Grandeur Peak is one of Salt Lake City’s classic hikes and can be reached by most folks with a free morning or afternoon. The peak is just below 8,300 feet and provides some beautiful views of the surrounding mountain ranges and the Salt Lake Valley. It is a relatively easy trail and is great for a family outing, a fun date, a trail run or just a nice walk in the wilderness to clear your mind.
Getting to the Top
Grandeur peak is usually climbed from one of two different routes. The most popular route is the from the Church Fork Picnic area in Millcreek canyon, while the other more sparsely travelled route is the West Ridge.
Church Fork Route – Head up Millcreek Canyon(If you are not sure where Millcreek Canyon is just find 3800 South on the East Side of Salt Lake and head East) 3.5 miles and you’ll see Church Fork picnic area. This is a rather large picnic area with a road that switch backs up the hillside.
There is a parking lot at the very top, right where the trail head is, but on weekends it usually fills up fast. If it is full you can park down on the side of the road and walk up from the main road. The trail is well marked and easy to find. Trail details:
Distance: 2.75 miles (one way)
Elevation Gain: 2,398 Feet
Rating: Easy
Season: Year round
West Ridge Route – the trail head for the West Ridge trail up Grandeur peak is located at the end of Wasatch Blvd past 3300 South, where there is usually plenty of parking. From the parking lot walk up the dirt road and take the first right fork. This trail is more challenging than the Church Fork trail, as it starts lower and is shorter, making the hike a steeper one. It is also not as well marked as the Church Fork Trail. Trail Details:
Distance: 2.25 Miles (One Way)
Elevation Gain: 3,267
Rating: Easy – Moderate
Season: Year round
What to Bring
Since the trail is a relatively easy one, just an afternoon hiking pack should be all you need to do this hike in the summer, a couple of liters of water, and a snack. For spring and fall you may want to throw in a jacket, especially if you will be heading up in the morning or evening. For winter you will want to prepare for mountain snow and consider using snow shoes or at least gators and trekking poles.
There is plenty of space at the summit to rest, take in the views and maybe enjoy a lunch or snack. The summit of Grandeur isn’t as windy as some of the higher peaks in Utah, making it an ideal place to take a break and enjoy your surroundings. Make sure to bring your camera as you can get some great shots of Mount Olympus, the Salt Lake Valley and Parleys Canyon.
This is a great hike for mid May as most of the snow is usually gone and there are a lot of wild flowers out. It is also a great hike in the fall if you want to see the colors changing. There is not a lot of tree cover on the West Ridge route, and the latter half of the Church Fork route is also without tree coverage, so I don’t recommend doing this hike in the heat of summer, but I don’t really like hiking in the heat anywhere.
This is a classic hike that I do at least once a year and recommend it to people of all abilities. If you have any questions or comments feel free to drop me a line in the comments section below. If you found this article helpful and are planning other adventures in Utah consider signing up for our e-mail list (simply go to the top of page and click subscribe - it's free!) to get the latest adventure posts. You can also sign up to be a member here to share comments at the bottom of our posts and in our forums. Most importantly don't forget to get outside and find your adventure!
Comments