Ensign Peak

Take a short hike that overlooks all of downtown Salt Lake City.

This unique hike is located near a residential area near the state capitol building. Parking is not hard to find if there aren’t enough spots in the actual parking lot at the trailhead. Ensign Peak trailhead is a popular trail for young families and college students in the Salt Lake Valley. The trail is short (less than one-mile round trip) but does get steep at the top of the trail. It can be accessed year-round but is most popular during the summertime. 

Hiking shoes aren’t entirely necessary for this hike, but a pair of good tennis shoes are recommended. There is a large brick monument at the top representing one of the founders of the state. Please stay on the trail going up and back to avoid disturbing the natural vegetation surrounding the trail. You will see excellent views of the state capitol building, downtown Salt Lake City, and even the Great Salt Lake at the top of the hill. Sunrise and sunset hikes are common here among locals. If you bring binoculars, you can also get a glimpse of Utah Lake from the top of Ensign Peak. Be sure to bring a camera with you to capture the awesome bird’s eye view from this spot.