Olympus Hills Park

1 mile RT
easy
spring, summer, fall

This paved trail features stunning panoramic valley views as you walk through a superb natural area on the east bench of the Salt Lake Valley. Unlike most paved trails, this route has a fair amount of elevation gain, picking up approximately 200 feet through the ups and downs. It’s a great choice for those who prefer paved trails but want to take the difficulty up a notch. This hike is suitable for most children and adults, however many sets of stairs make it unsuitable for some.

The Trailhead

Olympus Hills Park is located at 3131 East 4500 South in Holladay, UT. To reach the park from the junction of I-215 and I-80 near the mouth of Parley’s Canyon:

Drive south on I-215 for 2.5 miles.
Take Exit 5 for 4500 South.
Turn right (west) onto 4500 South.
Drive 0.1 mile to Olympus Hills Park on the right (40.675184,-111.804895).
More parking is available at another parking area on the north end of the park. To reach the north parking area from the south parking area:

Continue driving west 0.1 mile on 4500 South.
Turn right onto 3080 East.
Drive .15 mile to 4345 South.
Turn right into the north parking area (40.677197,-111.804905).
The Hike

This route varies a little depending on whether you park in the north or south parking area. The south parking area offers a slightly longer route with a little more elevation change due to a longer trail to access the loop portion of the walk. This trail guide assumes a start at the south parking area.

Begin walking up the stairs heading east from the parking area. The trail gradually ascends the hill past a playground and a small pond before reaching a few more sets of stairs. Continue walking until you reach a ‘T’ junction in the trail. This is the beginning of the loop portion of the trail. Turn right and keep walking up the hill.

Follow the paved path as it winds along the east side of the park, offering excellent views of Mount Olympus to the east. Several dirt side trails are encountered along the way but stay on the paved path. If you decide you’d like to explore more later on, these dirt trails interconnect the paved path throughout the circle. Please observe trail closure signs where applicable.

Keep walking as the trail reaches the northeast end of the park and a neighborhood access point on 3380 East. Turn left and continue walking west on the loop trail. Breathtaking views of the Salt Lake Valley line the horizon as the trail descends back down the hill.

Near the bottom of the hill, the trail passes by tennis courts and the north parking area. Stay left and continue walking as the trail once again climbs the hill back to the original ‘T’ junction where you first turned right onto the loop. Turn right to return back to the south parking area where you started the hike. Total round trip walking distance is a little less than one mile.