WEEKEND IN SALT LAKE CITY: DAY 2: Mt. olympus

Second day on Saturday (July 5th) we started the morning leisurely and ate a bagel to prepare for our hike of Mt. Olympus. 

Mt. Olympus Hike

Mt. Olympus is a giant mountain sitting in the backdrop of SLC. The hike is very strenuous and you end up gaining about 4000 ft in 3.5 miles - so its super steep. I know for one, I was huffing and puffing in the first few steps haha.

The hike starts at Mt. Olympus trailhead which is literally on the road. All the cars pull up on either sides of the road to start the hike. As I mentioned before, the hike is very strenuous and becomes steep almost right away.

I would recommend carry lots of water unless you're into the whole dehydration thing. It took us about 2.5 hours to get to the summit because we totally trucking it. There are many places along the way for a great view of the city and the Great Salt Lake. The hike also turns into a walk through an enchanted forest close to the top with beautiful green trees and lots of shade to save your head from the sun.

Close the summit, there is some scrambling that needs to be done. Get ready to get on all fours! Definitely recommend having some hiking shoes with decent traction here and a light pack. There are humans from 7 years of age though 70 doing this so leave your excuses at home. A short but steep scramble to the top was easily my favorite part of the hike and getting to the summit is quite rewarding. The views are great as you can see the whole city with views of the CBD, the lake and more SLC mountains. See the panorama I took! 

In short, I would definitely do this hike again! Its a nice workout before hitting the bars around town and its a great way to see the extent of SLC!

In summary:

Distance: ~ 7 miles
Altitude: 4200 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Pets: Allowed but not recommended

View of Mt. Olympus from halfway through the hike. Its the knobby looking thing in the center back.

Me half way through the hike and my buddy Tony on the summit.

Panorama from the summit

Tony's action shot! Scrambling over some rocks to get to the top of Mt. Olympus

What you need to hike Mt. Olympus:

1. Comfortable hiking shoes: This is definitely necessary as there is a decent amount of scrambling involved. I love my Saloman shoes that are light and super grippy. Highly recommend those. 

2. Day pack: Carry LOTS of water and some snacks. I have a 3 L camelback and I recommend at least 2 liters of water.

3. Sunscreen: I am browner than ever even though I used plenty of sunscreen at the start of the hike. Carry this with you and use repeatedly.

4. Light clothes: I was hiking in short shorts and running tank top and I was boiling. Dress less for this hike if you're doing it in mid afternoon of early July like me.

Here's how you get there:

Hope you enjoy this hike!!