Mount Olympus (Utah)

Last updated
Mount Olympus
Mount Olympus Utah.jpg
Highest point
Elevation 9,030 feet (2,752 m)  NAVD 88 [1]
Prominence 386 ft (118 m) [1]
Coordinates 40°39′24″N111°46′16″W / 40.6566144°N 111.7710429°W / 40.6566144; -111.7710429 Coordinates: 40°39′24″N111°46′16″W / 40.6566144°N 111.7710429°W / 40.6566144; -111.7710429 [2]
Geography
USA Utah relief location map.svg
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Mount Olympus
Location in Utah
Location Salt Lake County, Utah, U.S.
Parent range Wasatch Range
Topo map USGS Sugar House
Climbing
Easiest route Mount Olympus Trail: Hike

Mount Olympus in the U.S. state of Utah is one of the most prominent and recognizable mountains viewable from practically every location in the Salt Lake Valley. Mount Olympus is not the tallest peak along the Wasatch Front, but its unusual form and location make it a popular hiking destination for locals. The mountain is situated immediately east of the center of the Salt Lake Valley (due east from Murray and Taylorsville). Distinctive features of the mountain are its twin peaks and other outcroppings, the highest of which is called "Summit Peak" and which towers above the valley to an elevation of 9,030 feet (2,752 m). Thus, the peak looms about 4,800 feet (1,463 m) above the valley floor.

Contents

Hiking

Because of its proximity, visibility, and accessibility to a large metropolitan area, Mount Olympus has been a popular hiking destination for the residents of the Salt Lake Valley for many years[ quantify ]. Most hikers reach the summit via the Mount Olympus Trail, which is a steep hike from the mountain base and stretches approximately 3.1 miles (5.0 km) to the summit. The last 600 vertical feet of terrain to the summit involves several short semi-technical scrambles that often cause problems for hikers, especially on the descent and have led to numerous rescues.

This peak is also a popular winter hiking route because the terrain is not as avalanche prone as many of the surrounding peaks. Due to the trail's elevation and tree density, it remains snow-covered until May, and early spring hiking is best aided by snowshoes. Hiding near the base of Mount Olympus lies Utah's second deepest, and the United States' 13th deepest cave, known as Neffs Cave.

Mt. Olympus Panorama.jpg
Mount Olympus (Utah) panorama
The peak of Mt. Olympus is the highest terrain point in this photo. Panoramic view west of Mt. Olympus peak.jpg
The peak of Mt. Olympus is the highest terrain point in this photo.

See also

Related Research Articles

Wasatch Range Mountain range in Utah, United States

The Wasatch Range or Wasatch Mountains is a mountain range in the western United States that runs about 160 miles (260 km) from the Utah-Idaho border south to central Utah. It is the western edge of the greater Rocky Mountains, and the eastern edge of the Great Basin region. The northern extension of the Wasatch Range, the Bear River Mountains, extends just into Idaho, constituting all of the Wasatch Range in that state.

Uinta Mountains Mountain range in northeastern Utah and northwestern Colorado in the United States

The Uinta Mountains are an east-west trending chain of mountains in northeastern Utah extending slightly into southern Wyoming in the United States. As a subrange of the Rocky Mountains, they are unusual for being the highest range in the contiguous United States running east to west, and lie approximately 100 miles (160 km) east of Salt Lake City. The range has peaks ranging from 11,000 to 13,528 feet, with the highest point being Kings Peak, also the highest point in Utah. The Mirror Lake Highway crosses the western half of the Uintas on its way to Wyoming.

Snowbird, Utah Unincorporated community in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States

Snowbird is an unincorporated community in Little Cottonwood Canyon in the Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains near Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. It is most famous for Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort, an alpine skiing and snowboarding area, which opened in December 1971.

Mount Timpanogos

Mount Timpanogos, often referred to as Timp, is the second highest mountain in Utah's Wasatch Range. Timpanogos rises to an elevation of 11,752 ft (3,582 m) above sea level in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. With 5,270 ft (1,610 m) of topographic prominence, Timpanogos is the 47th-most prominent mountain in the contiguous United States.

