Years ago I flew into Salt Lake City on my way to Montana for a summer internship, and all I remember from flying in and out was the incredible size of the Great Salt Lake, and all of the salt that surrounded it. In the distance, the snow-capped mountains stood majestic against a blue sky, and the city stood in the midst of a beautiful valley. I remember thinking at the time, "I'll be back." Well, I finally made it back.
My husband and I had the chance to take a quick trip to Salt Lake City without kids and we had a wonderful time exploring. I have to say, this is a city that is very walkable. It's easy to get around on foot or by Uber, and there is a lot to see within a short distance!
These are just a few highlights of our trip.
Swimming In The Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake is visible from the airplane no matter which direction you're coming in from. The white salt surrounding the lake and area identifies just how salty the lake really is! The earth's oceans have around 3% salinity, while Great Salt Lake has 5-27% in certain parts. It's saltier! And part of the reason it's so buoyant when you're in it.
There is a $10 admittance fee to the Great Salt Lake State Park where there is a decent parking lot if you want to drive, outdoor showers to rinse the salt off, and a gift shop with bathrooms, souvenirs and historic facts about the lake.
Also located on the lake is The Great Saltair, an outdoor concert venue and amphitheater - it's visible from the State Park.
Downtown Salt Lake City
As I mentioned earlier, it's such an easy city to walk. Everything is fairly close! We stayed at The Grand America Hotel in downtown which made it easy to get around. Salt Lake City has its own light rail system called TRAX that runs through much of the downtown area, and parts of it are free to ride. Check out the website before you go for ease of getting around! Because everything was so close, we walked everywhere and enjoyed the warm, dry air. It felt like an oasis after our extreme heat and humidity!
Temple Square
The Mormon temple is located northeast toward the Utah State Capitol building in downtown Salt Lake. The temple was closed and under construction while we were there - however we walked through the gardens and saw the headquarters. There are gardens and parks near the Temple Square that are beautiful and worth seeing.
The church office building is a 28-story, 420 ft tall structure. It's size is impressive when you're standing next to it.
Utah State Capitol Building
The state capitol is located near a neighborhood that sits along the hillside. We walked around it and enjoyed the nearby hills and houses. The Mormon Battalion Monument is on the capitol grounds and is a 100-foot monument dedicated in 1927 and made of rose pink granite and bronze.
The City Library
The Salt Lake City library is something to see. The architecture from the outside is incredible, and inside spiraling fireplaces and a rooftop terrace make this library unique. There is a walkable wall that goes up 6 stories passing shops and reading galleries. If you have time, don't miss this one!
The University of Utah
The University of Utah is located on the northeast side of the city toward the mountain range, and the U is visible from the city. It was founded in 1850 and has over 35,000 students that attend! It's the #1 university in the west, and in the top 10 for public universities in the United States.
State of Utah Council Hall
The Old Salt Lake City Hall was built between 1864-1866 and served the city until 1894 when it was deemed too small to be used as a city hall any longer. In 1975 it was designated as a national historic landmark and now is the home offices of the Utah Office of Tourism and the Utah Film Commission. A decent sized gift shop is on the main level as well as a public restroom. If you find yourself hiking the nearby trails (see below for local hiking ideas!) this bathroom is a great rest stop nearby.
City Creek Center
Near the center of the city is a shopping mall with dining, stores and events. At the time of this post, City Creek Center boasts 98 different eateries and stores to dine and shop at. It's a great place to get something new or pick something up that you may have left at home! We spent an afternoon having coffee across the street at Alpha Coffee and then walked over to shop and see the center.
Theatres & Museums
One morning we met up with my husband's friend and he briefed us on the incredible arts scene in Salt Lake City. Within just a few city blocks there are several theatres and art museums to enjoy!
The Eccles Theater hosts plays and concerts all year long. Capitol Theatre features plays, comedians, concerts and specialty events. The Utah Museum of Fine Art (UMFA) has incredible art exhibitions on display, and as I mentioned above, near the Great Salt Lake is a large outdoor concert called The Great Saltair. There are many cultural events to take part of while you are in town if you so choose!
Gallivan Center
The Gallivan Center is an outdoor venue that provides entertainment year-round. Festivals and concerts are frequently held here, and it operates as a private and public event space.
Local Hikes
There are great hiking trails and local hikes within a few minutes from downtown Salt Lake City. I had one hike picked out before we arrived, and one of our Uber drivers recommended a quick (albeit steep!) hike just behind the capitol building downtown. I detailed the two hikes we did below, but if you're looking for more adventures check these out as well!
- Grandeur Peak, about 3 miles to the summit
- Lake Blanche, 3 miles to the lake
- Grizzly Gulch, 2 miles
- Red Pine Lake, 3.5 miles to the lake
- Bell's Canyon, 3 miles to the reservoir (2 miles to the waterfall along the trail)
Ensign Peak
We hiked this with our friends in just over an hour up and down - it really doesn't take much time to do! However, it is steep. Be prepared for the uphill climb which is straight up for nearly .7 miles. The way down is much easier, although our shins took a beating!
There's a sign at the trailhead pointing out which way to go, and there were quite a few people going up and coming down while we were there. At the peak is a monument of the place where Brigham Young saw the valley and declared this would be the place to settle and construct The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Ensign Peak offers fantastic views of the city and is a quick drive from the capitol building below. We took an Uber to the trailhead, but ended up walking all the way back from the peak to the capitol building, and then back to our hotel from there. Total distance from the top of the hike to our hotel was just under 3 miles. If you're staying downtown, it's definitely within walking distance! Although, going uphill for that long is more challenging than going back down.
Donut Falls
We hiked Donut Falls our last day in town in the morning, and had plenty of time to fly out later that day. Donut Falls is about a 40 minute drive from downtown, and it's easy to identify where the trailhead begins once you get there. We were dropped off in a decently large parking lot (there are a lot of trails nearby and quite a few people parked and hiked all around us), and a bathroom marks the entrance to the trail. Don't panic if you need a restroom before you begin! One is provided and well-stocked.
The trail is fairly easy terrain, and 3.5 miles out-and-back. I would consider this an easy hike! I will say that it was crowded when we went (late Sunday morning), so if you're looking to be alone go on a weekday.
In order to see the donut part of the falls you will need to hike up the rocks to the very top which is challenging, and we didn't bring the right shoes to do it and decided not to. But we were able to watch water cascading down the rocks into the stream below. We watched people hiking up the rocks to get to the donut falls area, and they said it was awesome. Be ready to climb if you want to get to the top!
Where We Ate
We only had a few chances to eat out, and we asked around for local recommendations when we did. These were the places that came highly rated!
Oquirrh Restaurant
One free evening we got dinner with friends at Oquirrh Restaurant in downtown. I highly recommend the House Made Spaghetti - it's fantastic.
For more dinner ideas:
The Copper Onion
We had lunch one afternoon at The Copper Onion - and it was pretty good. I will say, it didn't compare to the house made spaghetti, but the food was good and the atmosphere delightful.
For more lunch spots:
Salt Lake City has a lot to offer in the summer. Many people we know visit during the winter for the skiing, and I can see why! Mountains surround the city from every angle, making it a great spot to visit when it snows.
But if you find yourself here any other time of the year, it's really a beautiful place with history and charm, not to mention great hiking. If you've been, share your favorite spots with me. If you haven't, I hope you get a chance to see it! While we were there, they announced the Olympics will be held in Salt Lake City in 2032 - maybe that's a good time to visit. Until next time!
Happy traveling, Jessica
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