The Wild Rose Loop is known for its springtime wildflowers, beautiful foothills, and expansive views of North Salt Lake and Bountiful! It is a spectacular springtime hike! This loop hike is more challenging than the shorter and easier Wild Rose Trail.
Begin your hike at the Wild Rose Trailhead. You can walk the path straight through the park, but it’s much prettier to take the shady trail that begins by the bathrooms.
Both options meet up just before the first wildflower-covered hill.
You can go either direction, but I loved going clockwise. It’s very scenic!
There is an optional tiny detour to a bench.
At the top of the hill you can make another detour to a bench at “Sunset Point by heading left.
Here are the views from Sunset Point.
Returning to the main trail head towards the tallest hill.
Just over the rise is the junction to a second loop to make a “figure 8” shape. If you want to head back, without adding on the second loop it becomes the Wild Rose Trail. In this post we’re goin around the second loop counter clockwise. When you get to the junction, head straight up the hill. The path doesn’t switchback and forth much and basically goes straight up. Because of this I wouldn’t attempt it in early spring or after heavy rains when the trail would be muddy.
The trail just keeps going up and up. It is pretty steep, so make sure you have good traction on your shoes. It would be a steep enough grade to be classified as difficult if it lasted longer.
Don’t forget to look behind you periodically as you get higher and higher.
At the top the hill levels out and there are a lot more wildflowers!
You can look around in all directions.
The path continues along the backside of the hill and then shifts west. The second photo is looking behind me.
There were so many butterflies near this section! I also saw birds like this black-headed grosbeak.
This path back down is also steep, but doesn’t last near as long before it mellows and heads though the trees.
After a bit the trees thin out and the wildflowers return.
Soon you arrive back at the junction of the two loops. Head straight to continue the way back.
The trail continues back down to the park.
Most of this trail is covered in Arrowleaf Balsamroot, the yellow flowers, but there are actually lots of varieties of wildflowers intermixed.
Stats: Distance – 3.4 miles roundtrip
Approximate hiking time – 1-3 hours
Elevation gain – 925 feet
Difficulty – Moderate
Trail – well maintained trail of dirt and rocks.
Bathrooms – Yes
Seasons to hike – April – October (wildflowers peak in May and June)
Permits needed – none
Pets allowed – Yes
Other nearby trails are Meridian Peak, Ensign Peak, Memory Grove, City Creek Canyon, Living Room Lookout, Mueller Park and Elephant Rock.
