Along the Wasatch: An Ode to Utah's Mountains
Discover the quiet grandeur of Utah's mountains, offering solace, adventure and breathtaking beauty along their distinctive peaks.

It’s hard to describe to people outside of Utah just how close the mountains are here. Five minutes away from Salt Lake City’s historic downtown, they bump into and tangle with our work and our play, our past and our rest. They create the foundation for the future. I have lived here my whole life, and whenever I feel the pull to leave, the mountains pull me back each time.
Viewed from an airplane, the Westernmost edge of the Rocky Mountains rises from the clouds like the toothy grin of a surfacing crocodile. To see them from the sky, the earth, from anywhere, really, makes you feel like you’re at the mercy of something ancient and powerful that will consume all of you at any time—but only with your permission.


"My favorite time to see them is when moody fall rainstorms break over the canyons, clouds carded like cotton over jagged peaks cloaked in the orange gold of autumn."
I’ve surrendered myself and been engulfed by them over and over again. Desert paintbrush and lupine and yarrow and sage, junipers and quaking aspens and Douglas fir and blue spruce, high alpine lakes and winter alpenglow and moose and glacial crags working some reverse entropy on me. Whenever I feel an undoing in my life, I run to the Wasatch mountains and feel something has been returned to its place.
In late spring, they are green and verdant. Yellow balsamroot freckles bloom across their face with the arrival of summer sun, and they blush pink and purple in the alpenglow of winter. My favorite time to see them is when moody fall rainstorms break over the canyons, clouds carded like cotton over jagged peaks cloaked in the orange gold of autumn.

Snowbird Mountain Resort

Snowbird Mountain Resort

Snowbird Mountain Resort
On road trips, I orient myself by their peaks: there is Mt. Nebo guarding the south gate into the Wasatch Front; the freeway bends to the will of the queenly Timpanogos; there goes Lone Peak’s sharp pencil point, Olympus, which on stormy days does look cloaked in the wrath of the gods, and the soft roll of Ensign Peak; there’s Ben Lomond shrouded in clouds; slip into the steep Wellsville Range, and from the northern mouth of Sardine Canyon, spot Naomi and Logan Peak in the distance. Each is singular, but on a map, they are the long, steady arrow that points home.
The name “Utah” originates from the Ute tribe who first called this place home. It’s theorized that “Ute” means “people of the mountains.” When Mormon pioneer settlers made the harrowing trek across the west in 1847, many went no further than the Utah territory, famously saying of the Salt Lake Valley, “This is the place.” Today, “people of the mountains” is an identity core to who all Utahns are, one we embrace as we tangle our feet, skis and tires with trail, and visitors drawn here by the contrasts of Utah’s landscapes may find themselves stopped in their tracks by its skyline, echoing that pioneer refrain: this is the place.
Wrapped in the arms of the Wasatch, it’s hard to think anything else.


Wasatch Mountains
The summits of Utah's dramatic Wasatch Mountain Range stand proudly above the valleys to the west, boasting thousands of feet of prominence.
What's Nearby
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Mount Timpanogos
Mountain goats and their human counterparts feel right at home in the ruggedly beautiful forests and peaks of Mount Timpanogos. The area boasts some of Northern Utah’s top natural treasures, including stunning caverns, waterfalls, lakes and panoramic views.
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Wasatch Mountain State Park
Year-round family adventure awaits. In the warmer months, hit the hiking or biking trails, or reserve a tee time at the golf courses. In the winter, ski or snowmobile through the alpine terrain.
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Mount Olympus
If Salt Lake City hikers were all in a college fraternity, Mount Olympus would be considered a hazing ritual. This hike is no joke — a quad-wrenching climb of nearly 4,800 feet in elevation over 3.3 miles.
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Snowbird Ski Resort
Snowbird boasts the longest ski season in Utah, often opening before Thanksgiving and staying open through Memorial Day. The resort's generous season means more time on its award-winning terrain, which includes 140 runs spread across 2,500 acres and 3,240 vertical feet.
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Solitude Mountain Resort
They say Solitude isn't just a name, it's a promise. It's crazy to think that peaceful seclusion is possible, with 1,200+ skiable acres, 82 runs, 2,494 feet of vert and the canyon's average 500 annual inches of snow. Nevertheless, solitude is very much a reality.
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Snowbasin
Boasting world-class snow, lifts, dining and more, Snowbasin is just under an hour from SLC International Airport and 30 minutes from the vibrant city of Ogden.
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Brighton Ski Resort
Located at the very top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, Brighton averages over 500 inches of snow a winter. The resorts well-balanced 1,000+ acres features 66 runs, three terrain parks and 1,875 feet of vert, all accessible from five high-speed quads.