Are you a hiker looking for your next trail? Haven't you ever wanted to escape from the mundane life to the pastoral unblemished surroundings of the Mountains or Desert? Do you ever get the itch to adventure out to some distant peak or explore a canyon you see as you drive down the road? Trust me I have been there. I have a passion for hiking. It doesn't matter what you see or what you do, anyone can enjoy the outdoors in one form or another. Whether you are rich or poor, young or old, every single one of us can enjoy what Utah has to offer. Utah Hiking offers hiking year round from the tops of the Uinta Mountains to the depths of Zion's Canyon.

This is all why I have created this site. Take a look what Utahhikinginfo.com has to offer:

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Overview: An intense 6 mile hike leading to the top of one of the most prominent peaks in the Salt Lake Valley. Spectacular views while hiking, but not for the faint of heart.

• Trail Head: From I-15, take
  the I-215 interchange East toward Big Cottonwood Canyon. Take exit 6 (6200 South) and take a right (east) for about .7 of a mile. Turn left at Wasatch Blvd. and go north for about 1.6 miles. The turn off to the trailhead will sneak up on you as you round a bend in the road, but there is a turning lane into the parking lot.
  
  • Coordinates: 40°39'6.84"N 111°48'22.66"W
    
    

• Distance: 6.8 Miles (round trip)
  
• Difficulty: 5
  
• Hike Time: 6-7 hours
  
• Trail Condition: Steep, well maintained trail until ridge, rocky and steep to summit. Will require minor rock climbing to summit the peak.
  
• Season: Spring through autumn.
  

  
  

Detailed Description: Mount Olympus has been an iconic peak in the Salk Lake Valley for generations and can easily be seen as you travel through. The south face of Mount Olympus is famous for having some of the best tasting water in the Western United States; however, this isn't the best way to summit, having sheer cliffs and other big obstacles. The best way to summit is by using the north face. This hike can be separated into 4 segments: Trailhead to Shoreline, Shoreline to Tolcats Canyon, Tolcats Canyon to Saddle, Saddle to Summit.

• Trailhead to Shoreline: From the parking lot, the trail takes a sharp left going up some dirt steps to Pete's Rock (a popular bouldering rock) and will go about 110 feet in elevation in less than a tenth of a mile. From here the trail turns to the southeast and you will hike through the two shorelines of the ancient Lake Bonneville (about 15,000 years old). The trail will meander southwest up the foothill of Mt. Olympus with a moderate gain in elevation. Depending on how early you start, you will get great views from here of downtown Salt Lake City and Kennecott copper mine as the sun breaks over the Wasatch Range and shines onto the Oquirrh Range and the rest of the Valley. The trail will start to turn back to the north and climb again right at the Bonneville shoreline and have one big switchback as you climb the last hill before you start heading for Tolcats Canyon.
  
  
• Shoreline to Tolcats Canyon: As you leave the open field of the foothill you will find yourself near the top of the north side of the canyon. You will go over two switchbacks which will put you above two cliffs that would have been in your way otherwise. You will follow the cliff ridge for about a 1/10 of a mile which will then take you to an additional set of 5 switchbacks through a grove of scrub oak. From here the trail will straighten out and wrap around the canyon side for a quarter mile until you get to the creek bed. Most of the year this creek is dry, but during the spring run off, there will be water flowing which you may have to jump over or get wet as you walk through.
  
  
• Tolcats Canyon to Saddle: This segment is going to be the longest part and the most frustrating due to the steepness and the number of false summits that will fool you. After crossing the creek bed, you will cross over to the south side of the canyon and start up a number of switchbacks (around 15 or so). In a couple places, the trail will be washed out and may loose it for a few feet, but it is easily found again. During this first portion you will climb about 700 feet of elevation in half a mile. The trail will cross over a flat portion and will then start to follow the south fork of Tolcats Canyon. There trail here has a grade that doesn't quite warrant many switchbacks so you will just be going straight up. By now the sun will have started to warm up the air but you will be in a shade from the surrounding trees and vegetation. The next .6 of a mile will be like this with at least 3 or 4 false summits. Eventually, to great relief, you will see the trail level off and see the horizon at the Saddle. This is a great spot to rest before you push for the summit as it is relatively flat and even has a couple places to camp up here. There are a number of good photo ops as you look across the back side of Mt. Olympus. You will also see more wild life here than at any point of your hike. The last time I hiked it I even saw a big fat rattler, so tread lightly.
  
