The Living Room Trailhead

This hike is wonderful. It definitely takes longer going up than it does coming back down. However the view from the top is well worth the effort you need to put in to get there. I would certainly recommend this hike to those that love the outdoors, love nature, and are willing to put in the effort to get to the top. If going during the heat of summer you may well want to go early in the morning as the hike doesn't have a lot of shaded areas so the sun can be brutal but if you go early in the morning it is very enjoyable.

Living room trail was a bit too icy but the quarry trail was dry. So many beautiful paths through that area and stunning views. Ample street parking.

Great hike, we (2 adults) took a moderately technical route and made it up and back in about 2 hours. We saw a variety of age groups and fitness levels on the trail. Expect to take a few breaks on the climb up. Bring water.

A steady 45 minutes of incline hiking with a gorgeous view at the top! We did the hike shortly after landing in Utah and the altitude definitely got to us. Your calves will feel this one for sure too!! The top was pretty cool with all of the “living room furniture” made from rocks. The view was really, but unfortunately, our sunset hike was a little bit overcast. would recommend going on a really clear night for Sunset :)

The trail isn't marked the best but once you find it is well worn out. Great hike for tweens and dogs with great views in the "living room". We walked at a slow pace so we took more time.

This trail has pretty much no shade with a decent incline. Not my favorite trail ever because I like having some shade as I’m walking. But if you’re in the mood for full sun and a light workout, this is the trail for you. I would not recommend Kids to go on this trail. The incline will have them exhausted, and just the lack of shade will have them really hot. Really didn’t run into a whole lot of people while on the trail either.

Average difficulty hike that most dogs can handle! Our beautiful Bernie doodle was ecstatic to get to the top. There re plenty of great place to stop and take a rest. If you are traveling with pets bring a folding water bowl and water bottles as many stretches can be inclined heavily.

It’s pretty hot walking through the first half of the trail but once you start getting towards the top it feels amazing! The view of SLC is amazing and the breeze felt wonderful! I brought my pup and she loved it. There is a main trail but you can take different paths to get there and back if you don’t want to take the main trail.

Every time I do this hike I forget how much of a booty burner it is! We found out the hard way that there are multiple different routes to take to get to the top. I alway just use Google Maps to map to the Living Room Trailhead, park on Colorow Road, and there are some signs and a trail that meet up with the parking on that road. We went for sunrise and mostly had the trail to ourselves. Depending on the time/day, this trail can get super busy. It's a booty kicker for sure! It's fairly steep on the way up, and event though it's only 2.5-3 miles round trip, it's a really good workout. Dogs are allowed on this trail, and it's fairly exposed as well. Not a ton of shade if you're hiking in the warmer months, so be wary of that if you plan on hiking it on hotter days. Stunning views of the valley and the Great Salt Lake. This is my go-to recommendation for people who are visiting the area and only have time to do one hike.

There's definitely a reason this trail is highly recommended- it's really close to the city (right behind Research Park at the U), is pretty short, and rewards you with excellent views of the Salt Lake valley. It's a steady, rocky climb, if you're looking for an exercise hike. Parts of the trail are fairly eroded, and though it's well-trafficked, you can lose the main trail easily since so many trails exist in this area. Watch out for off-leash dogs- we saw several that were not friendly. The views are more than worth the effort, and you can get to the "chairs" in less than an hour with plenty of stops for pictures. No shade, so it's a great hike in cooler weather.

There's a number of ways to hike this trail we learned, and soon enough I'll have hiked them all. I recommend going early, before sunrise to watch that gorgeous sky light up the valley as you're trekking. Or vice versa with a sunset. Bonus points if you bring treats to snack on as you lounge in the stone chairs of the living room. If you go during the summer months, the first part of the trail is shaded, and after that, it gets hot quick and all of the water is needed. Great, fairly quick and easy hike right outside of SLC, really easy to get to, there's always parking open near the trails the few times I've hiked it.

Great local hike in SLC. Check out AllTrails to get more info. If you do the loop that is 0.5 miles longer bring good shoes and hiking sticks for your hike down, steep with loose rocks.

