Salt Lake City is already known as a worldwide prime winter destination. But, if you venture out West while our mountains are still green, you’ll discover that our summers, too, are in a league of their own.
This year, trade your snow boots for hiking boots. Raise a glass to the perfect patio dining. Float the Provo River. Hop on TRAX and explore the best entertainment and nightlife downtown. Grab your clubs and hit the greens. There’s so much more to our iconic mountain city than our famous snow.
Whether you’re new to summertime in Salt Lake or looking to add to your to-do list this season, discover why Salt Lake City is the perfect city to add to your summer bucket list.
From the City to the Trails in Minutes: Explore Summer Hiking
You don’t have to be an experienced mountaineer to enjoy the alpine trails surrounding the Salt Lake Valley. As the wildflowers bloom under sunny blue skies, you can escape to the mountains in as little as 15 minutes from the center of downtown. From lakes and waterfalls to high-altitude views, there’s a scenic hike for every experience level and ideal pace.
- Hiking Around Downtown: While the nearby canyons provide incredible scenery and vantage points, you don’t have to leave downtown to stretch your legs and enjoy some stellar views. Located just north of the State Capitol building, City Creek Canyon offers moderate walking and hiking trails that are easily accessed just a short walk from the South Temple TRAX station.
- Millcreek Canyon: Accessible from downtown in only 15-20 minutes, Millcreek Canyon offers some of the most rewarding scenic hikes close to the city center. The Desolation Overlook trail is a moderate hike that ends with an unparalleled view of the surrounding Valley.
- Big & Little Cottonwood Canyons: A little further from the center of downtown, Big Cottonwood and Little Cotton Canyons are the Salt Lake Valley’s most iconic outdoor adventure destinations, including many of the area’s best ski areas. These resorts and the areas that surround them become the perfect summer playground, full of numerous trails for all levels.
Hitting the Town as the Sun Goes Down: Summer Nightlife & Entertainment
At every time of year, Salt Lake City offers a wide range of breweries, dive bars, cocktail joints, music halls, and more. With free service on our public transit train, TRAX, throughout much of the central city, it’s easy to make a night of it.
- Twilight Concert Series: Sponsored in part by the Salt Lake City Arts Council, this outdoor summer concert series brings big artists to the heart of downtown for a fraction of the price of average ticket prices. Locals and visitors look forward to the unveiling of an exciting new lineup of artists each year, including, in recent years, Father John Misty, The Head and the Heart, Sharon Van Etten, and Shakey Graves.
- Open Streets: Summer nights on Main Street are even more eventful with Open Streets, an initiative that diverts vehicle traffic and allows local bars, shops, and restaurants to extend their services to large patio spaces each Friday and Saturday night throughout the summer. Enjoy the cooler air and specialty offerings from many of the best local spots downtown, all a short walk or TRAX ride from Little America.
An Urban Oasis: Drink, Eat, and Relax at the Pool
A universal hallmark of summer is a relaxing day spent beside the pool. Salt Lake City especially has the ideal climate for soaking up some sun. With dry air and more mild temperature many days out of the season, you can lounge for longer.
Little America offers our guests an ideal poolside experience. Our outdoor pool is perfectly situated in the heart of our 10-acre property. Surrounded by our lush gardens, the pool is a secluded escape, despite our location in the center of downtown.
Plus, with poolside food and beverage service offered all season long, you can sip and snack from a full menu of kid-friendly favorites, like hot dogs and chicken fingers, and hearty and healthy salads and fruit plates for a refreshing poolside experience.
A Little More Relaxation: Summer Stays at Little America
For everything on your summer bucket list, make your home in Salt Lake City at Little America Hotel. Located at the heart of downtown, our guests can easily access the best activities and events in the central city as well as the best outdoor exploration. Our variety of guest room types, sizes, and styles are easily adaptable to every size of group or type of itinerary. Plus, with on-site dining, shopping, and luxury amenities, our hotel does not offer a one-size-fits-all approach to hospitality. Family-owned and operated from the beginning, our warm hospitality will make every stay in Salt Lake City feel like a return home.