  
• Saddle to Summit: At the saddle, the trail will circle around to what looks like a sheer cliff and you will start to wonder if there is really any way to get up this. To give you some perspective, the trail will climb about 500 feet in about .8 of a mile. Most of the way you will be rock shelf hopping and at a few points you will actually have to use your rock climbing skills to get up, Most of these aren't very technical, but as always, there is a chance of falling (most of the drops will be less than 5 feet). The top portion of the peak is just a jumble of rocks, but once you get to this point the summit is easily accessible. Before you get to the top, you will want to head over to the west side of the peak where the best unobstructed view of the Salt Lake Valley is. After you rock hop for a couple hundren yards, you will get to the summit with a summit register. Looking around you will see Hobbs peak to the east, Twin Peaks and Lone Peak to the South, the Oquirrh Range and Great Salt Lake to the west, and Salt lake City to the north.
  

Additional information: Make sure you conserve your water for the way back down. If you start early in the morning, chances are you will be climbing down in the heat of the day. Near the bottom there will be no cover and I have seen people become very dehydrated.

Maps:

Hike Maps:

Trailhead to Shoreline

Shoreline to Tolcats Canyon


Tolcats Canyon to Saddle:


Saddle to Summit

Twin Peaks and Lone Peak

Overview: A pretty day hike for those who want a chance to see a bit of the Wasatch Mountains, especially the western face of Mt. Timpanogos.

• Trail Head: From I-15, take
  exit 272 towards 8^th North in Orem. Turn left at 400 E. Turn right at 200 S/2000 N. Take the 3^rd left onto Dry Canyon Dr. This road will pass some big houses and eventually turn into a dirt road. There is a big parking area at the trailhead. (See Map)
  
  • Coordinates: 40°20'20.26"N 111°40'35.18"W
    
    
• Distance: 3.5 Miles
  
• Difficulty: 3
  
• Hike Time: 4-6 hours
  
• Trail Condition: Well maintained until ridge, rocky and steep to summit
  
• Season: Year Round (snowshoes are preferred during winter)
  

  
  

Detailed Description: Big Baldy shares its name with approximately 5 other peaks in Utah. This one, sometimes referred to as just "Baldy," is a medium-sized, prominent peak at the West face of Mt. Timpanogos. There are two main trails to get to Big Baldy; one of which follows the much steeper south ridge, but the one described here follows Dry Canyon to the east ridge of Big Baldy, the one which connects it to Timpanogos.

There are trail signs pointing the way at nearly every fork until you get to the east ridge – but the funny thing is, none of them mention Big Baldy. At the first fork, choose trail 049, Dry Canyon Trail; this will be the main trail you will need to follow. Just know that there is no sign marking where the trail splits to go up the east ridge of Big Baldy, but it is easy to spot this trail, because if you want to get to the top of Big Baldy, there's no other way to go. Just keep a lookout to your left; the trail will be marked 020 with a brown trail marker. If you continue on this trail, eventually you will reach the Timpooneke trailhead, which is one way to summit Mt. Timpanogos.

Additional information: Expect to travel through large fields of prairie grass, and on wet years, the prairie grass grows over the trail, so it feels like you're walking through the center of a meadow. Most of this is a very open hike, so take plenty of sunscreen and liquids. And, at sunrise, and sunset, be ready to see some wildlife, especially white tailed deer.

During the dead of winter, when the snow has hardened, there is a direct route to the summit of Mt. Timpanogos that experienced climbers use to train for big climbs in the Himalayas. This climb does require snow and ice gear as well as climbing equipment and we suggest only experienced climbers try this.

Maps:

©Google Earth

Pictures:

Overview: Arguably the most recognized rock arch in the world, Delicate Arch is a wonder to behold. Not only is the Delicate Arch amazing, the hike through the great Utah slick rock and surrounding desert is a great preview to the main event!

Trail Head: Take 1-70 to the HWY 191/Moab Exit. Take 191 south until you get to the Arches National Park turn off (approximately 25 miles). After the park turnoff, travel just over 9 miles to the Delicate Arch/Wolf Ranch turnoff, then another 1.25 miles to the Wolfe Ranch parking area.

• Coordinates: 38°44'09.19.07"N 109°31'14.20"W
  
  

• Distance: 3 Miles round trip
  
• Difficulty: 3
  
• Hike Time: 2-3 hours
  
• Trail Condition: Maintained National Park Trail over packed dirt and slick rock.
  
