Conditions Right Now
Use sunset as your turnaround alarm.
Why Hike This
Everyone in Salt Lake looks at this peak every day, which is most of why they climb it. The trailhead sits right on Wasatch Boulevard at 5800 South, so you start gaining immediately and do not stop for over 4,000 feet, including a stretch known as Blister Hill. Views run the length of the range, from Lone Peak in the south to Francis Peak in the north. Dogs are allowed here on leash, unlike the Cottonwood canyons next door.
The Trail
SLC's relentless rite of passage; final scramble to a proud summit.
Pack Loadout (Strenuous)
3+ liters water, broken-in boots, layers for weather swings, headlamp, real food (jerky, trail mix), trekking poles, first-aid kit, and an early start.
Getting There
Make it a weekend: Tanners Flat Campground (Camping, 6 mi) · Spruces Campground (Camping, 7 mi) · Sandy Urban Fishery (Fishing, 8 mi) · Willow Pond (Murray) (Fishing, 8 mi)
More hikes nearby: Lake Blanche (Hike, 3 mi) · Grandeur Peak (West) (Hike, 4 mi) · Donut Falls (Hike, 6 mi) · Bells Canyon Waterfall (Hike, 6 mi)
Quick Answers
- How long is the Mount Olympus hike?
- 7.4 miles round trip with 4058 feet of elevation gain.
- How hard is Mount Olympus?
- Strenuous. Kid rating: 1 out of 5.
- When should I hike Mount Olympus?
- Best season: May-Oct.
- Why hike Mount Olympus?
- It is the peak you see from your office window, and topping out changes how you read the skyline. Expect over 4,000 feet of gain in about 3.3 miles one way, with a hands-on scramble at the end. Start at dawn in summer and carry more water than feels reasonable.