This Quiet Utah City Is An Underrated Gem For Nature Lovers
Surrounded by 120 peaks and home to one of the world’s largest saltwater lakes, Salt Lake City is undoubtedly one of the most majestic state capitals in the country. The city itself is a natural paradise, featuring biodiverse aviaries, botanical gardens, and parks that span hundreds of acres. While Salt Lake City may not be among the most visited vacation destinations, it certainly deserves a spot on your 2025 travel list.
Parks & Green Spaces
Travelers could easily spend an entire weekend exploring Salt Lake City’s parks and gardens. Several of the most popular parks lie in the northeastern sector of the city. A great place to start is Sugar House Park, the city's largest park. This park spans 110 acres and has been a part of the community since the 1950s. Some of its highlights include a large pond, walking trails, and hilly areas for sledding in the winter. It also has a pavilion area that visitors can reserve, two playgrounds, a volleyball net, a baseball field, basketball courts, and other sports areas.
A little farther northeast, on the University of Utah campus, travelers will find the Red Butte Garden. This botanical garden is one of the largest in the region, spanning 100 acres in the foothills. It features 21 acres of maintained gardens, which visitors can explore along five miles of hiking trails. Community-funded since 1985, it bursts into color each spring with 560,000 blooming bulbs, including a collection of bright daffodils.
Liberty Park is another popular urban green space to add to your itinerary. This park is Salt Lake City’s oldest and second largest, after Sugar House Park. Some of the amenities include a pool, barbecue grills, playgrounds, sports fields and courts, and a pavilion. The Tracy Aviary, the oldest in the country, is also located in this park. Visitors can spot up to 135 bird species and 400 birds as they stroll through the aviary.
Hiking & Walking Trails
While the city's urban attractions are enticing, be sure to set aside time to explore the hiking trails that lie nearby. For an easier walk or hike, travelers can start their outdoor expeditions on the City Creek Canyon Trail. This trail departs just a few blocks from Temple Square, following a mountain stream along a canyon. The lower section of this trail is paved, making it particularly suitable for beginner hikers or those looking for a more leisurely path.
The Bonneville Shoreline Trail also begins near town, offering an easy to moderate hike. The views along this trail are stunning, as it winds along the edge of what used to be a giant, prehistoric lake. With panoramic views of the valley from above, this trail is a popular option among locals looking for a morning run or a sunset stroll.
If you are seeking a bigger challenge, the Mt. Olympus trail will interest you. This trail is rated as extremely challenging, rising an incredible 4,087 feet in fewer than seven miles. As hikers near the summit of Mt. Olympus, they will encounter Class 3 scrambling, making it suitable for experienced hikers only. However, the mountain views that await at the top are some of the best in the entire state of Utah.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
While at the lake, make sure to spend a few hours at the Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve. This natural preserve is located along the eastern shores of the Great Salt Lake and covers 4,400 acres. Primarily boasting a wetlands and uplands habitat, some of the features you will see at the preserve include mudflats, saltwater marshes, freshwater marshes, and connecting uplands. As they walk along the boardwalk, travelers may be able to spot bird species like the American avocet, snowy plover, black-necked stilt, and a wide array of waterfowl. The preserve’s conservation efforts are evident as well. Each year, the area serves as a vital habitat for around 10 million migratory birds, and over the past decade, the Nature Conservancy, which protects the preserve, has mitigated numerous environmental risks to these species.
Beyond the Great Salt Lake, there are several other spots nearby to go birdwatching. Just east of the town, travelers will find Little Cottonwood Canyon. This canyon consists of a glacially carved corridor and can easily be explored on a scenic drive. Some of the bird species you may be able to spot along the way include Rufous, black-chinned, and Calliope hummingbirds, Stellar’s Jays, Hammond’s and Dusky Flycatchers, Red Crossbills, Pine Grosbeaks, Cliff Swallows, and Clark’s Nutcrackers, among many other varieties.
Final Thoughts
Whether you envision spending your vacation hiking, birdwatching, or floating on the lake’s salty waters, Salt Lake City offers every kind of outdoor activity you could desire. Thanks to the city’s efforts to preserve native and migratory wildlife, visitors can enjoy diverse species at places like the Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve. The presence of universities also fosters the creation of spaces like the Red Butte Garden. So don’t be afraid to venture off the beaten path and explore all that Salt Lake City has to offer this year!
A final note: The Great Salt Lake has historically low levels of water. Conservationists are concerned with how to restore the health and water level of the lake, and health experts are raising some concerns about how vaporized metals from the lake are affecting the air quality in the Salt Lake Valley. If you or a family member are respiratory-sensitive, consider the air quality forecast before exertive activity in this region, like you would in any other crowded metropolis.