We made a point to hike this trail on the past two trips we made to Salt Lake City. The first time was in winter and the conditions were a little treacherous with an icy/muddy trail combined with a 930 elevation gain. But when we arrived at the Living Room with those outstanding views, it was pretty worth it. Our most recent visit was in October and the gorgeous fall colors were on full display! We still had that elevation gain but none of the ice or mud to contend with. We love the makeshift living room made of rocks to kick back on to enjoy those views. I'm fairly certain we would hike this again when in town but maybe not during winter.

We arrived at the The Living Room Trail at half past nine in the morning, and made it to the top by a few minutes after ten.  The trails are well marked and nicely laid out, and it wasn't too crowded on the day we were there, though we saw a good-cross section of other hikers.  We even saw two women each with a baby in a backpack :-) Tip: There were quite a number of dogs walking their owners among the hikers.  While I didn't see any signs detailing the rules, I'm assuming that dogs are permitted on leash. The trail encompasses an elevation gain of just under a thousand feet; it's fairly strenuous, but not at all difficult if you're in reasonable hiking shape.  Once you get to the top, you'll be rewarded with some truly stunning views of Salt Lake City.  Also at the top you'll find "the Living Room".  This is comprised of rock formations that resemble couches (made entirely out of rocks).   Like most out-and-back hikes, the uphill leg is by far the most difficult, with the downhill leg being quite a bit easier.

If Covid-19 worries you, then I would not hike this Trail. It is very crowded with dogs, runners, and families with small children. The trail has no trailhead sign that you can read, but is well traveled, lots of off shoots to get to the lookout, but not well marked. The trail itself is very rocky, and gravely with a steady incline. Trail is easy enough in distance, but is rated moderate for the elevation gain, and the rocky scrambles. Once you get to the Lookout Point, it is extremely rocky, but the view of the city is fabulous, if you come on a day when it's not smoggy. Dog owners please pick up after your dog. ** No Parking Lot ***3 Hour Street Parking Only ****No Bathrooms

Don't get me wrong, it's a great trail... But it is uphill and rocky most of the way up. Once we finally reached the top though, we felt accomplished. Took longer than expected, but the view was worth it.

When I first moved to Utah, I assumed nearly all residents were avid outdoorsmen/women, so inquired of each new person I met what their favorite hike was. The Living Room Trail topped many lists, and I quickly learned that 1) most Utahns are not actually spending their weekends hiking and 2) those same individuals all think The Living Room Trail is the bee's knees. That's no shade on the people or the trail! With a trailhead located at the back of Research Park, it is convenient for those living in SLC (you don't even have to drive into a canyon!), and at 2.3 miles, it is short, but challenging enough that you feel you have accomplished something. Lastly, it ends in armchairs and a couch made of rocks overlooking the valley. We went early December, and the start of the trail was open and clear, but it quickly became covered in ice, and I was incredibly happy I'd brought cramp-ons. Many didn't have 'em, but I honestly don't know how they made it! We saw one fellow hiking down and he was just sliding all over the place! Come prepared for a much more enjoyable experience. The trail is not particularly well marked, and at one point we stopped someone to make sure we were headed the right way. She confirmed we were, but mentioned that most of the meandering side trails meet up with the main, and it appears generally open and exposed (take heed when hiking in the summer!), so you stand little chance of getting too lost. To me, this felt much longer than a mile up, and on our ascension, I kept checking Alltrails only to find we weren't even close to the end! The elevation gain is 980 feet, which isn't nothing, but also should not be enough to feel very hard. I'm curious if others feel that way? I prefer hikes that terminate in the wilderness with no views of civilization or people. The Living Room Trail is the total opposite, but with that said, I actually quite enjoyed it's end! The view was pretty, we got far above the inversion, and the majority of hikers had dogs, so after a while it was like a puppy party at the top! Next time I'd bring a fun snack, or even a picnic, to enjoy there. After my complaints getting to the top, the way down was speedy quick. When we'd parked, there was not one other car around, but by the time we arrived at the bottom, there were easily twenty lining the street, further evidence that this is a happenin' hike. TL;DR - 2ish mile hike with fair elevation gain, valley views, exposed, dog friendly, very popular.

