Mount Wire is the peak above the University of Utah with the old beacon tower on top. It’s also one of the hardest hikes you can do inside Salt Lake City limits.

The Big Beacon Trail climbs 2,100 feet over 4.5 miles round trip through the Foothills Natural Area above the U campus, ending at the summit of Mount Wire where the remnants of a historic aviation beacon mark the high point. From the top you get a full 360-degree view: Salt Lake Valley spread west, the Great Salt Lake and Oquirrh Mountains beyond it, the Wasatch Range arcing behind you, and the city grid laid out directly below. It’s one of the more demanding foothill hikes along the front and one of the best summit views per distance ratio in the range. The spring wildflower section is excellent. The summit in clear fall air is as good as anything on the front. My brain handles the persistent physical demand of a steep climb better than almost anything else I do. Two hours of that kind of focus leaves very little bandwidth for anything else.

Here’s what you need to hike Big Beacon.

Quick Facts

How to Get There

From downtown Salt Lake City, head east on 400 South, which becomes 500 South. Continue to Wakara Way and turn left. Follow Wakara Way around the University of Utah campus and turn right onto Colorow Road. The trailhead is near the end of Colorow Road, adjacent to the Natural History Museum of Utah and Red Butte Garden. Drive time from downtown is 10 to 15 minutes.

Parking Information

Free parking runs along Colorow Road near the trailhead. Spaces are limited and fill on busy weekend mornings. Additional parking near the Natural History Museum or Red Butte Garden is an option, but check posted restrictions, which vary by area and time of day. No restrooms at the trailhead. The museum and garden facilities are nearby if needed before you start.

Cell Service and Navigation

Cell service is generally solid at the trailhead and lower sections given the proximity to the university and city. It can weaken on the upper exposed ridgeline depending on your carrier. Download your map offline through AllTrails as a backup. The trail is well-marked through the switchback sections. The upper terrain is more open and the summit is the obvious navigation target. Weather builds fast on exposed Wasatch ridgelines. Afternoon thunderstorm risk is real in summer. Check the forecast and start early enough to be off the exposed upper trail before midday if storms are possible.

What to Expect on Big Beacon (Mount Wire) Trail

The Lower Switchbacks

The trail starts near Colorow Road and climbs immediately on switchbacks through open meadow and scrub oak. The views open fast. Within the first half mile the Salt Lake Valley is visible below and the Wasatch Range fills the view to the east. Spring brings wildflowers to the meadow sections in a way that makes the lower trail worth the hike by itself. The switchbacks are relentless but well-graded. You’re trading altitude for distance efficiently the whole way up.

The Upper Trail and Summit

Above the lower switchbacks the terrain gets rockier and steeper. Sagebrush and juniper thin as you gain elevation. The exposed upper ridgeline delivers the full Wasatch Front panorama. The summit of Mount Wire arrives at the old beacon tower, a relic from early commercial aviation when ground-based beacons guided aircraft through mountain passes. The structure is weathered and historic. The 360-degree view from the summit stretches the full Salt Lake Valley to the west, the Great Salt Lake and Oquirrh Mountains on the far shore, and the full arc of the Wasatch behind you. Find a rock, eat your lunch, take your time.

Trail Difficulty and Length

Big Beacon is 4.5 miles roundtrip with 2,100 feet of elevation gain. Strenuous is the accurate rating. The gain-to-distance ratio is steep and the upper exposed sections compound the effort with sun exposure. Budget 3 to 5 hours. The descent on steep rocky terrain with tired legs takes longer than it looks from the bottom. Don’t rush it.

Dog Friendly?

Yes. Dogs are welcome on leash throughout the Foothills Natural Area. The steep exposed upper sections heat up fast in summer. Bring more water than you think your dog needs and start early in warm weather. The rocky upper terrain requires some footing care with a dog, but trail-experienced dogs handle it without serious difficulty.

