Ferguson Canyon Hike - Waterfalls and Overlook

Near the top of Ferguson Canyon, Utah 

I had heard this name once before, but it didn't really stick.  On a Sunday evening after a long day of Spring Cleaning, I decided it was time to get out of the house and take the dog for a Sunday evening hike.  I was getting bored of doing the same close to the city spring hikes, especially here in Utah where there are so many amazing hiking options.  I did a little research on a dog friendly spring hike when I stumbled across Ferguson Canyon.  (side note: a good way to see if a trail is ready is to look it up on instagram!)

First Impressions:  One of my new favorite close to SLC hikes.  Following a creek almost the entire way, and several small waterfalls.  Shaded and green with wild flowers growing along the trail.  Amazing dog option as there is water for them the entire way.  Everything was so green, and the view from the overlook of the valley and into Big Cottonwood Canyon was an added bonus.   The trail reminded me of the Pacific Northwest and is a great workout with its steady steep climb to the overlook. 

Trail in Ferguson Canyon

Mueller Park Trail - Bountiful, Utah

Oh mountain biking.

How we have a love hate relationship. I love being outside, fresh air sunshine dirt trails, and a happy dog chasing my bike behind me. But those first few rides of the season can be tough.  Now that I graduated, I don't spend a whole lot of time on my bike (I used to ride it to school), and with winter just wrapping up, I hadn't spent too much time on my bike on the trails. Matter of fact the last time I sat in my bike seat, was Navajo Rocks in Moab.
 Yep, over a month ago. 

It is a great workout and something I enjoy more and more, with the exception of those first few rides that remind me how out of shape I am.  Not even so much on my legs but man does mountain biking set my lungs on fire. If your legs don't feel like blocks of lead, then your lungs will surely feel like they are burning out of your chest after a few hundred feet (especially here where the air is already thin - sea level fo life). 

Spring Hikes near SLC

I have the perfect post for you as you get ready to head into the weekend.  The past few weeks I have been doing a lot of research on "Spring Dog Friendly" hikes and really wasn't impressed with the google search results.  

It was a lot of work finding something close to downtown , that I hadn't already done, and that also allowed dogs.  I needed no to minimal snow, not too muddy, not too icey, the goldilocks of hiking trails if you will.  So I found some great hikes, did them all, and put together this great list for you.  With a few extras outside SLC if you are willing to travel.

Dog Friendly Spring hikes near SLC

Mount Van Cott ~ 3 miles 

Living Room ~ 4 miles 

Avenue Twin Peaks ~ 1-7 miles 

Red Butte Trails ~ 1-4 miles 

Rattlesnake Gulch to Salt Lake Overlook ~ 4 miles 

Bonneville Shoreline Trail/Dry Gulch  ~ 1-4 miles 

Spring Hike: Red Butte Canyon Area

One of the best things about spring is the longer daylight hours.  Which means enough light for weekday evening hikes, the perfect way to break up any long work week.  With the warmer weather and summer around the corner (and working for home), I have been setting some "personal goals" on moving at least 3 miles a day.  Some days its just a walk around the city, picking up groceries or dropping off a book at the library.  But on these city walks there is the issue of Olive being on-leash the entire time, and scrounging for all the leftover food littered throughout the city thanks to our growing homeless population.

City life can be wonderful, right?  

At least once mid week its nice to take Olive out on the trails where she can be off leash, and run like a maniac. And I don't have to worry about her eating week old hot dogs off the ground.  A great midweek hike close to downtown, and early spring hike is the trails in Red Butte Canyon. 

First, let me be clear, these are not the trails within the Red Butte Garden itself.  The hikes in the garden require you to pay admission to the garden, and are not dog friendly.  However, there is a network of trails outside of the fence of Red Butte Garden, that crosses over where the entrance of Red Butte Canyon is closed to the public, and through some nice trails.    

Spring Hike: Avenue Twin Peaks - Salt Lake City, Utah

Weekend plans can always change quickly around here.  

A planned trip to Moab was postponed due to a horse show over the weekend.  But the beauty of Salt Lake City is that there are so many "last minute" no plan needed hikes you can do close to downtown.  Today on the blog, I am sharing another great spring hiking option in beautiful SLC, and my last minute planned hike. Spring comes early here in Utah and when the temperature climbs and the sun stays out longer, I am itching to hit the trails.  Spring hikes around the city are sometimes my favorite because for a very short time, the mountains are oh so green. 

Hiking to the Avenue Twin Peaks is a great low elevation hike, making it a perfect option in the spring when a lot of the other peaks are packed in with snow or mud.  This is a pretty (and exposed) hike with some mileage and elevation to make it a great workout. The peak is certainly not the tallest in the area, at only 6291 ft (1917 m). However, its proximity to downtown and steep climbs make this an easy access sweat on a weekday evening or weekend morning. If you are hiking it on a sunny day, make sure to bring lots of sunscreen and plenty of water as the trail is entirely exposed to the elements.