I've done this hike 4 times with the Utah Outdoors group (Facebook and Meet Up) And this hike drains me every time. There are many ways to go up this trail, but we tend to go on the side of the mountain where it's a steep uphill climb with a few flat surfaces along the ridge line. You get to see the sun slowly set which means you're also getting hit with the sun. Use sun block before you start. The "easy" way is a gradual steep hike along the mountain. This is the way we typically come down from. Since you're not fighting gravity at this point, the hike down is WAY faster and easier. Although this hike seems pretty brutal, it does get easier and easier. I'm a slow hiker so it takes me about 1.5 hours to get up to the living room. The reason for the band is that there are rock slabs placed together to form love seats, coffee tables, and ottomans to take in the view of the city. It's roughly 2.2 miles round trip, depending which trail you take. Bring plenty of water, some snacks and a headlamp in case you don't make it down in time. I plan on doing this every Friday until this hike becomes less brutal! Join us!

4 stars for the concept of the rocks as living room furniture. As of November 28, 2020, the chairs are pretty dismantled. If you really want a smooth picture, you'll have to make your own chair. Which is what I did. After I completed my chair, a ton of other people used it for there pics lol.. 2 stars for the signs that indicate the actual trail. From the parking lot, it is easy, but when you get to the mid level, where there are several trails to choose from, there is no indication. Basically you can go left, right, up, down..... we decided to do the steepest one, definitely more than mile 1.3..... the steep mountain is grueling but fun and is the quickest route to the table. The path to the right is slower but a gradual ascent. I wish they put signs for the loop

This was quite an introductory workout to Salt Lake/Utah hiking. Thanks to my friend(Mylan) and Bryant (the man in charge), I did my first night time hike of my life. It was quite an experience. Bryant gathered everyone together and worked with people who have experience here to help others who may have been new or not as fast as others. A great way to conduct the hike. Now, about the hike. I had been given an idea of what to expect, but until you do it, you don't have a true idea. We started out a little before sunset and it is one is those things where you think you're doing great and you get to a certain point, rest and start again. Then things start to hit you as you get further up. It's that feeling is what did I get myself into? When you get to a stopping point to get a view of the city, it's worth it. Then you're told there is more to go for an even better view. Yes, that means more steep and more up. And by the time you reach the high point on the trail, it has gotten dark and you're using whatever light source you have to illuminate the path in front of you. Kind of a mind blowing thing to someone who is used to sunlight. The immediate reward is an easier trip on the way down. The long range reward is doing something new and feeling good about yourself for having done it. A big thanks to both Mylan and Bryant for an "illuminating" nighttime hiking experience.

A great hiking spot really close to Salt Lake City! There's a great view spot at the top, but the trail wasn't extremely obvious so we ended up making our own!

Went on a Saturday morning at 7:30 AM. Only a handful of people at that time and the weather was perfect. This trail is clean and if you stay on the south end, it is well shaded. It is at an incline the whole way and has a nice view of the city. It is dog friendly (off leash) and offer doggie bags which I appreciated.

Many trails are part of Bonneville Shoreline system. Most aren't well marked but just ask fellow hikers for feedback, directions and reviews of the trails. Rattlesnakes are common in Utah trails from May to August and love the sun. Lookout & listen, no headphones in danger areas. Please throw out, hike out all garbage, bagged dog poop. No one is paid to clean up after you. Wear appropriate shoes for terrain, bring water especially in summer time. Weather conditions can change 20 degrees either way in minutes due to wind, altitude and conditions so be prepared.

A thousand little spider legs crawl up this mountainside, just above the U of U. Not actual spiders (although surely there are spiders, this is the outdoors), but I'm talking about trails. If ever there was a web of crawling trails that criss-cross each other, this is it. Bifurcation after fork after leg. Nothing is really signed, so just know that you're going to be heading up, and follow the path most beaten. The good news (bad news?) is that you can probably follow someone else, as this is a very popular trail. Practically pavement, from all the wear and compacting that happens from thousands of human legs going up here each month. On a recent hike, I was on the trail with at least a hundred others. But they're hikers, so everyone was cordial. Solitude, there ain't. Perhaps at odd hours, but I was there on a post-workday Wednesday in somewhat cool weather. The hike climbs pretty consistently, though not dramatically, as you first leave the road, then climb amongst the bottom of a small ravine with teeny hills on each side and lots of trees. As you rise up out of the ravine and leave the heavier cover, you start to hug the hillside and the canyon you're climbing opens up in front of you and behind, affording some pretty rad views of Salt Lake City. From there you can really observe the network of trails below; some hugging the opposing canyon wall, others along the ridge, and some that seem to wander without purpose. You'll reach a bend where you finally reach the canyon joint and double back from hiking on the north face to the south one. The south face is markedly less verdant, nearly totally exposed, and has rocks above and below. At this point you're quite close to the usual trail end, the "Living Room." The Living Room is where the south faced trail turns to head north again, and you come out around the bend to some killer views. There's plenty of sitting room, and others have fashioned living room chairs out of rocks. Perhaps not that intricate, but with flat rocks at your back and a few bouldered arm rests, and you can soak on what's on the ONC Network--that's Original Nature Channel. Sunsets and sunrises with snacks are sublime.

