Pets allowed
Allowed
Elevation Gain
1,080.00 ft (329.18 m)
Trail type
There-and-back
Distance
3.70 mi (5.95 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Heughs Canyon is located just on the edge of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Found between Mount Olympus and Big Cottonwood Canyon, you will never find the large crowds here that its closest neighbors have. As trails go for Salt Lake locals, this is a great one. It is steep but not crazy, just long enough to get your heart rate up, and there is a creek for the dogs to drink from. Trees cover most of the trail, so its perfect for after-work hikes in the summer while the sun sets across the valley. The fall colors are really great too, and there are beautiful spires of rock along the canyon rim.

At the top of the trail is a large rock slide where you can finally get some good views of the city below. Rock climbing opportunities abound further up, and there is a waterfall that tends to lose flow later in the season. Given the access, the beauty, the creek, and the dog-friendly trail, this is one of the best hiking options for Salt Lake City dog owners. Keep in mind that the route leads through a home owner's private property at the trailhead, so please be courteous. Also note that this area is known for rattlesnakes, so keep your eyes and ears peeled.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Summer
Fall

Congestion

Low

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Near town. Shaded trail. Dog friendly.

Cons

Occasional rattlesnakes.

Trailhead Elevation

5,070.00 ft (1,545.34 m)

Features

Mountaineering
Rock climbing
Waterfalls
Bird watching
Wildlife
Big vistas
Wildflowers

Location

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Comments

K R
07/24/2022
This is an off leash trail despite general confusion about the signage. The on leash signs only legally apply to the neighborhood and to the first 0.1 mile of the trail while it is still in the city of Holladay. After this point, the trail enters Mount Olympus wilderness in the Uintah-Cache National Forest where dogs may be off-leash. Unfortunately, there is no sign indicating this transition. It is true that there is poison ivy all over the trail, which is overgrown and has loose rock, so beware.
06/16/2022
As the sign says this is an on-leash dog trail. Lots of poison ivy this year, leaves of 3 leave them be, and right along the trail in numerous places. If your dog brushes it and then you pet your dog then you get it.
06/16/2022
The trailhead parking is on Wasatch Boulevard as Google Maps shows https://www.google.com/maps/place/Heughs+Canyon+Trailhead+Parking/@40.6385427,-111.7980654,17.34z/
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