The best view of Salt Lake City is here! You can see the entire valley from this spot. Take…read moresneakers and get ready for a 25 minute hike going up the entire way. Worth it! There are areas to take breaks, too.

Ensign Peak Nature Park is an easy and enjoyable hike, even if you're not in the best shape. The…read moretrail is nice and not too long, and the payoff at the top is amazing, you get a beautiful, panoramic view of the entire Salt Lake City valley. Totally worth the effort for the scenery and the experience!

I had to pick my jaw up off the ground so many times! Silver Lake was absolutely beautiful. The…read morewater was crystal clear and the mountains in the background were breathtaking. I loved the boardwalk around the lake. I was hoping to see a moose but didn't. A little girl walked by and said "mommy, isn't this where the moose was last week?" Non the less, I would do it over and over. I loved Silver Lake and I loved Utah! @outdoorswithmandy

Nice. It's a hiking trail. And it's got dirt, trees, and some grass. Sometimes the sun is there,…read moresometimes it's not. Catch a vibe.

I love taking friends from out of town on this hike! It's long enough that you feel like you did…read moresomething active, but not too far or too difficult that your friends never trust you to pick a trail again. The trail can be crowded at certain times of the day/year and it can seem confusing because of lack of signage/multiple spur trails but you really can't get lost if you keep heading towards the mountains. This trail is dog friendly! And the dog owners are very respectful and responsible. Which makes this trail even more fun to try!

Trivia: What university originally established in 1850 as the University of Deseret and used in the…read more2002 Winter Olympics sits rather close to the base of this trail? Finding the actual trail can be a little bit of a challenge. From the road where everyone seems to park, we started on a shaded, tree-lined trail that looked promising. But after a short jaunt, we arrived in a dusty, tree free area with trails going in lots of directions. The group in front of us took off like they knew where they were going, but I wasn't fooled by their confidence. Yay Me! But BOOO on the existence of trail markings. I reviewed the map and pointed my hiking companion and I to the trail I thought was most closely aligned with GOOGLE maps and AllTrails. Service was a little spotty. Luckily, it all worked out! The trail is a solid 1000-1200 feet of elevation over a mile which is a solid click of UP. Bring water as shade is rare and the trees are really more shrubs and bush size. The living room area is superb, but depending on the time of day, VERY congested. The seats will feel like the best chair you've ever parked your tired rump, and you will begrudgingly give them up when the crowds form around you.

Absolutely stunning state park north west of the SLC area. only $15 for a vehicle, $5 for a…read moremotorcycle. There is so much to do here! Take in the epic views of the great salt lake from up high, walk along the coastline of the lake. There hiking trails up the mountains. There are bison all over to explore and photograph, as well as tons of species of birds to watch. If you're lucky you'll spot some Antelope or long horn sheep. Saw lots and local bicyclists, I imagine it wpuld be a blast to ride. You can park at the entrance and ride in at a small parking lot. The drive down the eastern coast is spectacular and if you don't mind a dirt road you can continue for a little further to the southern tip. Or stop at the pavement and check out the ranch that's been there for generations. What a cool place, I am so glad I got to visit an check it out. Ext time I'll stay for an extended period in one of the campgrounds!!

Gnats were out in force, but overall the best 15 bucks I spent in UT…read more You have to like driving... Went out around 5 and were there for the long sunset. Bison! Dirt roads! Very few other cars! Amazing panoramas! We will be back.

This is my type of hike-more like a mild nature walk with all my favorite things: water, trees and…read morewildlife. There's a good sized parking lot with some restrooms (which were unfortunately poorly maintained due to staffing issues-but that's another review). There are a few nice overlook spots along the trail and even a few benches to stop and enjoy the scenery. I noticed that there were many spots in the grassy area that appeared to be burned. As I was wondering aloud what those meant, I came across a sign that explained that they were prescribed burns to prevent the existing trees from choking out. They need space to grow. The water is incredibly clear and the stream has a lovely flow to it. There are some spots that are a little more sparse than others, so it might not be the most magnificent trail you'll find in the mountains, but if it's along your path and you'd like a short walk, it's definitely worth visiting.

Cascade Springs is a nice leisurely walk along wooden or paved walkways…read more Unfortunately, we came in November, so most of the landscape was dry, dead, or brown. But looking at other reviewer's pictures, we could see that during other seasons, the landscape and all the foliage are very colorful. The little streams and tiny waterfalls were peaceful and serene. Also, bring bug spray!

Everywhere I look these days, it seems that people are posting pictures of amazing fall colors. We…read moredo live in a beautiful state and it's appropriate for us to step outside, take a look around and appreciate when nature shows off. I joined a group of hikers and hit the trails this past week, in search of some great fall colors. Bell Canyon did not disappoint. There is plenty of parking at the trailhead, including clean bathrooms. The first part of the trail is pretty rocky and has a decent elevation gain-poles are helpful, but at the least, have good shoes with some traction. Once you get to the reservoir, it's pretty flat and there are lots of places you can get amazing pictures. Be sure to take some time down by the water-it's so calming and just beautiful. There were some detour signs on the trail, so we didn't get the full experience (not sure why it was closed, but we tried to follow signs until they suddenly stopped. So we turned around and came the way we went.) Overall, it's a beautiful hike and I'd love to come try it again when the trail is open.