Little Cottonwood Canyon

Little Cottonwood Canyon lies within the Wasatch-Cache National Forest along the eastern side of the Salt Lake Valley, roughly 15 miles from Salt Lake City, Utah. The canyon is part of Granite, a CDP and "Community Council" designated by Salt Lake County. The canyon is a glacial trough, carved by an alpine glacier during the last ice age, 15,000 to 25,000 years ago. A number of rare and endemic plant species are found in the canyon's Albion Basin. Mountain goats inhabit the surrounding mountains.

Mount Nebo (Utah) Mountain in Utah, United States

Mount Nebo is the southernmost and highest mountain in the Wasatch Range of Utah, in the United States. Named after the biblical Mount Nebo overlooking Israel, which is said to be the place of Moses' death, it is the centerpiece of the Mount Nebo Wilderness, inside the Uinta National Forest.

Logan Canyon Canyon in Northeastern Utah

Logan Canyon is in the western United States in northeastern Utah, a canyon that cuts its way through the Bear River Mountains, a branch of the Wasatch Range. It is popular for both summer and winter activities, especially rock-climbing, hiking, camping, fishing, snowmobiling, and skiing, at the Beaver Mountain ski resort. The canyon rises to an elevation of approximately 7,800 feet (2,400 m) above sea level, after a vertical climb of about 2,900 feet (880 m). Just beyond the summit is a steep road leading into Bear Lake Valley and scenic overlooks that provide views of deep blue Bear Lake. The western terminus is at Logan in Cache County and the eastern terminus is at Garden City in Rich County.

Ben Lomond Mountain (Utah)

Ben Lomond, just north of Ogden, Utah, is a peak in the northern portion of the Wasatch Mountains. A popular trail passes over its summit, accessible from four different trailheads to the north, south, and east.

Deseret Peak Wilderness Wilderness area in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Tooele County, Utah, United States

The Deseret Peak Wilderness is located in the Stansbury Mountains of Tooele County, Utah, United States near the towns of Tooele and Grantsville, not far from the Great Salt Lake. It is part of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. This semi-arid wilderness is part of the Great Basin ecosystem. Elevations range from about 6,000 feet to the top of Deseret Peak's limestone escarpment at 11,031 feet (3,362 m). In this high country, with barren Skull Valley to the west, you'll find some springs and intermittent creeks, despite the general dryness of the area.

Lone Peak (Utah)

Lone Peak, a mountain peak southeast of Salt Lake City, Utah, United States is the center of the Lone Peak Wilderness, established in 1978. With an elevation of 11,260 feet (3,430 m), it is one of the taller peaks in the Wasatch Range along the Wasatch Front and tends to be a favorite hike. The first person in recorded history to successfully hike Lone Peak was Richard Bell, Sr. of Riverton, Utah. He went on to lead several expeditions and taught the first guides. Lone Peak consists almost entirely of quartz monzonite rock of the 30.5 million year old Little Cottonwood Stock. Quartzite and limestone are also found in distal locations on the mountain. The mountain from Little Cottonwood Canyon on the northern end to Corner Canyon on the southern end is called "Mount Jordan", the highest peak of which is Lone Peak, with other lower peaks being Enniss Peak and Bighorn Peak. The Peak ranks 98th on a list of Utah peaks with 500 feet (150 m) topographic prominence.

Lone Peak Wilderness Wilderness area in Utah and Salt Lake counties in Utah, United States

The Lone Peak Wilderness is a 30,088-acre (121.76 km2) wilderness area located within the Uinta and the Wasatch-Cache National Forest in the U.S. state of Utah.

Deseret Peak Mountain in Utah, United States

Deseret Peak is the highest peak in the Stansbury Mountains with an elevation of 11,035 ft. It is located in the Deseret Peak Wilderness area west of Grantsville, Utah and east of Skull Valley Indian Reservation. It is the fourth most topographically prominent peak in the state of Utah. The site is a popular destination for hikers and backcountry skiers as the area is a contrast of the alpine wilderness with the surrounding desert basin. The trail that leads to the peak is easily accessible from Salt Lake City. The mountain offers views of the Bonneville Salt Flats, the Great Salt Lake, and the surrounding towns and mountain ranges. On a clear day, it is possible to see Mount Nebo, the highest peak in the adjacent Wasatch Mountains.