It's an okay hike, I've done it twice now. One in the fall and now again in the winter/spring transition. The snow was melting so there was a lot of water coming down the trail making it muddy. It's also kind of a narrow hike so there were tons of people since it was such a nice day, which made it difficult to both get around the mud and make room for everyone going up and down. The view at the top is pretty but I wouldn't say it's to die for. I prefer the hikes in the cottonwood canyons (big and little) but this one is a good one that you can do in an hour and a half at a relatively slow pace. It's mostly uphill on the way to the top, and because of the mud it was hard not to slip coming down. Definitely fun to be out where a lot of people are though. Lots of dogs with their owners as well as mountain bikers on some of the overlapping parts of the trail. Not too strenuous for younger people.

So nice especially when it's cooler temperatures out! Lovely to see if the Salt Lake Valley and a sunset!

Love love like love his bike. It's a little steep at first, and it does challenges you! But it's worth it! If you want to take your beer or wine there you can and just sit on those rocks that are set like chairs

Was tired going up but there was a lot of shade especially in the morning time. So it makes it worth it while hiking! The end result of course is good as well but beware of bees! There were a bunch up there when my friends and I went.

Super amazing and smaller hiking to just enjoyed a lot People who love hiking can enjoy smaller version of hiking. Super cool

When visiting from out of town, I asked the locals for their hike recommendations and heard this one. The hike is good. However the lack of signage made it impossible to figure out where we were "supposed" to go. I think we were on the wrong hill completely. Needless to say we just did our mileage and turned around. Beautiful area. Great views of the city.

Loved this hike. All the reviews had me so freaked out we wouldn't find it I was extra excited to find it! Ha! Simple and fun hike with lots of routes to get there. Lots of friendly fellow hikers. And the view is awesome and you can sit in a rock chair to check it out for a while! What's better than that? That's my kind of a Living Room.

This trail is probably one of the most talked about trails in SLC, and for very good reason it is close with amazing views of the Valley. It is probably one of the best places to see the sunset, outside of Ensign Peak. Why doesn't this get 5 stars you ask? I ended up getting split from my group twice and because of the several trails that cross each other, we got lost twice. So, we finally made it to the top but I don't understand why they don't have some marker, even if its a fence post! What should have been a 2.2 mile hike turned into about 4 miles. At the end of the day, I still enjoyed it but would have preferred it more if the main trail was better marked.

We took the easier but longer route up, and the harder but shorter route down. There are quite a few routes, but I would recommend taking the large, wide trail heading up because it isn't as ominous. Coming down, you can go straight down the front face, although there are a lot more steep areas that you have to be careful on. Nothing insurmountable but definitely worth approaching with increased caution. The hike was about 2.5 miles up and maybe 2 down. We went around sunset which is a good way to do it because it is a bit cooler and the sunset is magnificent from up there. It was nice to get up there and lean back on a rock and simply just enjoy the view. The hike itself is fairly moderate, but not the most enjoyable I've been on. The destination though was great and I would highly recommend doing this hike at least once if you haven't already.

Great views from the top! Definitely a moderate, as it is steep. If you go during the winter, wear spikes as it can get slippery.

A great hike with a spectacular view. The hike was easy to start on the bottom and there are several different route (but all route leads to the main route, I suppose). It does get steep here and there but isn't that what makes it a good hiking challenge. The hike is popular for it's rock looking like living room furniture hence the name of the trail, lol. Even if you can't make it up to the top of the hike, even half way up and you will still be able to get the gorgeous view of the city and mountain.

