Name: Synthesis
Start: 2026-12-09
End: 2026-12-11

**The Route**

A fairly short, easy hike in the Suncrest neighborhood, this trail affords spectacular views to both the Salt Lake valley and Utah County.

This out-and-back trail is good for families, bikes, and hikers of all expertise levels. There are hills, but they are navigable by most levels, the trail is wide and more like a jeep track for a good portion of the route, and dogs are welcome. The alien tower is a metal pyramid structure at the top of one of the small peaks, and gives the best views into both sides of the mountain.

**Insider's view:** An excellent hike nearly all-year round. Dogs are allowed.

**Difficulty:** Easy - low technical difficulty and stamina requirements

**Highest point:** 6673 ft

**Lowest point:** 6171 ft

**Best time of year:** Year Round

**Safety information:** The foothills are home to wildlife. Watch for rattlesnakes, especially in summer months. Wear closed-toed shoes when hiking, and be aware of your surroundings. Make sure you stay hydrated.

**Roadbook**

Follow the trail to the west and south until it starts to curve back to the east. Take the smaller trail up the hill - look for the metal triangular structure at the top of the hill.

- Start point - Deer Ridge Offleash Dog Trailhead, Deer Ridge Dr, Draper, UT 84020
- Lowest point, 6168 ft - 0 mi
- Highest point, 6673 ft - 1.4 mi
- Alien Tower - Destination - 2.7 mi

**How to Get There**

**Public transport:** Bus routes do not travel up to this trailhead - best access is by car.

**Parking:** Park on the street at the trailhead.

Alien Tower Trail

Utah State Parks and Recreation and the Utah Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (UHGPGA) are partnering to preserve this unique recreation area that is an excellent site for teaching and gathering experience for flyers of all levels. It is known worldwide as one of the best training sites for both paragliding and hang gliding. Flight Park State Recreation Area is being jointly managed by Utah State Parks and Recreation and the Utah Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association. Please visit the UHGPGA website for more information about flying safety and requirements. Just west of the parking lot, there is also a modelport for RC airplanes and helicopters.

Flight Park State Recreation Area

Settled at the base of the Oquirrh Mountains in beautiful Herriman, Utah, Zions Bank Training Center offers a world-class sporting environment both inside and out. Inside the largest, pre-engineered, free-standing steel structure in North America, ZBTC boasts 210,000 square feet of artificial playing surface, providing ample space for games and practices with the facility being powered by 56,000 square feet of solar paneling located on top of the facility. Outside, five pristine natural-grass fields sit along the north side of the facility where Real Salt Lake, Real Monarchs SLC, and the RSL Academy practice.

Real Salt Lake Academy

The Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control operates 44 State Liquor and Wine Stores and over 100 package agencies or contract stores across the state. State liquor and wine stores carry a full line of liqueurs, wines, spirits, and some full strength beers.

Utah State Liquor Store #31

Great Salt Lake State Marina offers spectacular views of sunsets over the Great Salt Lake, a search and rescue operations center, and provides marina access for sailors, sculling enthusiasts, other boaters, and bird watchers. A remnant of ancient Lake Bonneville, the Great Salt Lake covers more than 2,000 square miles and is two to seven times saltier than the ocean. The lake attracts more than 257 species of birds, depending on the season, and is a major stop for millions of migratory birds. Park Hours: April - September, sunrise to sunset; October - March, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; no holiday closures Located 16 miles west of Salt Lake City off Exit 104 on Interstate 80.

Great Salt Lake Marina

A steep but rewarding out-and-back peak hike with incredible vistas.

This is a mild to moderately trafficked steep hike to a gorgeous overview. The first two-thirds of the trail have excellent shade, following a stream up the mountainside for a good portion of it. In just under two miles from trailhead to the peak, the elevation gain is nearly 2,000 feet, so this is considered a difficult trail. In the late summer, the wildflowers along the trail are spectacular, and the views from the saddle and the peak are well worth the steepness.

**Local's recommendation:** An excellent spring, summer, or fall hike. Dogs are allowed; they must be kept on-leash on even days, and can be off-leash on odd days.

**Details**

**Difficulty:** Difficult - steep with high elevation gain

**Highest point:** 8609 ft

**Lowest point:** 6647 ft

**Best time of year:** Spring, Summer, and Fall

**Safety information:** As with any trail in the foothills, watch for rattlesnakes, especially in summer months. Wear closed-toed shoes when hiking, be aware of your surroundings, and always look carefully before placing hands or feet. Be sure to stay hydrated - even with the shade cover on the lower half of the trail, it can get very warm.

