Provo, UT

Once again, my friend Felicia was the inspiration behind seeing a beautiful sunset…and this time I had to work for it! I wondered how we could top the Antelope Island sunset from the previous evening, so I Googled “best places to watch the sun set in Salt Lake City.” We decided on Ensign Peak, because of both it’s proximity and it’s historical significance.

Ensign Peak is a short (about .5 mile each way) but steep (400-foot incline) that leads to sweeping panoramic vistas of Salt Lake City and the valley. The hike can be made in about 15 minutes by fast hikers. Slower hikers (like me!) and families will take longer. Most sites tell you this is an “easy” hike, but I would categorize it as moderate because of the incline. For those that find the incline a bit too much, there’s a vista mound not far from the trail head that offers equally beautiful views.

The trailhead is in a residential area above and behind the State Capitol Building. Park on the street, then climb the steps to the trailhead. The trail is well-marked, cement in the beginning and wide in most places, but gets pretty rough near the top. My 3-year-old daughter had no problem on the way up, but be sure to closely supervise–and hold onto–your little hikers.

The hike to historic Ensign Peak was made famous on July 26, 1847, just two days after the Mormon pioneers arrived, when Brigham Young and his exploring party climbed it to survey the Salt Lake valley. In 1996, 149 years later to the day, Ensign Peak was dedicated as a Mormon Historic Site. Plaques along the trail offer historic tidbits, as well as information about what you’re looking at in the distance.

At the 5,414-foot summit (about 1,100 feet above the valley floor) there’s a monument and viewing area where you’ll see spectacular views of downtown Salt Lake City and the surrounding valley. Give yourself enough time to hike to the summit so you can enjoy the view and the setting sun. We began our descent while the reds and oranges were still painting the sky, since we forgot a flashlight, but there were plenty of lovebirds heading up to view the city lights even as we were on our way down.

For more details about the hike and how to get there:
http://www.utah.com/thingtodo23540.htm
http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/pioneers_and_cowboys/ensignpeak.html