuna, but didn't touch it. You're working hard for an extended period of time. You need some fuel to keep you going. 4) Head up early, if you can! It seems like this hike typically takes people 3-8 hours. I was right in the middle with being just shy of 6 hours. I did go all the way to the top and I took a few good sit down breaks. 5) Last, but definitely not least. The scramble to the top? It's hard. You are climbing up big rocks. It's fairly technical. WEAR GOOD SHOES! Leave the worn out tennis shoes at home. Wear your best, most grippy trail shoes for this. I was terrified of this scramble. Almost turned around. But I made it up, and if you take it slow on the way back down, it's not too bad. You can do it. Just be safe, smart, slow.

This is a great hike!!…read more I love this hike. It is very difficult but worth it! The trail is pretty flat along the fire access road but from the trail head on it is a pretty steep incline with lots of switchbacks. There is no shade on the south side of the loop but there is some shade on the north side of it. Patsy's Mine is passed along the south side of trail and is really cool...bring flashlights!! Be cautious as we have ran into rattlesnakes. The view from the top is amazing!! The whole valley can be seen and as the name states...there is a flag sticking out of the rocks at the top...breathtaking!!

This trail on the southeast side of town is beautiful, well shaded, and right along a stream. The…read moretrailhead is in a neighborhood. There are some parking spaces flanking the trail, and overflow parking down the street. Other parking along the street is permit only, with warning signs that threaten fines and towing without notice. A paved ramp and amphitheatre sit trail adjacent. The beginning of the trail looks tame and fairly pleasant (except for all the dog poo bags littered about; carry the poo out, people). But don't be fooled! It quickly turns rocky and the are some steep areas. After rain, the sandy spots can be a bit slick. The bubbling water and shade are quite pleasant on a hot day. But it can be a bit buggy. I was bitten by what looked to be some black flies and mosquitoes. The trail isn't well marked and there are a few offshoots that lead in different directions. Some parts seem narrow and overgrown. For the most part, follow the water to stay on the trail. I didn't see many people. Most people appeared towards the beginning of the trail; most with dogs off leash. A nice trail for respite from the sun, but is not really a beginner's trail. Footwear with good grip and ankle support recommended.

Oh man if you are looking for a challenging hike this one is for you…read more I had no idea this trail even existed so close to the city until, I ran across a review from an old friend of mine on google maps. Cool that there is a hike that's close to the city and is dog friendly. I used google maps to get me to this hike. It's in a neighborhood, and has very limited parking. There isn't parking on the street in front of the houses, unless you have a permit, your car will be towed. (there is overflow parking about a block or so down the street) Now back to the trail review... At first the trail is pretty easy, and I had my dog on a leash obeying the signs. Pretty quickly the trail starts to get a bit rocky, and you run into some make shift stairs going down closer to the river, which you can hear right away. Then the elevation gain starts, and doesn't end until you come down from your hike. The trail is beautiful, and has a good amount of shade and water. The trail is not well defined as far as signage goes. At one point I came to a stand still because I didn't know where to go. The trail I was on came right up to the river, and I couldn't see a trail beyond if you crossed it, and there definitely wasn't a defined trail to my right. I thought what do I do now cross the river? Thankfully a family with small children came around the rocky bend and I asked them which way to go. They said they always take the rocky way through the river. It's a good thing I had my hiking boots on. Most of this hike is ROCKY, climbing over boulders and very large rocks on very sandy soil. It didn't help that it rained this morning. I was slipping and sliding. At this point I took my dog off her leash. It's not in your best interest or the dogs to be dragged on this rocky trail ,with a leash around it's neck, getting pulled here and there. There was one point on the trail that was almost a 99% vertical climb that I sat down with tears in my eyes. I was scared. I kept thinking I have to come down this when I turn around. I should just turn around now, but I wanted to finish to the end to feel a sense of accomplishment. There are no switchbacks on this trail that would have helped with this section, so I made my own, and got past this section. I was holding on to what I could and said "I don't care if there are any snakes I have to get out of here". (as luck would have it there wasn't any, I think I would have passed out if there was coming face to face with a rattler) Each part of the trail became more beautiful, and more changeling. I ran across a section where you could tell a rock slide happened, and you just kept climbing over the boulders. "I can make it, I know I can." There were two sections that you have to walk through the river to continue on the trail. I don't know how the river is at any other time of the year, but it wasn't rushing so fast that you couldn't pass it if you want to go to the end. You have to pass it. I logged on the the all trails app to make sure I was on the trail. It said I was and I only had a little ways left to go to the end. Rain clouds were forming and I thought I better turn back because the trail was slippery enough I didn't need to be caught on the trail when it was a down pour. Plus my little doggy was doing this trail as well, I had to think of her too. There was hardly any people on this trail today, but when I did run across any, they had younger kids with them. Mind you All Trails has this trail rated as Hard. The rain clouds started to form so I turned around. I have to say it was easier to come down than it was to go up. When I came down I ran into a couple of people learning how to mountain climb. I guess this is a popular spot to do that. I would like to go back, and climb all the way to the top. Next time I'll know what to expect, but seriously doubt I'll make it.

