Lacey T.
Yelp
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.