Ensign Peak Trail
Short, steep summit above the State Capitol — panoramic views of the Salt Lake Valley, Wasatch Front, and Great Salt Lake from the hilltop where Brigham Young first surveyed the valley.
A quick, steep climb to a hilltop above the State Capitol with a 360-degree panorama of the Salt Lake Valley, Wasatch Front, Oquirrh Mountains, and Great Salt Lake. The peak where Brigham Young surveyed the valley in 1847.
Quick stats
- Distance
- 1 mi round trip
- Elevation gain
- 400 ft
- Time
- 0.5–1 hrs
- Difficulty
- Easy · family-friendly
- Best months
- Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov
Know before you go
Ensign Peak Nature Park, managed by Salt Lake City Parks and Public Lands.
No hiking permit required.
The route
Short but sustained steep grade. Most hikers complete the round trip in 30-45 minutes.
- 0 mi · Ensign Peak Trailhead — Parking area on Ensign Vista Drive.
- 0.5 mi · Ensign Peak Summit — Interpretive plaque and 360-degree panorama.
When to go
Hikeable year-round but fully exposed to sun in summer — avoid midday Jul-Aug. Excellent sunset hike. Trail can be icy in winter; microspikes helpful.
Safety & hazards
No shade on the entire trail. Full sun exposure on south- and west-facing slopes. Carry water even though the hike is short. Summer afternoons can exceed 100°F on the exposed hillside.
North-facing sections of the trail ice over in winter. Microspikes recommended December through February.
Wildlife & geology
Dry, exposed foothills habitat dominated by Great Basin shrubland. Limited ecological diversity but representative of the Wasatch Front benchlands.
Wildlife you might see: rock wren (Salpinctes obsoletus), western rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) — rare, warm months.
The peak sits on folded and faulted sedimentary rocks along the Wasatch Front. Ancient Lake Bonneville shoreline terraces are visible on surrounding hillsides — evidence of the massive Pleistocene lake that once filled this valley.
History
Named for the peak itself, which was named by early LDS settlers. An ensign is a flag or standard — the peak served as a signal point above the new settlement.
Lookout and survey point for early Mormon settlers. Now a Salt Lake City nature park.
Brigham Young and a small party climbed this peak on July 26, 1847, two days after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley. He surveyed the landscape and reportedly designated it as the place to raise an ensign to the nations.
Nearby hikes
- Living Room Trail — Salt Lake City Foothills