My friend showed me this spot and it's such a treasure! There's so many beautiful flowering plants…read moreand trees, and a gorgeous bridge overlooking the river. It's the perfect easy nature walk to clear your head or catch up with a loved one.

Miller Nature Park and Bird Refuge is a great place to go for a short walk through a natural…read moreenvironment. Trail follows along both sides of the creek with two bridges. Gravel surface is well maintained and makes for easy walking. You can walk the loop in less than 30 minutes unless you stop to enjoy the beauty of this short trail.

Short 2.0 mile out and back single track multi use trail with a 341 elevation gain…read more You can continue on up the canyon to the Ensign peak overlook for a 180 degree look of the valley. Or you can continue up the mountain where the trail will split so that you can either hike the BST, or hike over to the City Creek Trail that is closer to Memory Grove Park. I just hiked up to the overlook today and I was able to clock in 7.4 miles. The overlook has great views of Salt Lake City, Great Salt Lake, and the mountains. It gets very hot (as do all trails in this area) and has no shade. Wildflowers galore, and they are in full bloom right now if you like hiking trails with flowers. Be careful of the bees. **Info for mountain bikers: This is a narrow piece of singletrack with very tight switchbacks. Some loose baseball-sized rocks, tight corners, and rocky steps make this a challenging climb ending at the foot of Crag's Trail. Per the Salt Lake City Foothills Trail System Master Plan, this trail is rated as Black Diamond and is only open to all uphill users, with downhill bikes prohibited. (Lots of bikers going downhill today. Not cool) Of course there are always rule breakers as the case today. Trail is narrow so hard to find a place to pull off the trail, luckily it wasn't crowded today. Dogs are allowed on trail if leashed. Please pick up your doggy bags and throw them away. *No restrooms **Limited parking #leavenotrace

This is a 2.7 mile hike up to the overlook. Trail follows Desolation Trail up Thaynes Canyon…read more This is a very narrow busy, rocky, trail that allows dogs. Most of the trail is in the shade with some parts in direct sunlight. There are a few rock scrambles the closer you get to the lookout but are doable. Watch your step passing as there are a few sections of the trail that are right next to the cliffs edge. When you get to the overlook there are a couple of big rocks that you can climb to get that extra special picture of the valley. If you come at sundown you will get some fantastic sunset pictures. This is a really good hike with a steady elevation gain to get your heat pumping but is short enough to not take all day. Highly recommended.

Bring bug spray as there's lots of bugs & be cautious as there was a rattle snake on my way down…read more Beautiful view, worth it!

Trail starts at the end of a dead end street. There isn't a sign to mark the trailhead, but you can…read moreclearly see where the trail starts. This trail is rated Easy, and meanders for 3.3 miles in and out, with an elevation gain of 20 feet. If you are looking for a nice leisurely walk this is a good one. We were the only ones on the trail this morning, but I could see bike tracks, and some makeshift hills for mountain bikes. This trail would be a good trail for runners as well.

Dog Lake is a beautiful hike accessible from both Millcreek Canyon and Big Cottonwood Canyon. It's…read moreparticularly lovely during the autumn when the leaves change and the aspens are brilliant gold. It's also a beautiful hike in the late spring and summer when the wildflowers bloom. You can hike and mountain bike to Dog Lake, and if you approach it from Millcreek Canyon, dogs are allowed.

There are a variety of trails to go up to Dog Lake. It was a very beautiful trail with a lot of…read morewild flowers and butterflies. Bikers and dogs can go on the trails. Even days bikers can go on the trails. It was a relatively cool weather even though the weather in the valley was over 90 degrees. Parking can get a little crowded after 9, it could be because there were many bikers going on the trails. There are overflow parking that's a little farther away from the hiking trails.