• Season: Year Round
  
• Fees: $5 for individuals, $10 per vehicle. Passport to Canyonlands, Arches, Hovenweep, and Natural Bridges, $25
  

Detailed Description: The Hike to Delicate Arch is a moderate hike with an elevation gain of around 560 feet spread over 1.5 miles (the biggest elevation gain happens in the last half mile). There is no shade anywhere on this trail and the red rock will reflect most of the heat back to you well through the afternoon and evening. As you leave the parking lot and start on the trail, the Wolfe Ranch corral and house is still standing after 100 years thanks to preservation efforts. If you plan on looking at this we suggest doing it before the hike as you probably will only be interested in your air conditioned car when you get back. Just after the Ranch, the trail will cross over Salt Wash which leads to the Colorado River and then up the first incline. There is one big switchback up this incline with a gain of about 50 feet. The trail will continue for about half a mile on a packed dirt trail at which point you will start to cross onto slickrock. You will then be following the slickrock for the rest of the hike; the path on the slick rock will be faint at times but you will see rock cairns set up by the park rangers to guide you past these points. As you get near the arch, the rock formations will start to be amazing so keep your head up as you pass these rills and channels carved into the slick rock. The last push will take you around a giant petrified sand dune with a steep wash and mini slot canyon that you will skirt and some careless hikers have been known to fall in. As you round the last turn the Delicate Arch will come into a spectacular full view with a slickrock bowl on one side and a steep cliff on the other. The view is awesome and through late spring the distant snow-capped mountains give a great contrast to the desert you are surrounded by.

Additional information: The Park Service suggest you take a liter of water for this hike, especially in Summer when temperatures reach 110° F. or more.

Maps:

Overview: Awe striking desert hike around an ancient Meteor Crater or collapsed Salt Dome (geologists are still arguing this point). A great full day hike or quick in and out "looksee" hike depending on your time frame. Wonderful views of the Green River and surrounding Canyon Country await.

Trail Head: Take I-70 west to the Moab/HWY 191 exit. Travel south about 10 miles to the HWY 313 turnoff and travel an additional 17 miles to Canyonlands National Park and an additional 2 miles to the Island in the Sky Visitor Center. About 6 miles from the visitor center follow the sign by turning right (West). Travel an additional 5.5 miles to the Upheaval Dome Parking Lot.

• Coordinates: 38°25'34.53"N 109°55'33.97"W
  
  

• Distance: 12 Mile Loop including hiking to the center of the crater. 1.5 miles to the overlooks.
  
• Difficulty: Loop – 4.5; Overlooks – 3.
  
• Trail Condition: Rocky trail with loose talus in portions
  
• Hike Time: 6 -7 hours or more depending on fitness level
  
• Season: Year Round (Due to heat we highly suggest going in Spring or Fall)
  
• Fees: Canyonlands National Park fees- $10 per vehicle for 7 days ($5 for foot or bike).
  

Detailed Description: The first thing we suggest to do is to pick up the Upheaval Dome/Crater View Trail Guide which will explain much of what you will be seeing as you hike. The next suggestion is to take the overlook trail to get a lay of the trail before you embark, especially if you do not have a GPS unit. The trail to the first overlook point is about a quarter mile if you want to take in the second one it is about half a mile so it won't really add much to your hike time. Since this is a loop you can choose to go either way around the crater. This trail description will assume you are taking the counter-clockwise route around the crater. We will split up the trail into 4 segments: Trailhead to North Ridge, Descent to Syncline Valley, Crater Center, and South Ridge/Final Ascent.

• Trailhead to North Ridge: From the Trailhead you will start out going northeast for a small distance until you meet up with the main trail. To get to the overlooks, continue to go straight, otherwise turn right. You will follow the south ridge as you start to circle the crater. About half a mile the crater rim will slope down enough to see a great view of the Syncline Valley leading from the center of the crater to the Green River to the northwest. The trail will then start to peel away from the crater and start to follow the outer rim. Once you meet up with the outer rim you will follow this around the east side for about another mile. From here you will see that erosion from wind and water has cut away a small canyon that leads down to the crater floor.
  
  
• Descent to Syncline Valley: Here the trail will follow a deep cut in the eastern rim and will descent fairly rapidly for about a quarter mile. Once you exit from this part, the canyon will head west for about a mile. This section will be hot and dry with little shade, especially in the summer, being in line with the sun so make sure you are prepared. Since the valley is so narrow it channels what little water there is here through this portion of the canyon thus there will be more vegetation here than in other parts of the hike. At the end of this mile you will come to the final descent into the Syncline Valley. As you start to go down you will descend through a number of switchbacks going from the north side of the canyon to the south for about a quarter mile. The trail will start to flatten out here as you reach the valley floor. Another half mile from here you will get to a trail junction in the middle of the Syncline Valley.
  
