Top 10 Summer Activities in Salt Lake City

Our Local Expert Says:

The road ascending Millcreek Canyon is one of Salt Lake City's most popular road bike routes.

Description:

Situated on the eastern side of the Salt Lake Valley (where 3800 South Street meets the Wasatch Mountains), Mill Creek Canyon is a popular recreation area. Shared by bikers and hikers alike, Millcreek is fairly unique in the Salt Lake area as a dog-friendly zone. (Numerous canyons are off-limits to dogs in the interest of preserving drinking water sources.)

The area is managed by the US Forest Service and provides a large system of well-maintained hiking, biking, and cross-country ski trails. Mill Creek Canyon also has about 10 picnic areas.

The fee is $3 day-use fee for vehicles entering the canyon; is no fee for cyclists without a vehicle.

Description:

Pioneer Park is a memorial to the first pioneers that entered the Salt Lake Valley. Situated between downtown restaurants and shopping areas, the city block sized park marks the site of the first pioneer camp spot in Salt Lake City.

Pioneer Park is home to the Salt Lake City Farmer's Market that takes places each Saturday from June through October. Stroll through the park between 8am and 1pm to sample locally grown produce and cuisine from local restaurants as well as browse locally crafted goods at the arts and crafts market.

Pioneer Park also sponsors Friday night movies in the park, a weekday concert series, and numerous cultural and historical events.

Our Local Expert Says:

Best intro hike to the beauty of Salt Lake City's Wasatch Mountains.

Description:

One of the most popular hikes in the Wasatch, the trail to Red Pine Lake follows a well-maintained trail through a narrow canyon to a beautiful alpine lake set just below tree line. The lake with its backdrop of craggy peaks makes for a great picnic spot or an excellent place to pitch a tent for an overnight backpack trip.

Begin your hike at the well-marked White Pine trailhead located 5.5 miles up Salt Lake City's Little Cottonwood Canyon. The trail climbs nearly 2000 feet over 3 miles so plan on about 2-3 hours to reach the lake. Once at Red Pine Lake, explore the trail that circles the lake or scramble up the rock above Red Pine Lake to an upper pool.

Our Local Expert Says:

Some of Salt Lake City's best and most popular outdoor summer concerts.

Description:

Sitting on the northeastern end of Salt Lake City, and nestled into the foothills, Red Butte Garden is tucked into the northeastern corner of the University of Utah. With more than two hundred species of plants, a newly designed, copper-wrapped main building, this provides a beautiful environment for a casual stroll or educational tour. Open all year. If you're here in the summer, be sure to check online for their summer concert lineup. Taking place during the extremely pleasant Salt Lake evenings, internationally famous artists (such as John Hiatt, the Indigo Girls, and Herbie Hancock) perform to packed audiences in their outdoor theater. Bring a picnic blanket, some cheese, crackers, and wine! If you have a little extra time and energy, you can depart from the gardens to join up with the miles of crisscrossing trails of the Bonneville Shoreline system.

Description:

Grandeur Peak is the easiest and most accessible of the prominent peaks that make up Salt Lake City's eastern skyline. The most popular route to the summit of Grandeur Peak is from the Church Fork trailhead, which begins at the Church Fork picnic area 3.2 miles up Mill Creek Canyon (from Wasatch Blvd).

The trail is well marked and easy to follow. The total length of the trail is 5.2 miles (out and back) with 2340 feet of elevation gain. The trail follows a stream for the first ½ mile and then cuts sharply west leading to a series of switchbacks that lead up to Mill Creek ridge. The trail follows the saddle to the summit and provides exceptional views of the entire Salt Lake Valley.

Don't forget to pack your camera, sunscreen, and plenty of water for your hike to the Summit. Average hikers can reach the summit of Grandeur Peak in 2-3 hours.

Description:

A perfect way to spend a spring or summer evening: head with family or friends to the Sprint Mobile Ballpark (formerly Franklin Covey Field) and catch a Salt Lake Bees Game. This minor league baseball team starts its playing season in April, and often has multiple home games a week. Check out "Thirsty Thursdays" where beer is half-price. If you're not into beer, a standard array of concessions are available, from pizza to hotdogs, icecream to cotton candy.

The ballpark itself is remarkably clean and scenic. Neatly painted, colorful, and tidy, the stadium offers a pleasant place to sit and an amazing view of the Wasatch Mountain to the East. Evening games offer bonus feature of these peaks pinkening as the setting sun sets across the valley.

Description:

This series is part of a month-long musical celebration. Beginning in June, hour-long concerts brighten Brigham Young Historic Park every Tuesday and Friday evening. Spotlighting pianists and other musicians from around the world, the free concerts feature a variety of selections and styles. Dress is informal, and reservations are not required, but admission is limited to those 8 years of age and older. Come here for a fun summer evening of entertainment.

Description:

Solitude Mountain Resort along with nearby Brighton Ski Resort are lesser-known (and usually less crowded) destinations than the larger resorts in Park City and in Little Cottonwood Canyon, but offer great skiing and summer activities and good value. Solitude and Brighton, located in Big Cottonwood Canyon, are close to downtown and only about 40 minutes from the airport. Solitude offers a quaint pedestrian village with shops and restaurants, and new condos available for nightly or weekly rental. Solitude's recently-added high-speed quad lifts get the ski day started fast for guests staying in the local village. Summer at Solitude features a mountain Frisbee-golf course: ride up the chair lift, throw (and chase) your Frisbee down the rugged terrain through 18 wickets.