Mount Olympus Hike, Wasatch Front

All photos by Outdoor Project Contributor, John Badila

Mount Olympus is a dominating presence on the Salt Lake City skyline and makes for one of the area's most rewarding hikes. Its craggy summit juts up nearly a mile above the valley floor below, beckoning hikers to try to gain it. The north side of the mountain is terrain full of cliffs and enormous slabs of broken quartzite, the domain of mountain goats and rock climbers. The west side, on the other hand, offers more modest grades and a trail that can take even mortals to the top of this impressive 9,026-foot peak. Capping off the route is several hundred feet of third-class scrambling over boulders and ledges, adding to the thrill and sense of accomplishment on reaching the top.