10 Best Outdoor Adventures in Salt Lake City

Ensign Peak is a short hill at the northern end of the city behind the State Capitol Building. It's famously known as the spot that Mormon settlers first climbed to survey the land and plan the city that they intended to build. You can now find a monument and plaque at the summit in remembrance of this historic event.

It's a family-friendly hike that gradually winds its way to the top of the peak. If you’re fairly fit, you can expect to be at the lookout within 20 minutes, making it a nice short walk. It’s particularly popular at sunset, as the view stretching across the cityscape with the setting sun is quite stunning.

Park City Mountain is a sprawling skiing and snowboarding resort area that covers an impressive 7,300 acres of mountain terrain. It's considered the largest ski resort in the country and is located just 30 miles southeast of downtown Salt Lake City.

Its well-groomed trails and powder-filled bowls are of elite standards and the resort even hosted 4 events in the Winter Olympic Games in 2002. However, there are options for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels and the area is popular with families. In spring and summer, Park City’s runs are transformed into hiking and biking trails, making it open all year round.

Snowbird Resort is considered one of the premium outdoor adventure areas around Salt Lake City. The resort is in Little Cottonwood Canyon, just 20 miles from the city center. One of its best activities is the scenic aerial tram that rides from the resort up to Hidden Peak. The 10-minute trip takes you along a 1.6-mile cable up 2,900 vertical ft with incredible views of the Wasatch Range.

The cable car is open throughout the year. However, in summer it’s popular with keen mountain bikers. A downhill trail known as Big Mountain Trail starts from Hidden Peak and descends down for 7.5 miles. It’s considered one of the most scenic downhill bike trails in the Salt Lake City area.

Alta Ski Area is the second-oldest ski resort in the United States having been opened since 1938. It’s most well-known for its deep snow and long, fast runs for skiers. It’s located just 2 miles further up Little Cottonwood Canyon from Snowbird Resort.

Alta Ski Area is different from Salt Lake City’s other resorts by being a ski-only area, with no snowboarding allowed. It’s praised by international and elite downhill skiers for its top-quality runs and some of the best powder fields in the world. However, beginners and intermediates are also accommodated with several slopes designated just for them.

The Bonneville Shoreline Trail is a long-distance network of trails that follows the shoreline of the prehistoric Lake Bonneville in Northern Utah. The current trail stretches for 100 miles along the Wasatch Front but is proposed to one day reach for some 280 miles across the state.

The main section of the official trail skirts around the eastern edge of Salt Lake City towards Ogden in the north. The trail is designated mixed-use, meaning you can run, walk or bike on it. If you want to tackle a short section for a day, it's possible to access the trail from City Creek, just northeast of the Utah State Capital Building. The views along this section of the trail are beautiful, stretching across the city skyline.

Solitude Mountain Resort is a ski resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon, just a 30-minute drive outside of Salt Lake City. The 1,200 acres of uncrowded slopes and fresh powder makes it a great choice for a winter ski or snowboard trip.

It’s far less crowded than Park City on the other side of the valley, which is surprising considering its close proximity to the city center. It has 80 named runs with 8 chairlifts that accommodate skill levels from beginner up to advanced skiers. The canyon receives an incredible 500 inches of snow in winter, but in summer the resort’s lifts remain open for hikers and bikers.

Lake Blanche is a beautiful alpine lake sitting just below Sundial Peak in Big Cottonwood Canyon. It’s accessible by a well-marked hiking trail that leaves from the Mill B South Picnic Area, a 20-minute drive from Salt Lake City.

It’s a stunning moderate hike through scrub oak and aspen trees amidst the towering quartzite rocky outcrops. From Lake Blanche, it’s possible to continue a little further around to two other lakes known as Florence and Lillian, if you have the extra energy. The 7-mile return hike should take around 4 hours for a moderately fit person, though it’s best to allow some extra time to relax at the lake’s shore.

Antelope Island is the largest island on the Great Salt Lake, which lies northwest of Salt Lake City. The 28,000-acre island is almost devoid of infrastructure, serving as a significant wildlife haven. The island is accessed by a causeway. You can pay the park's fee at the entrance.

The island and state park offer a range of recreational activities, from hiking and biking to boating and kayaking. As you explore the island whichever way that you choose, be on the lookout for deer, coyotes, antelope, bison and a variety of bird species. It’s also possible to camp the night, as limited tent and RV sites are available on Antelope Island.