An all-around great hike- not too easy, adventurous route, friendly fellow hikers, beautiful views, and a nice 'living room' to relax at while overlooking all of Salt Lake City. The trail starts near University of Utah's hospital with parallel street parking. The trail itself is rather narrow and rocky but I love that because it feels like a real hike. You will get to a forked point where there will be a bike route- take the trail that heads up into the mountains. You can honestly just follow the general crowd too, once you are up it's easy to find your way back down. The trail is 2.2 miles roundtrip and once you reach the top you'll see a bunch of rocks that are set up in a way to sit and observe (hence the term 'the living room'). You can go even higher than this point! There's also a different way down through the hills that are in front of 'the living room' but honestly I chickened out at the top of the first hill and turned around, it would have helped if I wasn't alone!

This hike was beginner friendly. It still took us about at an hour and a half. I went in July when it was pretty hot and it was still enjoyable. The view at the top is decent, nothing spectacular. But it's a good hike to go on if you want to chat with someone the entire time. I don't know that I would make an effort to do it again but if you live in Salt Lake it's one you should do at least once.

What a great hike! Nearby the city and the University, just long enough to get some heavy breathing, and then finishing with a vista that will take that heavy breath away. Most guides say the hike takes 2 hours, but that's with a good amount of time at the top, sitting in the chairs and loveseats constructed of the flat rocks from the nearby hill, pausing and looking out on the valley. Hiking up takes only about 45 minutes to an hour, and down can take less, unless you have to pause to make way for a gaggle of people ascending. (See No. 2 below.) Three things to note: (1) Off-leash dogs are allowed. That's a plus for most people. Off-leash kids are also allowed, so beware. (2) It's busy. Very busy. We decided to go on Memorial Day morning, at about 9:30. When we were returning back to our car, and hour and a half later, there were at least 50 cars near the trailhead. It's not a "peaceful, solitary" hike at all, unless you go very early or very late. (3) There are tons of sub-trails around the hills, and it's easy to get lost. (We did, our first time, walking too far on the Shoreline Trail and ended up at This Is the Place Park. Whoops.) When you cross the Shoreline Trial, you walk on it for just a few steps and then head back up the hill. Other than that, follow the most trod path.

Really enjoyed this hike. The only drawback was the amazing amount of alternate trails, with no trail markers to keep you on the main trail. That can really play with your mind. Other than that, it's a fairly quick hike with plenty of furniture for lounging at the top. How can that be a bad thing?

Great hike! You get a beautiful view of the valley and once you reach the top it's a nice place to hang out and soak it all up. I found it a little difficult, but those are the best kind of hikes! Went on a Friday and it was very busy, trails get tight at times so you might walk behind a group but everyone is friendly so you might make some new friends! It's one of my favorite hikes in Salt Lake.

This hike really was not as bad as I thought it would be. I'm an easy hiker type of person and when I saw this was moderate I was a bit concerned. I was able to make it probably 2/3 of the way to the top but stopped at a spot with an amazing view and decided to call it good. I did not see any animals except people walking their dogs on the trail. The trailhead was easy to find and I stayed towards the left on the trail and could see the end once I got to the spot with an amazing view. I was worried I'd get lost but there were lots of friendly people along the trail that helped keep me on track. This is a hike I would love to do again and get all the way up to the couch area!

Great easy hike for a short time. I park at the museum. Go up the steps and head to the right. The trail head isn't marked. Take someone who knows where to go. Easy peasy.

A steep trail that ends up with fabulous views of the whole Salt Lake valley. Go close to sunset for beautiful colors but take a flashlight if you go late. Clear days would be best.

Great hike kind of hard to find, it is pretty popular so hopefully you'll see others who know where they are going! But you get a great view from the top with a ton of seating! But overall I like a little bit more scenery while I'm hiking. Overall its a hike you need to do at least once.

This is a good, moderately steep hike. Study google maps for the exact route because there are lots of intersecting trails in this area and it can be almost maze like the first time you encounter it. The main trail goes to the south of a small ridge, and once you come out from behind it, you have city views and can see Red Butte and the Living Room itself. When the trail switches from the north face of Mt. Wire to the south face of Red Butte, you're almost there. From the living room itself, you can scramble up past another false summit or two to reach the top, scramble down and hook up with the Red Butte skyline nature trail, or go back to the junction and take the smaller trail up the canyon. From there, you can get to the Mt. Wire summit and have further choices. This hike is good for older kids. When I was up there, there were about 8 ten year olds and a couple of moms. Younger kids might find the terrain a bit difficult.