Short, easy hike with beautiful canyon views and access to other trails.

A moderate to heavily trafficked hike in the trees with a few beautiful canyon views. Many other options to lengthen the hike exist here, including the Salt Lake Overlook, Thaynes Canyon Peak, and access to other trails that branch off through Millcreek, this hike is a great way to warm up and see what hiking is about in this fantastic area.

**Local's recommendation:** An excellent 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:** Easy

**Highest point:** 6467 ft

**Lowest point:** 5748 ft

**Best time of year:** Year round

**Safety information:** Bring comfortable hiking shoes, plenty of water, and extra snacks. There are mildly steep parts, so a walking pole is helpful.

**Roadbook**

From the parking lot, take the Desolation Trail and stay to the left on the Thaynes Canyon trail. At 0.6 mile, there is a trail sign with a branch to the right for Desolation - go right on that trail. It will loop around and back down to the trailhead.

- Thaynes Canyon Trailhead, Salt Lake City, UT 84109 - 0 mi
- Photo - 0.3 mi
- Highest point, 6260 ft - 0.6 mi
- Lowest point, 5745 ft - 1.6 mi
- Loop - 1.6 mi

**How to Get There**

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

**Parking:** Parking is available for free near the trailhead. Be aware that there is a $5.00 fee when exiting Millcreek Canyon.

Thaynes Canyon Loop

**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

CTC Chinese Travel strives to provide a comfortable, caring, and cost-effective way to tour not only the biggest sites in the United States, but throughout China as well. With a professional team and personable staff, we make each and every booking not only a trip, but an experience. To do this, we not only help our clients book their plans, but teach many of the culturally significant practices that help to immerse visitors in the local culture. Being based in Salt Lake City, a past host of the Winter Olympics, we offer a unique experience: high-altitude skiing. Utah is home to one of the greatest snows on earth, and CTC Chinese Travel is happy to help you to experience the fresh powder snowfall in skiing or snowboarding whether you’re trying it for the first time, or a seasoned expert.

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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.

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