What to do once you land inSalt Lake CityFind your bearings
Salt Lake City sits at the base of the Wasatch Range, giving you world-class skiing 30 minutes from downtown. The city itself has evolved dramatically craft breweries, independent restaurants, and a growing arts scene have replaced the stereotypes. Seven ski resorts within an hour and hiking trails that start at the city edge.
Neighborhoods
Downtown / Temple Square — The urban core with the Mormon temple, City Creek Center, and an expanding restaurant and bar scene
9th & 9th — Walkable hipster neighborhood with indie coffee shops, vintage stores, and Tower Theatre
Sugar House — Young and lively neighborhood with craft breweries, local boutiques, and diverse restaurants
The Avenues — Historic residential neighborhood climbing the foothills with great hiking access and neighborhood cafés
Best time to visit
December through March for skiing ('Greatest Snow on Earth' is not just marketing). June through September for hiking and mountain biking. October for fall colors in the canyons. Spring has unpredictable weather.
Getting around
UTA TRAX light rail connects the airport to downtown in 25 minutes for $2.50
Free Fare Zone covers downtown core ride TRAX for free within the zone
A car is essential for skiing and canyon access. Rent one for mountain days
Ski bus routes (UTA) run to all Cottonwood Canyon resorts for $5 round-trip on powder days
Key areas
Downtown9th and 9thSugar HouseBig Cottonwood CanyonPark City
Zero-dollar wins
1
Ensign Peak hike20-minute hike from downtown with panoramic valley and mountain views. Perfect for sunrise
2
Big Cottonwood Canyon driveScenic canyon road through aspen groves and granite walls. Free to drive, stunning in fall
3
Temple Square grounds37 acres of gardens, historic buildings, and architecture free to walk and explore regardless of faith
4
Red Butte Garden free daysBotanical garden on the university campus with free entry on select days and concerts in summer
5
Bonneville Shoreline TrailMiles of foothills trails accessible from multiple city neighborhoods. Mountain biking or hiking
6
Liberty ParkThe city's 80-acre central park with an aviary (free), Tracy Aviary pond, and Sunday farmers market
7
Gilgal Sculpture GardenBizarre hidden garden with unique Mormon-themed stone sculptures. Weird, wonderful, and free
8
City Creek Canyon walkWalk or run up the canyon road from Memory Grove park into the mountains car-free on odd days
Treat yourself
(we think it's worth it)
Log Haven$60 to $100
Fine dining in a 1920s log lodge nestled in Millcreek Canyon surrounded by waterfalls and forestSnowbird HIDDEN PEAK tram$25 to $35
Ride the aerial tram 3,000 vertical feet to 11,000ft for stunning Wasatch panoramas and summer hikingHSL$50 to $80
SLC's best restaurant seasonal, ingredient-driven American with an outstanding wine programHeli-skiing with Wasatch Powderbird Guides$1200 to $1500
Helicopter-accessed backcountry skiing in untouched Wasatch powder. The ultimate ski dayHigh West Distillery (Park City)$30 to $50
Ski-in whiskey distillery and saloon. Tasting flights of award-winning rye and bourbonThe legendary bites
The dishes this city perfected
Red Iguana$12 to $22
Legendary Mexican restaurant with a dozen mole sauces made from scratch daily. Always a lineMole negro enchiladas with handmade tortillasHSL$30 to $50
Handle Salt Lake farm-to-table perfection with a regularly changing menu based on what's bestWood-fired seasonal vegetables with house ricottaCurrent Fish & Oyster$25 to $45
The freshest seafood in a landlocked city. Their sourcing is impeccable and the oyster bar is excellentEast Coast oyster selection with mignonetteFeldman's Deli$14 to $20
New York-style Jewish deli that SLC was missing. House-smoked pastrami cured for 10 daysHouse-smoked pastrami on rye with mustardSLC Eatery$35 to $60
Japanese-influenced seasonal cooking in a minimalist space. The omakase is outstandingChef's omakase with seasonal fish and wagyuWhere locals eat
Where residents actually go
Crown Burgers$8 to $12
Local fast-food chain with the iconic crown burger a beef patty topped with pastramiRamen Bar$12 to $16
Sugar House ramen shop with rich tonkotsu broth and homemade noodles at fair pricesBoltcutter$10 to $18
Neighborhood bar with excellent smash burgers and craft cocktails in the AvenuesSpice Kitchen Incubator$8 to $14
Refugee-run restaurant program with rotating cuisines Ethiopian, Burmese, Syrian, SomaliRoots Café (Sugar House)$10 to $16
Breakfast and brunch with oversized portions and excellent coffee. Weekend lines are worth itGo off-script
1
Ski multiple resorts in one tripThe IKON pass covers 6 nearby resorts. Ski Alta's powder, Park City's terrain, and Brighton's parks in one week
2
Antelope Island bisonDrive the causeway to the Great Salt Lake island where free-roaming bison herds graze against mountain backdrops
3
Twilight Concert Series (summer)Free outdoor concerts at Gallivan Center on Thursday evenings. Major indie acts play for free
4
Float the Great Salt LakeYou actually float like the Dead Sea. Drive to the marina, walk in, and bob around effortlessly
Insider intel + tourist traps
Tips
- ✓Utah's alcohol laws are quirky but manageable. Full-strength beer is in liquor stores; 3.2% at grocery stores (changing)
- ✓Altitude is real at 4,300ft (higher at resorts). Hydrate aggressively and go easy on day one
- ✓The Cottonwood Canyons get Interlodge closures in heavy snow check udottraffic.utah.gov before driving up
- ✓Park City is 35 min from SLC and has more dining/nightlife options after skiing than the canyons
“I came for skiing and ended up falling in love with the food scene. Red Iguana's mole is the best Mexican food I've had outside of Mexico.”
Skip
- ✗Temple Square 'tours' the grounds are free to walk yourself and the visitor center has everything you need
- ✗Overpriced airport ski rentals ($60/day) when shops in Sandy and Cottonwood Heights rent for $30-40
- ✗Great Salt Lake from the main road it smells. Go to Antelope Island for the real experience instead
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