We started at the entrance on Wasatch Blvd near the residential area; and then, ended up at the…read morewaterfall. It took us about 4 hours to hike approx. 6 miles with short breaks in between for water. It's a mixer of flat, incline, rocky, slippery (snow still out towards end of hike), upward steps, and mini bridges to cross over small water streams. There are surrounding plants and trees, but most are barely blooming. Didn't see any wildlife animals, but saw a few squirrels crossing our paths lol. The hike itself wasn't too hard. I'd rate it intermediate. It was only challenging because the paths towards the end were slippery due to snow still out and melting. It was fun with some close calls. Luckily I found a stick on the way to use. We passed by the lake at the beginning of the hike, which was nice. Once we reached the waterfall, we took a refreshing break; snacked a bit; embraced the beautiful nature; and then, headed back where we started. It was harder to hike down the slippery snow than it was to hike to the waterfall. I'd come back to hike this place during fall to see the vibrant color of the trees.

This review is for Silver Lake Trail which was a ~4.5 miles round trip that took ~3.5 hours to…read morecomplete. This was another one of those hikes that was stunning from beginning to end near Alpine, Utah. Trail begins with a surrounding of aspen trees and eventually becomes an exposed area as you climb up the side of the mountain towards the lake. There were two water crossings at this time and easy to cross with the logs and rocks. For the most part, the trail was narrow and rocky with a steady incline. Required to drive on a bumpy dirt road for ~3 miles. Recommend a high clearance vehicle. Parking lot can fill up fast at the trailhead because the people who kayak, swim, etc at the Silver Lake Flat Reservoir also park in this area. Unfortunately, the restrooms were disgusting and not maintained at this time. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/T2qSWpR7pIM

Beautiful hike, hard but worth it once you get to the top and swim in the freezing cold refreshing…read morelake. Incline majority of the hike so not for beginners. Road to get there is also rough so only recommend taking SUV/Trucks up.

Hands down one of my favorite places in Utah. The hiking is incredible, with so many trails to…read morechoose from that it never gets old. It's also super dog-friendly, which makes it even better, I love being able to bring my pup along and see other happy dogs out on the trails. I come here year-round and every season is special in its own way. Snowshoeing in the winter is peaceful and beautiful, and visiting in the summer, fall, and spring brings totally different scenery and vibes each time. Whether you're hiking, snowshoeing, or just soaking in nature, Millcreek Canyon is a gem and absolutely worth five stars.

Millcreek Canyon is located close to Big Cottonwood Canyon but is far more pet-friendly. In fact,…read moreit felt designed with dogs in mind--there were bag and trash stations for pet waste, plus signs posted noting which days dogs are allowed off-leash. We love giving Luna off-leash time on hikes like this, as long as she stays on the trails and listens when we call her back or ask her to wait. After a long day of driving, we decided to stretch our legs on the Rattlesnake Trail (not my favorite name, but we went for it). The hike was 2.79 miles and took us about 1.5 hours to complete. It was rated as moderate, with plenty of inclines and beautiful views on the way up--the descent was much easier. Entry was $5, which you pay on your way out. Overall, it was a great way to get some exercise and let Luna roam in a safe, welcoming environment.

Donut Falls is a very special place to me, and it's accessibility makes it a great family-friendly…read morehike. You can choose to scale the slick rocks to the top of the waterfall if you're feeling bold, just be super cautious and be sure you're experienced and wearing proper gear. Even if you choose not to, you'll still be rewarded with incredible views!

First time in Utah, and this was our very first stop. It's a bit of a drive followed by a 1.5-mile…read morehike, but it's well worth it. The road to the trailhead is bumpy, so take it slow. The parking lot is small, though there's some overflow parking along the road. Bathroom facilities are available, so be sure to use them if needed. About halfway to the falls, you'll pick up a small stream, which makes the hike even nicer. Most of the trail is shaded by trees, which helped keep us cool. Once you reach the falls, it can get a bit congested with people. The views from the bottom are beautiful, but the real spectacle is the "donut" itself -- I've seen the photos, and it looks incredible. There are signs asking people not to climb up, but the allure of the falls seemed too strong for some, and a few went to the top anyway. One thing to be aware of: there were a couple of areas with ground bees swarming, so stay alert and watch your step. A beautiful spot -- absolutely worth the time and effort.

If you are in Park City in the warmer weather you MUST take this drive to Mirror Lake. In the…read moreautumn the many colors are overwhelming. Hint - look for the Beaver Creek Nudist Ranch! The on way back take the back road to Heber City then back to Park City.

So many lakes. So many trails. So many places to backpack or camp, and only an hour from Salt Lake…read moreCity. The Uintas have a million secret treasures. The more you go, the more you find. Love the Uintas year round, but the mosquitos are FOR REAL in summer. Go prepared.