Best Hikes Near Salt Lake City

25 trails in 2 months. That's where I have been...out on the trail. The first of August, Falcon Guides contracted with me to write their Best Hikes Near Salt Lake City guidebook and I've been racing against the weather to get as much research done as possible before snow comes and we are out enjoying the snowshoe trails and ski runs. It's been a big hiking year!Miss Molly and the boys have made a few runs with me. The Meet-Up hiking groups have been key, and friends have filled in the hiking gaps.

Davis County, Weber County, Salt Lake County, Utah County...I only wish I were going slower and savoring each moment, instead I feel like I'm just ticking them off as fast as I can. The good side - burning some calories. The down side - missing out on contemplative spiritual moments the trails offer.

Maybe it's time to take the last few trails of the season and head out alone and find some time to meld with the energy of the mountains.

Adams Canyon Again - July 2010

Twice in one year! I guess that's what book research does to you. This time George Coleman and I took our kids up the trail. It was a nice night. That first 1/2 mile is always a sandy slog, but once in the canyon it's a beautiful hike. Davis County's most popular hike. Ethan oozes energy, bouncing off rocks and running the trail. Boys are awesome! Megan has a harder time of it, but Elsie was a real trooper. The waterfall - ahhhh!

Ensign Peak

We are famous. Today Ethan, Matt Thalman, Josh Page, Molly and I hiked Ensign Peak. I've never been before. It was the perfect trail for these guys. Short, interesting little dirt trails, rocks to climb on and we quickly got to the destination. The trail is grassy and dry, but the overlook takes in the entire SLC valley. The spot where Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff, and other future prophets of the church stood to look over the valley and envision their layout of the city, this is most certainly the spot for that! A clear view right down the center of the valley with the Oquirrhs on the right and the Wasatch Range on the left. Took us only about 15 minutes to get to the top. But, back to the reason we are famous - Channel 2 News was there to look at the trail and they interviewed me. I got a plug in for the book. We just finished watching it. They got all the boys, Molly dog barking at the camera, and my interview was pretty smooth. Fun trail for kids!

4th of July - Rocky Mountain Raceway

Hadn't been to the RMRW before and I got a couple passes on writing trade from Travel Host, so I took the fam. for the 4th. Long night, hard seats, lots of racing (the boys loved the train races). They put on a A+ fireworks show at the end, but all in all I was glad to go home. Not really my bag, but you don't know til you try it.

Wasatch Crest Trail

The Wasatch Crest trail is one of Utah's finest mountain biking trails, but if you've got the whole day it's a gorgeous hiking trail too. The views are just unbelievable down both sides of the crest. This trail is long on foot, but worth it. Wildflowers punctuate the area during July and August! This trail will be in the hiking book too. Rick Gardner and I biked this and the Pipeline trail mid-July. Good climb from Guardsman, but the downhill on a bike is a blast! Good fun and a great ride!

Days of Thunder

All I can say is I think this hike ruined me to the sport of backpacking. Who knew? Bells Canyon is a steep granite canyon that frankly is little more than a staircase of rocks rising at 1000' elevation each mile. 10 hours to do 5 miles. The next day Mike Scalora and I hiked to the North Thundermountain overlook up fields of granite boulders. Feels like you've gone miles when you've only gone yards. Couldn't walk for 4 days after I got home. Didn't hit the trail again for 2 whole weeks. I'm thinking of bagging my attempt on all the 11,000 foot peaks. Uggg! I must give due credit to the wonderful falls on the way up! The trail to the lower and upper falls will be included in the guidebook.

Lift-Assisted Mountain Biking in Paradise

I had forgotten how beautiful Sundance Ski Resort really is. Biking below Timpanogos, the waterfalls cascading down the mountains, the green groves of trees, ferns, grasses and flowers (and the smell of them)...well, the scenery is definitely part of what makes a day of biking here worth ever penny of the $20 for the lift pass. And, hey, it's a much better price than the $28 you pay at Deer Valley. Was working on a story for Travel Host magazine and a feature for Lori's Mountain Report this month on KALL 700, so had camera and recorder along. George, Greg, Rick and Vincent came along for the ride (pun intended). Greg and Vince stuck to the trails, even on the uphill, then left early, but George, Rick and I stayed until 5:00 pm-- So glad I brought my own car. Shakes and sandwiches for lunch on the wooden deck next to the creek. Total 5-star day. They don't have a ton of terrain (25 miles), but the routes are good--you just get to do them over and over. There's a great cross-country trail (Archie's Trail) that zooms you out to the edge and has some nice scenic drop-offs. The second type of terrain is tighter, switchback single track in the trees. Luved it!