Mount Wire

Mount Wire is a mountain located on the east side of Salt Lake City, Utah with an elevation of 7,146 feet (2,178 m). The mountain is named after Lester Wire, an American policeman of Salt Lake City, Utah, who in 1912 developed the first red-green electric traffic light. Mount Wire is a common spot for adventurous hikers and has many access trails, some created by nearby Red Butte Gardens. The east side of the University of Utah offers direct access to trails to the summit. Mount Wire formerly could be identified from other nearby mountains by its two passive microwave repeaters near the summit. These billboard like structures were used to bounce microwave signals over the mountain to the north-eastern parts of Utah. Mount Wire also houses an old airway beacon directly on the summit. An interesting man-made rock outcropping about halfway up the mountain looks like several lawn chairs in a row, and is a common rest stop for hikers. This stop offers views of Salt Lake City, and the Wasatch Mountains.

Mount Van Cott

Mount Van Cott is a mountain located in the Wasatch Mountain Range immediately east of the University of Utah with an elevation of 6,351 feet (1,936 m). The mountain is a common spot for hikers as well as mountain bikers and has many access trails. The east side of the University of Utah offers direct access to trails to the summit. Most trails to the summit branch off of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. The most obvious of these trails is a scar on the mountain that is located on its southwestern flank. The mountain is named after Lucy May Van Cott, the first dean of women (1907–1931) at the University of Utah and daughter of John Van Cott.

Logan Peak

Logan Peak, commonly referred to as Mount Logan, is a peak in the Bear River Mountains, a branch of the Wasatch Range. Located six miles east-southeast of Logan, Utah in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, it is the second highest peak overlooking Cache Valley after Mt. Naomi. Logan Peak rises to an elevation of 9,714 feet (2,961 m) NAVD88. It is served by hiking trails and a narrow, unpaved access road suitable only for offroad vehicles. It is the only mountain in the Bear River Range with a road to the summit. The peak houses a weather station and a telecommunications tower. Logan Peak is a popular destination for hikers and mountain bikers during the warmer months and advanced cross-country skiers in winter. During the winter, a circular hollow on the east side of the peak, known locally as Crystal Valley, is popular with snowmobilers.

Millcreek Canyon (Salt Lake County, Utah)

Millcreek Canyon is a canyon in the Wasatch Mountains and part of Millcreek City on the east side of the Salt Lake Valley, Utah. It is a popular recreation area both in the summer and in the winter. It was named by Brigham Young on August 22, 1847 before all of the mills that were built in and below the densely forested canyon. It is home to two restaurants and six Boy Scout Day Camps.

Mount Timpanogos Wilderness

Mount Timpanogos Wilderness is a 10,518-acre (42.56 km2) wilderness area protecting Mount Timpanogos and the surrounding area. It is located in the front range of the Wasatch Mountain Range, between American Fork Canyon on the north and Provo Canyon on the south, within the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest on the north eastern edge of Utah County, Utah, United States. The wilderness area receives fairly heavy use due to its proximity to the heavily populated cities of Provo and Salt Lake City. It is bordered on the north by the Lone Peak Wilderness.

Humpy Peak

Humpy Peak is a peak located in the Uinta Mountain Range in northern Utah. It is approximately 27.56 miles (44 km) south of Evanston, Wyoming and 21.29 miles (34 km) east of Coalville, Utah. The summit has an elevation of 10,875 feet (3,315 m).

Mount Sniktau

Mount Sniktau is a high mountain summit in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 13,240-foot (4,036 m) thirteener is located in Arapaho National Forest, 1.6 miles (2.5 km) northeast of Loveland Pass in Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States.

Mount Superior

Mount Superior is an 11,045 feet (3,367 m) mountain peak in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States.

References

  1. 1 2 "Mount Olympus, Utah". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2008-11-29.
  2. "Mount Olympus". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey . Retrieved 2008-11-29.