Mount Olympus Wilderness

Located in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Utah. The Mount Olympus Wilderness area is located in north central Utah, adjacent Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Mount Olympus Wilderness was established by Congress in 1984 with passage of the Utah Wilderness Act. Located within the central Wasatch Range on the Wasatch-Cache National Forest, the Mount Olympus Wilderness consists of approximately 16,000 acres and is generally bounded on the north by Mill Creek Canyon, on the south by Big Cottonwood Canyon, on the west by the Salt Lake Valley and on the east by Gobbler's Knob, Alexander Basin and Dog Lake.

The Mount Olympus Wilderness provides a spectacular backdrop for the Salt Lake Valley and is dominated by moderate to rugged terrain, narrow canyons and high peaks, including Mount Olympus, Mount Raymond and Gobbler's Knob. The geologic structure of the area is varied and complex, consisting of granitoid rock masses and several sedimentary formations. Carving of the present alpine topography is due to glaciation with erosion the current dominant force in the land sculpturing process. Much of the higher elevation is alpine, characterized by large, open cirque basins and exposed rocky ridges. Vegetation includes dense mountain brush mixed with sagebrush and grass. Patches of various firs and aspen are common in isolated patches on north facing slopes. Snow remains in some areas until mid-summer.

To preserve and protect the physical and aesthetic environment, National Forest wildernesses are closed to motor vehicles, motorized equipment, hang gliders and bicycles. In addition, parts of this wilderness lay within the culinary watershed for Salt Lake County and special restrictions concerning camping, swimming, and domestic animals apply. Please help protect this wilderness for future generations by learning and practicing No-Trace camping and hiking techniques.

The following acts are prohibited in the Mount Olympus Wilderness Area: Group sizes exceeding 10 persons for overnight use, camping within 200 feet of lakes, trails, or other sources of water, camping for a period of 3 days at an individual site, short-cutting a trail switchback, and disposing of garbage, debris, or other waste.

Trails in the Wilderness are rated moderate to severe with elevations from just under 5,000 feet to over 10,000 feet. Trails are easy to follow, but may cross extremely rough terrain at high elevations. Use of the area is light to moderately heavy, depending on the time of week.

Summer temperatures can range from over 90 degrees in the day to below 40 degrees at night. Occasional summer thundershowers can be expected.

For more information contact: The Wasatch-Cache National Forest