  
• Crater Center: At the junction take the trail east. The trail through the crater will wind through a dry stream bed and is just over 4 miles to the crater center and back. About half a mile from the trail junction you will make it through the outer-ring of the crater. Another ¾ mile you will get through the inner ring. There isn't much difference between these two rings when hiking the trail besides the different colors of the rock formation. The center of the crater is like a solar oven during the day as the surrounding rock focuses the sunlight into the center. Make sure you have plenty of water before you go in. In the middle there is an uplift of rock giving more evidence that this is an impact crater instead of a collapsed dome. You will hike around to the north side until you get to a small channel that leads up to the big hill in the middle. The top of the hill is a perfect spot for a panoramic picture. Once you have had your fill, hike the same trail down to the junction. At the junction continue past this for another .3 miles to reach a second junction.
  
  
• South Ridge/Final Ascent: From the Syncline Valley junction take the trail on your left going in a southward direction through another dry stream bed. This bed will wind around for about 2/3 of a mile and will then straighten out as you slowly start to rise along the outer ring of the crater. The straight part of the rim will go about half a mile which you should enjoy while you can because the next part will be the hardest part of the hike. As you look up you will see the trail climb steeply with an elevation gain of nearly 400 feet in a quarter mile. There are a number of switchbacks here that will get monotonous after the first few. But luckily you will see yourself rise out of the canyon. The trail will then straighten out for about half a mile with a moderate elevation gain. Then you will see another ridge above you that the trail will wind up with a dozen or so switchbacks. Once you get past this, the worst is behind you. From here you will still rise in elevation but nowhere as much as you have just done. From this point you have less than a mile to make it back to the parking lot. This part will make you anxious since you are so close as you go over the last remaining little hills. Good Luck!
  

  
  

Additional information: If you choose to make this an overnighter, a great place to camp is near the Green River which is another 3.4 miles from the center of Syncline Valley. This portion of the river is a welcome relief after a long hike since it is the only water in the vicinity to take a swim. If you choose to stay overnight, there is an additional $15 overnight fee which is available at the Visitor Center.

Trailhead to North Ridge

Final Ascent

Crater Center Trail

Overview: Moderately strenuous hike popular for both BYU Athletes and Coeds. If you want to escape the crowd continue up past the Y for some beautiful scenery that most people don't see!

Trail Head: Take the I-15 to the University Avenue Exit in Provo UT. Take University Ave to 800 N. This will change to 820 N, but keep following it towards Y Mountain, and veer right up the foothill until you reach the trailhead.

• Coordinates: 40°14'41.24"N 111°37'37.89"W
  
  

• Distance: 2.4 Miles
  
• Difficulty: 3.5
  
• Hike Time: 4-6 hours
  
• Trail Condition: Well-maintained steep trail up to the Y, well-maintained and steep after the Y to the summit, but can be covered with brush during very wet years.
  
• Season: Spring through Late Autumn
  

Detailed Description: The first part of the hike up to the Y is very steep with about 13 switchbacks and a well-maintained, trail. If you can make it to the Y, that's when the trail gets interesting. The trail continues to the south from the top of the Y, and curves around the east face of the mountain through Slide Canyon, gaining elevation the whole time. The scenery will gradually change from a relatively dry, grassy mountainside with the occasional scrub oak, to a luscious scrub oak forest in the canyon. After that, the trail opens up a bit to a green meadow before the trail forks allowing you to choose to hike up to the east or west peak. If you choose the west peak, the trail steepens and the brush becomes much more dense, almost jungle-like, with some heavy patches of stinging nettle (be careful!). After passing through some gorgeous fields of wildflowers, you'll reach the west summit.

From the east side of Y Mount, you will get some pretty good scenic views of the mountains to the east, the most prominent of which is Provo Peak.

Additional information: There is a possibility to see many forms of wildlife. Early morning, and dusk are the best times to see deer and moose, and there's always a possibility of seeing a cougar or a bear! Cougars aren't that common, and if there is one around, chances are it will run away before you even knew it was there. My brother and I actually encountered a black bear our first time hiking Y Mountain! Fortunately, it was more scared of us than we were of it, and it ran away pretty quickly.

Maps: