3 Scenic Hikes Near Salt Lake City: Lake Blanche, Gloria Falls & Ensign Peak
When I travel, I always look to see if there are any places to go hiking near my destination. Typically, I’ll hop on Alltrails and look at the top 10 hikes and choose a few. During my solo trip to Salt Lake City, I ended up on three very different hikes: Lake Blanche, Gloria Falls, and Ensign Peak. Together, they gave me a taste of Utah’s variety—alpine lakes, waterfalls, and city views—all within a short drive from downtown.
Lake Blanche Trail
Distance: 7 miles out-and-back
Difficulty: Moderate
If you only have time for one longer hike while in the Salt Lake area, Lake Blanche is my number one recommendation. The trail is about 7 miles round-trip with around 2,700 feet of elevation gain, so it’s definitely a workout. The challenge pays off with beautiful alpine scenery, the chance to spot wildlife, and the view of Sundial Peak towering above the lake at the end. The lake itself is stunning, too. I loved how the trail transitioned from forested sections to wide-open rocky views. It’s a hike that challenged me, but in the best way possible. The hike only took up a morning of my trip so I was still able to spend the rest of the day exploring restaurants, museums, and other attractions in Salt Lake City after the climb.
Read More: Hiking the Lake Blanche Trail in Utah: A Day Hike Near Salt Lake City
Gloria Falls Trail
Distance: 2.3 miles out-and-back
Difficulty: Easy
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Gloria Falls felt like a quick and refreshing outing. At just over 2 miles round-trip with about 540 feet of elevation gain, it’s an easy hike that can be done in under two hours. The trail is well-traveled and popular, so don’t expect solitude, and do expect to wait to get your photo at the falls. I liked how accessible this trail was—it’s proof that you don’t need a full day to squeeze in a rewarding hike near Salt Lake City.
Ensign Peak
Distance: 0.9 miles out-and-back
Difficulty: Easy, but steep!
Ensign Peak is probably one of the most popular trails in Salt Lake City, and for good reason. It’s short—less than a mile round-trip—but it offers an incredible panoramic view of the city and the surrounding mountains. I hiked it near sunset, which made the experience even better. While it’s definitely busy, especially in the evenings, it’s a great way to see the city from a new perspective and get outdoors without committing to a full half-day trek.
Final Thoughts
These hikes aren’t the most difficult, the most secret, or the most Instagram-famous—but they were exactly what I needed during my trip to Salt Lake City. They gave me a mix of challenge, beauty, and quick escapes into nature, which is all I really ask for when I travel. If you’re visiting and looking for approachable hikes that show off different sides of the Wasatch Front, Lake Blanche, Gloria Falls, and Ensign Peak are all worth adding to your list.
Katelynn is a Texas-based writer and travel enthusiast who makes the most of her time exploring new destinations while balancing a full-time 9-5 job. She has visited 12 countries and 27 U.S. states. She describes herself as a weekend warrior and shares her passion for travel, outdoor adventures, and solo journeys on her blog, KatelynnOutLoud.
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Wreck - Catherine Newman
These hikes look amazing and I would not have thought to add hiking to a trip to Sale Lake City. Going there on as part of a long trip next year and will definitely add this to my agenda.
There are so many great hikes surrounding SLC. You’ll definitely need a rental car to get to them but it’s so worth it! I love when people who are actually going to be visiting places I’ve written about find my blog! I have lots of other SLC posts too if you’re looking for things to do (:
Stunning photos and great info! Have never visited Salt Lake but I’ve wanted to for quite some time!
Oh thank you! It is a great place to visit!
These hikes look perfect for a few days in Salt Lake City. The photos of the views are fabulous. I also really like the alpine lakes.
Oh thank you! I also really love the alpine lakes!
These hikes look amazing, especially Gloria Falls and the beautiful lake. Saving them for the next time I’m in SLC.
Alltrails did not fail me! (:
I would love to do the Gloria falls trail, it looks so scenic.
There were some smaller little falls on the way to Gloria Falls and you can keep hiking on past the falls for even more views too! It was a nice, easier, morning hike (: It was also super cool to see moose on the trail, since there aren’t moose where I’m from!
Hello! I like that those trails are easy-walkable and scenic at the same time. A lot of people do like walking around countryside, but not all of them like difficult trails.
Hi! Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment (:
I love challenging hikes, but I also like a quick little mile hike I can do before breakfast or a short one I can do without getting too sweaty! There’s definitely a hike for all levels out there!
This is such a good selection of spots!! plus you captured Ensign Peak so beautifully!!
Thank you so much! I knew it was less than a mile so I got there kind of late and had to scramble because it was quite a climb but I made it for sunset!