The Living Room | Salt Lake

Hiking The Living Room - Salt Lake Hiking The Living Room

Salt Lake

Overview

RATING: Easy / Moderate Hike
MAPS: Fort Douglas, UT;

Sat

Rain and snow after 11am. Mostly cloudy. High near 45, with temperatures falling to around 43 in the afternoon. South southeast wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

45 | 29

Sun

Snow likely before 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. West wind 2 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

35 | 31

Mon

A slight chance of snow after 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 39. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

39 | 22

Tue

A chance of snow before 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

36 | 29

Wed

Mostly sunny, with a high near 36.

36 | 23

View Full Weather Details
SEASON: Any, hot in the summer
GEAR: Standard Hiking Gear
WATER: None.

Sat

Rain and snow after 11am. Mostly cloudy. High near 45, with temperatures falling to around 43 in the afternoon. South southeast wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

45 | 29

Sun

Snow likely before 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. West wind 2 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

35 | 31

Mon

A slight chance of snow after 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 39. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

39 | 22

Tue

A chance of snow before 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

36 | 29

Wed

Mostly sunny, with a high near 36.

36 | 23

View Full Weather Details
View south of Olympus and Lone Peak far in the distance.

View south of Olympus and Lone Peak far in the distance.

One of the more popular foothills hikes around Salt Lake City, the Living Room makes a great evening hike with excellent views of the city. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the sunset from the lofty viewpoint.

Due to its popularity, expect to see quite a few people, and down right crowds during the spring and fall weekends. At about 3 miles and 1300 feet of elevation gain, the hike has just enough meat on it to make you feel like you accomplished something but is still short enough to be done in an hour or two.

There are many social trails and routes to the Living Room. This description uses Georges Hollow, which seems to be the most used route and easiest to find / follow.

Note: Rattlesnakes are a big concern in the foothills around Salt Lake. On our last visit, an early spring evening, we counted two within a short distance from the trailhead. Be watchful for yourself, your children, and dogs if hiking in warm seasons.
Wild flowers near the living room.

Wild flowers near the living room.

Getting There

The best starting place is just off of Wakara Way on Colorow Road. This is on the east side of Salt Lake City, near the Natural History Museum.

From Foothill Drive, go east on Wakara Way to Colorow Road. Park anywhere near the intersection of Colorow and Wakara.

Note: Car break ins are somewhat common here. Don't leave any valuables in your vehicle.
Diane enjoying the view from the Living Room.

Diane enjoying the view from the Living Room.

Heading up Georges Hollow

Heading up Georges Hollow

Route

The first crux of the hike is reaching the Bonneville Shoreline trail. This has many access points, including from the Natural History Museum or Colorow Road, which parallels the foothills. If starting from Colorow Road (recommended), find one of the well-used social trails that lead up from the paved road to the wide dirt road that is the Bonneville Shoreline trail. Go right (south) on the Bonneville Shoreline, watching for pipeline marker 174.

At pipeline marker 174, you are due west of Georges Hollow. This is the canyon the trail ascends. Go past marker 174 to the next major junction, go left back to the base of Georges Hollow, then follow the wide trail up the hollow. The trail starts out quite wide, then narrows a bit. It is 1.5 miles from the trailhead to the Living Room. Just before the Living Room, as the trail contours in a gully, a side trail goes off on the right, stay left here on the obvious more used trail.

Return the same way, or if you are looking for a little more adventure, follow the ridgeline due west of the Living Room down. A social trail along the ridge offers relatively easy passage. Stay near the ridge until almost down, then cut left on any of several social trails that meander down to the approach trail.


Photos

Maps

Route / 3.15 miles / Elevation Range 4,969 - 6,026 ft.
Printable Maps:

Trailhead

12T 430446mE 4512680mN

N40° 45' 44" W111° 49' 27"

Marker 174

12T 430919mE 4512476mN

N40° 45' 37" W111° 49' 06"

Left

12T 431621mE 4513203mN

N40° 46' 01" W111° 48' 37"

Living Room

12T 431491mE 4513173mN

N40° 46' 00" W111° 48' 42"

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