What to Bring

At least 2 to 3 liters of water per person. The exposed climb drains you and there are no water sources on trail. Sunscreen and a hat are essential for the fully exposed upper trail and summit. Trail shoes or hiking boots with solid grip for the rocky upper sections. A wind layer for the summit, which channels cold air even on warm valley days. Trekking poles help significantly on the descent. A camera for the summit panorama, which is one of the better valley views accessible by foot from the city. A wide-angle lens handles the full 360-degree spread. Early morning on a clear day is the sharpest window before valley haze builds.

Best Time to Hike Big Beacon

Spring (April through June) and fall (September through October) are the strongest windows. The lower meadow wildflowers peak in May and June. Fall crisps the air and clears the valley views. Summer requires an early start, before 7 a.m., to be off the exposed upper trail before the heat builds and afternoon storm risk increases. Winter keeps the trail accessible in most conditions but ice on the steep switchbacks and rocky upper sections requires microspikes for safe footing on the descent.

For photography, early morning is the primary window for valley views. The city grid and the Great Salt Lake read most clearly in the first hour of light before haze builds over the valley floor. The beacon tower structure photographs well with the valley as a backdrop in late afternoon when the western light hits it directly. A wide-angle lens from the summit captures the full panorama.

Rules and Regulations

Big Beacon Trail is in the Salt Lake City Foothills Natural Area, managed by Salt Lake City Public Lands. No fee, no permit required. Stay on designated trails to prevent erosion on the steep switchback sections. Shortcutting switchbacks is prohibited and causes serious hillside damage on this terrain. Dogs on leash at all times. Pack out everything. Check the Salt Lake City Public Lands website for any current trail closures, which do happen after significant weather events and during fire conditions.

Where to Stay Near Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City has full lodging coverage within 10 to 20 minutes of the trailhead. For hotel points check Marriott Bonvoy, IHG Rewards, and Hilton Honors. The university area has lodging options that put you within 5 minutes of the trailhead for early morning starts.

Camping Nearby

No camping in the Foothills Natural Area. Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, 20 to 30 minutes south, have established campgrounds through recreation.gov. Redman Campground in Big Cottonwood and Albion Basin Campground in Little Cottonwood are the closest established options. Both fill fast in summer.

Nearby Adventures

The Foothills Natural Area has strong options in every direction from Big Beacon. Jack’s Mountain is the closest equivalent at 2.5 miles and 1,300 feet of gain, shorter but nearly as steep. Avenue Twin Peaks (4.0 mi / 1,600 ft) accesses the Avenues ridge system from a similar trailhead zone. The Living Room Trail is the accessible foothill option for a shorter view hike. The Bonneville Shoreline Trail runs north and south along the ancient Lake Bonneville shoreline with multiple access points and extended mileage options.

Red Butte Canyon Trail is accessible from the same area and provides a quieter canyon hike with wildlife viewing. Mount Olympus in the Mount Olympus Wilderness (6.9 mi / 4,000 ft) is the step-up summit day from the foothill zone. Both Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons are 20 to 30 minutes south with world-class Wasatch hiking from Lake Blanche to Red Pine Lake.

The Natural History Museum of Utah at the U is one of the best natural history institutions in the West and is literally at the trailhead. If you’re not blown out after the hike it’s worth two hours inside. Red Butte Garden has maintained botanical gardens and walking paths with good valley views that work well as a recovery stop adjacent to the trailhead.

Plan This Hike

AllTrails has Big Beacon (Mount Wire) Trail with a downloadable map and recent user conditions. Checking recent reports is useful for current trail conditions on the steep switchback sections, particularly in spring when snow can linger on the upper exposed ridgeline longer than the lower trail suggests.

View on Alltrails

AllTrails Pro is worth it for offline maps and elevation tracking on a trail with this much gain. Knowing your elevation profile in real time helps with pacing on a 2,100-foot climb.

Chase the Quiet

The old beacon tower at the top of Mount Wire guided early commercial aircraft through the Wasatch passes in an era before GPS and instrument navigation. Pilots looked for that light on the summit. Now hikers do. It’s a good reason to go up, on top of the view and the gain and the clean air at the top. Something worth seeing that most people who live below it never climb up to find.

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