On July 26, 1847, Brigham Young and other early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) climbed this hill and gave the peak its present name. Ensign Peak in Winter was beautiful. Another waterfall trail, yay! The peak holds historical significance to the Salt Lake Valley and its early settlers. Take the right fork (behind the church), to the trailhead in a block. We had several people (college students) pass us on our way to the summit. Ensign Peak Trailhead (40.79139, -111.88833) The trailhead is at the top of a residential area above the Utah capitol building. The trail begins climbing immediately, but it is beautiful in winter. Ensign Peak Trail and Overlook is a 0.8 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Salt Lake City, Utah that offers scenic views and is good for all skill levels. You can see lights everywhere. Ensign Peak seemed about right, and we’d hiked it before. The most obvious landmark is the State Capitol Building, 1.1 mile south and 880 feet lower than the peak. Ensign Peak is a natural landmark near Salt Lake City, Utah, rising 1,080 feet from the valley floor. The quick hike (great for a lunchtime break) will have you high above the city in about 20 minutes. Or if you’d like more info on hiking Ensign Peak in warmer weather, click here. The Ensign Peak Foundation was originally formed in 1992. Expect 1/2 hour of casual hiking to take you to the top. This trail winds up a narrow draw for 1/2 mile to the back of the peak. Ensign Peak Monument is easily seen on most of the hike. We decided to try something that was a little more work, because the day was supposed to be clear and cold, with the temperature in the mid 20s. Ensign Peak is famous for giving people amazing views of the whole Salt Lake Valley and being an easy hike to access when coming from downtown Salt Lake City. Easy 15-20 min hike to the summit, depending on your fitness level (I still recommend wearing proper shoes and taking a small We are amazed at how much we enjoy the winter landscape while hiking. The trail was packed down and easy to follow, so you can definitely hike it without snow shoes. En route to the summit, there are excellent views both of the Salt Lake Valley and Wasatch Mountains, but also of the Great Salt Lake and Antelope Island to the west. The hills were covered in nearly a foot of snow, and though the trail was well packed, it was slick. Anytime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Small groups will depart the trailhead every 20 minutes to allow for social distancing. Soon you are out of the development and heading toward a pass on the ridgeline. 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Showing You the BEAUTIFUL Salt Lake City from the Ensign Peak. This leads to higher elevations and different vantage points, but depending on the time of year, the sunset may still be better (less obstructed) from Ensign Peak itself. Not that you really could since you can see the monument most of the way on the hike. We saw these deer just a few minutes after starting the trail. It’s well packed from all the hikers. Ensign Peak was the busiest trail we have hiked in the winter. The best part about this little peak is the little rock section that you can ride down that parallels the trail to the north. From downtown Salt Lake City, drive State Street north to the capitol, fork right and follow the road around to the northeast. There are also a few more historical signs at the top of Ensign Peak. Because of its location, view and short walking distance (only about a 20 minute hike), even tourists in town will do the hike between sights. Cross the gravel road at the top of Hell Canyon to climb the west Ensign Peak switchbacks the rest of the way. Turn left on North Sandrun Drive (940 N). The trip does make a good introduction to the size of the Salt Lake Valley if you have guests in town. It is approximately one mile north of the Utah State Capitol and sits almost directly behind it. Ensign Peak is a peak in the foothills near downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. You have a good view of the monument itself, though it is a bit small in the distance. Ensign Peak is a very approachable hike by most and a great way to take in the sites of the valley. Ensign Peak View via Bonneville Shoreline Trail is a 6.5 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near North Salt Lake, Utah that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as moderate. When hiking the trail in the winter months, be conscious of ice. Copyright © 2014. Cross the gravel road at the top of Hell Canyon to climb the west Ensign Peak switchbacks the rest of the way. There are beautiful flowers along the trail as well. This trail winds up a narrow draw for 1/2 mile to the back of the peak. There is access to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail fro Ensign Peak which is also a fun hike. President Young remarked that it “was a proper place to raise an ensign to the nations” and so it was named Ensign Peak. The trail to the overlook is .8 miles out and back and is suitable for all skill levels. Read more Read less. View to the west with the north end of the Oquirrh Mountains. Most people we passed were only wearing tennis shoes, which we thought was crazy. The Ensign Peak Trail starts from a small trailhead off Ensign Vista Drive. Walk up the stairs to a bunch of information signs and some sort of amphitheater. It also offers some historical value. Novice tourists will be gasping at this point but the ridge comes rather quickly. The trailhead is at an LDS chapel behind the State Capitol Building (directions here). Add to Calendar . About half way up, you’ll come to this sign and a few rocks to sit on. The trailhead is one of the best signed trailheads in Utah, you can’t miss it. Because of its location, view and short walking distance (only about a 20 minute hike), even tourists in town will do the hike between sights. Ensign Peak is a prominent hill on the northern edge of the Salt Lake Valley. This peak was used by Indians, pioneers and explorers. Despite the inversion, we enjoyed looking over the valley. On these switchbacks, there's pretty much no traffic until you hit the junction with the regular Ensign Peak Trail which comes up from the east side. In reality, Ensign Peak is no peak at all, just a point off the long ridgeline extending out to the west from the Wasatch Mountains. The hike begins at the Ensign Peak Nature Park (40.791759,-111.88822) located on Ensign Vista Drive in Salt Lake City. Once you reach this overview and historical marker, you don’t have much further to the top of Ensign Peak. It is a breathtaking moment seeing the whole city from one point. There is no parking area and the street is residential, so be respectful when rolling up. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. You avoid the nasty drop and hikers, but get a nice little peak to ride up to and take a photo. From downtown Salt Lake, travel north on State Street until it ends at the State Capitol Building. It was the perfect time to take a rest. Ensign Peak (City Creek to Bountiful Bonneville Shoreline Trail) This trail is located on the mountains above the farthest-north section of Salt Lake City. There is no shade on Ensign Peak so wear sunscreen and a hat. The trail is about 1.2 miles, round trip. 0.5 mi/0.8 km one-way. Our boys were definitely dragging on this hike since it was our first uphill hike in the winter. You have a short little climb once you reach the large boulders and then you will be greeted with an amazing view. Trailforks scans users ridelogs to determine the most popular direction each trail is ridden. Drive up East Capitol Blvd about 8 blocks past the Utah State Capitol and turn left on Ensign Vista Dr. Ensign Peak Nature Park offers exhibits and a trail … Ensign Peak offers unparalleled views of the Great Salt Lake as well as the Wasatch Mountains, and Salt Lake County. The easiest route up ensign peak is to start from the city-owned land along Greenstroke Drive, just northwest of the Mormon chapel. The trail is primarily used for hiking, trail running, and mountain biking. I did it at night and it offers beautiful views of Salt Lake city. We took it nice and slow, and the constant moving kept us from getting cold. Ensign Peak . Hiking trail to top of Ensign peak. The Foundation was significantly involved in the preservation and creation of the Ensign Peak Park in Salt Lake City, Utah. … Utahns hike and run the trail from Ensign Vista Dr. to the historical marker and overlook at Ensign Peak in droves in order to take in the excellent views of the Salt Lake Valley and Great Salt Lake to the west. Keep your eyes open, because in January we saw about a dozen deer foraging for grass through the deep snow on the high slope to our right as we ascended. Our boys decided this would be a great place to take some running dives, and they really enjoyed sliding down much of the mountain though Mom and Dad were considerably more careful. Ensign Peak seemed about right, and we’d hiked it before. This popular little knob a short distance behind the capitol building and downtown Salt Lake City. Ensign Peak is probably one of the 5 most hiked summit trails in Utah. Although called the "Ensign Peak Trail" by bikers, it's actually the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST). The trail takes off to the right, along the property lines of several homes. If you’re interested in winter hiking, check out our post on How to Make Winter Hiking a Success or our other Easy Winter Hikes! The trailhead has a massive sign, possibly visible from space. Friday, September 25, 2020. Highly recommended! We love sharing the history of Utah with our kids. Once on the ridge, it’s only a short walk left to the summit monument. On top are benches and a few things to read. Ensign Peak is at the north end of the Salt Lake Valley, above the State Capitol building. From the trailhead, you'll immediately begin climbing the moderately steep trail. Go one block to a Y in the road at a church. Hiking to Ensign Peak If you are looking for the easiest, kid friendly, or a fun date night sunset spot in Salt Lake, this is the trail for you. The view from Ensign Peak is spectacular anytime, but sunset is by far the most ideal time for this hike. The boys spent most of the hike back sliding as far as they could. This popular little knob a short distance behind the capitol building and downtown Salt Lake City. Turn left onto Ensign Vista Drive. Luckily, it’s not too long. Ensign Peak Trail. Have climbed this one several times and it is always a great hike, especially while higher elevation hikes are still snowy in the spring. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Powered by WordPress. Ensign Peak Trail. Masks will be required at the trailhead. This trail doesn’t have many trees, but we loved walking through this small stand of trees on the way to Ensign Peak. Donut Falls Trail. The boys felt the strain of this hike as the hike is a continuous climb, and hiking in winter takes a lot more energy (at least it seems that way)! Be careful on the way down the mountain. Ensign Peak Trail Dog-Friendly Parks Ensign Vista Drive Salt Lake City, Utah 801-972-7800 Get Map or Directions Located just a short drive from downtown, this .5 mile trail offers panoramic views of the valley and the lake. On these switchbacks, there's pretty much no traffic until you hit the junction with the regular Ensign Peak Trail which comes up from the east side. Ensign Peak Trail is truly a local's tourist hike. 1 Before leaving Nauvoo, President Young had seen a vision of the Prophet Joseph wherein he was shown the peak and told to “build under the point where the colors fall, and you will prosper and have peace.” 2 The view of the sunset combined with the cool evening breeze and the glittering city lights below make this a hike well worth taking and the minimal time and effort involved make it worth taking often. We were happy to be above the inversion. Length: 3 miles |Elevation Gain: 531 ft | Hiking Guide. 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