Wild Rose Loop

The Wild Rose Loop is one of quite a few great little trails in the Wild Rose Trailhead Park in North Salt Lake. It is an easy 2 mile loop trail that takes you up to Sunset Point which has a fantastic view of Davis County. For some reason, all 3 times I have been here I have only done the Lookout trail which is another great trail. I decided to do this one today because it is on the North side of the canyon and would offer more sun and hopefully less snow. Plus it is new.

Quick Details:

Length: 2 mile loop. (1.7 if you take the shortcut).
Difficulty: Pretty easy not a lot of climbing. DR3.
Elevation Gain: about 350 ft according to my pedometer app.
Restroom: At the trailhead
Dogs? Yes! Please clean up after your furry friend.

To get here take US 89 in NSL to Eagle Ridge Dr. Go up the hill about 2 miles and turn right on Eagle Point Dr. Turn left on Sky Crest Ln. and you will find a nice community park. The trailhead is up past the picnic tables.

There are quite a few trails but there is pretty good signage. The loop trail starts about 500 yards or so beyond the park.

So after the park you’ll go through a short wooded section, and then it opens up to a clearing. Look to your left and you will see the beginning of the loop.

Looking up canyon. This trail actually take us out of this canyon and around the ridge.

And before long you have a pretty great view of the valley below.

It looks like a mini observatory on that house below.

Here is the top view from where that massive landslide occurred a little over a year ago. It looks like they are finally doing some work on it.

Coming around the ridge.

Panoramic view of Davis County. You can see this section of the trail is above the golf course.

Still some snow from the recent storm.

Another great view before going around the ridge.

And more snow. Not too bad though, the summer hiking boots were still fine through it. However it would appear if I am going to be hiking above the benches, it is time for the winter boots.

Looking at the switchback above.

Ponds at the golf course.

Looking up the next canyon over. Is that another landslide? I think this may actually be North Canyon which is another great hike around here.

Roxy always find the random animal carcasses.

A smidge of fall color is still hanging on.

Nice little bench to take a rest.

Through the snow! I think this was the worst of it.

here is that switchback from before. Even with the snow I wasn’t as nervous as I usually am on open slopes. It’s not too steep or high that if I did slip and fall I wouldn’t go down too far too fast.

Some more color.

Heading back towards Wild Rose Canyon.

Some more color.

Looking at the peak above, from the other trail it looks like there are some caves under those rock formations.

And some of the other trails criss-crossing up the mountain.

The swamplands of The Great Salt Lake. And the beginnings of inversion.

Better above shot of the landslide.

I believe this is the destination. It is, but we still have a bit of a climb to get to it.

There are quite a few benches along the way.

Not a bad view from this one.

Heading out towards Sunset Point.

Bench on the edge of the world.

But what an incredible view! I seriously need to come up here before sunset one day and enjoy the vantage.

Panoramic. After enjoying the view for a while I decided to continue around the loop.

Oh neat, there is a trail up the ridge to the rock formations. I might have to check that out some day.

View down the valley.

Nice trail down the other side.

There are actually quite a few helpful trail signs along the way down. Probably due to all the various trail splits in this section.

Roxy was not particularly feeling the trail, so I decided to to take the shortcut. I’m not sure how much this takes off of the 2 miles, but I would wager maybe a quarter mile. (I found a sign that says .3 so I was close).

Little bit more snow.

The end of the loop with the shortcut. It was downhill, but I think this might be the quickest route to Sunset Point.

Lots of trails.

Oh, I was pretty close with that quarter mile. With shortcut it is 1.7 miles. without the shortcut it is 2 miles. However I am confused the other trail head sign said 2.5 miles. I wonder what the discrepancy is. Possibly the extra section before the trail split or that plus the extra trail to the point.

The landslide from the street.

Well, that was a great hike. There are amazing views throughout and the Sunset Point view is amazing! Oddly enough, even though this is fairly close I have yet to visit during summer. This tends to be the go to ‘early spring, late fall, winter hike’ for us. I might have to rectify that eventually. But it is a great trail system for this time of year. Not a whole lot to see, but the views are pretty great, and it is not particularly crowded so going with 8 out of 10 squirrels.

As for difficulty, this is seriously an easy trail. There are some open slopes, but they are not particularly steep. Going with a DR3.

Dogs are allowed! They even offer bags at the trailhead, although I still recommend you come prepared with your own just in case.