**Roadbook**

From the trailhead at Elbow Fork, follow the signs up the trail. There are very few branching trails on the first half of the trail, but when there are, stay on the northern-most branch. At the saddle, take the trail that heads north and east up the peak.

- Mount Aire TrailHead, Mill Creek Canyon Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84109 - 0 mi
- Lowest point, 6647 ft - 0 mi
- Highest point, 8609 ft - 2 mi
- Mount Aire - 3.8 mi

**How to Get There**

**Public transport:** Bus routes do not travel up to this trail head - best access is by car.

**Parking:** There is parking just off the road, near the Mount Aire trailhead at Elbow Fork. Be aware that there is a $5.00 fee when exiting Millcreek Canyon.

Mount Aire Trail

1.75 mi/2.8 km one-way — The Elbow Fork trailhead starts 6.4 miles up Millcreek Canyon on the south side of the road, about 200 feet past a sharp turn. Start walking at the footbridge and proceed through a short series of steep switchbacks to reach an excellent view area. The trail then continues with a gradual ascent and crosses a ridge before descending to the Terraces Picnic Area. With a change in elevation of only 430 feet, this trail is great for families. Situated on the north-facing slope, the trail is shaded, making it a perfect choice for summer hikes.

Elbow Fork to Terrace Picnic Area

An easy hike that can get you up to some beautiful high up views quickly, and also can get you access to other interesting and less trafficked trails.

This is a beautiful moderately-trafficked hike that is family-friendly, and because it starts pretty high up in Emigration Canyon will allow you access to a smaller peak without having to climb too much. There are beautiful views of Emigration and Parley's Canyon as well as Little Dell Reservoir. In the summer you can see beautiful wild flowers, but it's also a decent winter trail - depending on snow conditions, you can snow shoe it or even just walk it.

**Local's recommendation:** A great trail for a casual afternoon hike - not too challenging with a great view.

**Details**

**Difficulty:** Easy

**Highest point:** 6818 ft

**Lowest point:** 4193 ft

**Best time of year:** Jan - Dec (year round)

**Safety information:** There are some mildly steep parts - if you're here in the winter, you may want YakTrax. Be sure to wear sunscreen and a hat as there is no shade cover. As with any trail in the foothills, watch for rattlesnakes, especially in summer months. Wear closed-toed shoes when hiking, be aware of your surroundings, and always look carefully before placing hands or feet. Be sure to stay hydrated.

**Roadbook**

Park in the dirt parking lot at the top of Emigration Canyon on the south side of the road. Cross the road to the north, where you will see a metal gate and a trail going up the side of the hill. The trail is easy to follow past that point.

- Start point - Little Mountain Summit, 588 Emigration Canyon Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84108 - 0 mi
- Highest point, 6818 ft - 1.6 mi
- Lowest point, 6237 ft - 3.2 mi
- Little Mountain - Destination - 3.2 mi

**How to Get There**

**Public transport:** Bus routes do not travel up to this trailhead - best access is by car.

**Parking:** There is plenty of free parking at the trailhead.

Little Mountain Trail

Visit Salt Lake

Salt Lake is the place where the Wasatch mountain peaks frame city streets. Sure, Salt Lake's famed for our winter powder ([four legendary ski resorts](https://www.visitsaltlake.com/things-to-do/skiing-snowboarding/) just 30 minutes from downtown), but that's just one season's story. Summer brings families [hiking through wildflower meadows](https://www.visitsaltlake.com/things-to-do/outdoor-recreation/) before cooling off at a Jazz game or the Gateway fountains. Autumn paints our mountain canyons in gold, perfect for morning strolls that end at local coffee shops. Spring? That's when you might spot baby bison on Antelope Island before heading to the Eccles Theater for a Broadway show. Our soaring Wasatch Mountains rise dramatically from downtown Salt Lake, creating a place where every day offers both natural wonders and urban energy. And while we sit perfectly between the [national parks](https://www.visitsaltlake.com/things-to-do/outdoor-recreation/state-national-parks/) with Yellowstone's geysers and Utah's red rock country, the real magic happens right here, where everyone can [discover the history](https://www.visitsaltlake.com/plan-your-visit/about-salt-lake/) of the city as they find their own rhythm between mountain adventure and city life.

Sports Salt Lake

Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company presents SynthesisDecember 9th-11th, 2026 at 7:30pmStudio 5400Mid-Valley Performing Arts CenterSynthesis returns for its fourth installment. Join nearly 500 students for three days of our annual high school choreographic dance festival. The company will perform each evening, alongside young dancers from across the Wasatch Front.This calendar listing is brought to you by NowPlayingUtah.com, Utah's one-stop, online website for arts and entertainment events, powered by the Utah Cultural Alliance.

Synthesis

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