Mount Olympus. The name just oozes mythology and ancient history. But our Mount Olympus is not the god-inhabited peak of Greek lore. Instead, it’s an annual tradition for some of us to lace up the hiking boots and climb atop the Mount Olympus of Utah’s Wasatch Mountains – that jagged, double-summit hunk of quartzite that watches over the Salt Lake Valley as if gods really are chilling at the top.
It’s no wonder that hikers love to scale this peak as Mount Olympus is one of the most prominent mountains on the Wasatch Front. The reddish color, twin peaks, and immediate rise from the valley with no foothills cluttering up the view is an irresistible lure. Olympus tops out at 9,026 feet, but has an impressive 4,800 foot elevation gain from the Salt Lake Valley floor.
The trail is steep. It starts out steep and ends even steeper. There are no flat sections through meadows or forested glades. No, Mount Olympus demands that you suffer for the honor of reaching her wondrous summit. As such, the well traveled trail switchbacks along the front side of the mountain through rocks and scrub brush with no shade. The plus, is you gain elevation very fast – like over 4,000 feet in 3.1 miles.
As one climbs, the initial switchbacks level off for a short distance as the path goes deep into the split that cleaves the mountain in two distinct parts. The makeup of the hike changes here, as open desert at the beginning of the hike gives way to shady groves of gamble oak and even a small stream. But before you enter the sanctuary of shade, be sure to stop for a last look at the massive urban sprawl on the Salt Lake Valley below.
Once in the shady confines of the trees, the trail gets steep once again. A practically straight up approach with dozens of boulders-as-staircase sections make the going slow and breath hard to catch. Gamble oak trees with sides worn smooth by thousands of hands grasping for support provide balance on especially tricky spots. Now and then, a view of the summit comes into view, teasingly close, yet laughably distant as the path seems to go deeper into the mountain in a never ending maw. But eventually, and finally, the trail tops out at the shoulder, where the Wasatch Range south of Olympus reveals itself like a curtain of granite.
Many people choose the shoulder as their turnaround point. But as nice as the view is here, the real fun is only just beginning for those with a summit goal in mind. To reach the top of Mount Olympus, a serious scramble up scree and slick rock is required. Skilled hikers or rock climbers will find it easy to navigate the cracks and ledges of the stone, but many people may have problems here, where a single slip and fall could be disastrous, and getting off route might involve a cold night followed by an appearance on local T.V. news while being plucked off the mountain by search and rescue.
After rock stepping, and maybe even crawling on all fours, the scramble ends at the very top of what is called “Summit Peak” – the southern most high point of the mountain. The top of Mount Olympus is nothing but a jumble of giant stone blocks strewn about as if the very gods themselves clashed in an epic battle here. There is little room to sit as level, flat rocks are few. Hopefully you’ll have the entire place to yourself, so you can sit on the best spot right next to an old mailbox filled with mementos and a summit register.
After signing your name and date, take in the 360-degree view and snap off a few photos of a vista that stretches so far you can see the Great Salt Lake, the mountain ranges of the West Desert, and maybe even the Salt Flats on the horizon.
To get to the Mount Olympus trail head, take the east belt of I-215 in Salt Lake City and exit at Wasatch Boulevard. If you are traveling north, take the 3900 South exit. From the south, get off on 4500 South. Drive Wasatch Boulevard until you see the paved parking lot above the east side of the road with an entrance signed “Mount Olympus Trailhead.” This parking area is also known for the rock climbing on Pete’s Rock, located at the north end of the lot.
Bring lots of water as the trail can get very hot, especially on the open desert foothills that make up the first half of the hike. Dogs are allowed on the Mount Olympus Trail, but be sure your pooch is capable of scrambling up the rocks at the end of the hike to the summit.
Nice story. Next, ascend the gully en route to the north summit.
Thanks for posting! I love this summit! I summit it a couple times a year and often find myself soaking in the view for an hour or so each time. Just an ironic FYI for you… the date you posted this (10/17) is the actual Birthday of the Man who the mailbox ontop of Mount Olympus is dedicated to.
Just thought this was an interesting irony 🙂
Thanks Again for Posting,
Daniel
Nice! A happy coincidence!
I’m thinking of heading up Mt. Olympus one evening after work. Have you ever hiked the trail at dusk or in the dark? I’ll have headlamps and flashlights. Will that be enough for the scramble, or should I plan enough to scramble up and back down before the sun sets?
Hey Kiley,
If you haven’t hiked Mount Olympus before during the day, then I wouldn’t recommend doing it in the dark. There are a lot of “sucker trails” that make it easy to go off route. Too many times people have had to be rescued after they follow one of these trails and get cliffed out at night. Be sure you know the way up and down like the back of your hand before going when it’s hard to see.
You should plan for an over nighter, at least because you don’t want to run up there & run back. Take your time.. Ascend to the saddle for a camp site before dusk, that means start your hike in the morning. Enjoy the solitude as long as you can. Start your descent in the early afternoon & you should be fine. Of coarse, prepare well !