Mount Olympus

The most prominent peak visible from the Salt Lake Valley and the hardest standard day hike in the metro Wasatch. A relentless 4,000-foot climb through dense scrub oak, loose rock, and finally a Class 3 scramble through a narrow chute to the exposed summit. The mountain dominates the eastern skyline from Holladay to Murray and delivers one of the best summit panoramas in the range.

Quick stats

Distance

8 mi round trip

Elevation gain

4150 ft

Time

5–8 hrs

Difficulty

Strenuous

Best months

Jun, Jul, Sep, Oct

Know before you go

Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Mount Olympus Wilderness (designated 1984) — no mechanized travel permitted.

No hiking permit required.

The route

The trail is relentless. The lower half through scrub oak is a grind; the upper half involves route-finding and scrambling. Budget more time than the distance suggests.

• 0 mi · Mount Olympus Trailhead — Wasatch Blvd parking lot.
• 1.5 mi · Tolcat Canyon junction — Stay right for the standard south summit route.
• 2.5 mi · Treeline — scrub oak gives way to talus — Views open dramatically. The summit is now visible above.
• 3.5 mi · Summit chute — Class 3 scramble begins — Hands required. Severe exposure. Turn back here if conditions or fitness are questionable.
• 4 mi · Mount Olympus South Summit (9,026 ft) — Exposed summit with dramatic drop-offs on all sides.

When to go

Summit chute holds snow and ice well into June — ice axe and crampons required in spring. Extremely hot and exposed in August. Fall is the sweet spot. Not a winter hike without avalanche gear and mountaineering experience.

Safety & hazards

The summit chute is a Class 3 scramble with severe exposure. A fall from the chute or summit ridge would be fatal. This is not a casual hiking trail. The summit requires hand-over-hand scrambling on steep, loose rock with significant drop-offs. Do not attempt if you are uncomfortable with exposure.

The summit chute is loose and rocky. Rockfall hazard is significant, especially when other parties are above. Helmets are a reasonable precaution. Do not climb directly below other parties in the chute.

The summit chute retains snow and ice well into June. Spring conditions make the scramble significantly more dangerous. Ice axe and crampons required in spring. The chute becomes a steep couloir when snow-covered — mountaineering conditions, not hiking.

The trail is largely exposed with minimal shade. The sustained 4,150-foot gain in summer heat causes frequent heat-related emergencies. Carry 3+ liters. Start before dawn in summer. Salt Lake County Search and Rescue responds to Mount Olympus more than almost any other peak.

Wildlife & geology

The lower scrub oak zone is thick enough to scratch exposed skin. Above treeline, the environment transitions rapidly to alpine rock with sparse vegetation.

Wildlife you might see: mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) — occasionally spotted on upper cliffs, golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus).

Mount Olympus is composed primarily of Precambrian Tintic Quartzite — some of the oldest rock in the Wasatch Range. The dramatic north-face cliffs expose a vertical cross-section of this ancient metamorphic rock. The peak sits on the hanging wall of the Wasatch Fault, one of the most active normal faults in North America.

History

Named by early settlers for its resemblance to the legendary Mount Olympus of Greek mythology — the most prominent and imposing peak visible from the valley floor.

Climbed recreationally since the late 1800s. The current trail was formalized by the USFS in the 20th century but the route follows paths established much earlier.

Nearby hikes

• Living Room Trail — Salt Lake City Foothills
• Grandeur Peak — Millcreek Canyon