Salt Lake City, Utah Parks

Arcadia Heights Open Space is part of the Arcadia Heights, Benchmark, and H-Rock Small Area Plan in Salt Lake City's new Arcadia Heights development, originally developed in 2006. The open space, which is located southeast of Lakeline Drive's connecting trailhead to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, offers one of the city's most spectacular sunset-viewing vantage spots, perfect for nature photography opportunities. A jogging and walking path is offered for visitors, along with public amenities such as drinking fountains. Nearby, the H-Rock Open Space preserves one of Salt Lake City's most notable landmarks as part of a conservation easement established by the city in 2017. Both adjoining open spaces offer great opportunities for parkgoers looking for backcountry wilderness experiences near the city.

1825 Lakeline Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84109, Phone: 801-535-7800, Map

Brigham Young Historic Park preserves the former residence of Salt Lake City founder Brigham Young, who served as territorial governor of Utah between 1850 and 1856. Today, Young's former estate has been converted into a beautiful public grassy park, located adjacent to the city's Temple Square, which showcases museums and religious buildings connected to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Park visitors can relax on benches and rest in the park's lush green landscaping, which is anchored by a rustic pioneer-style water wheel that spins along City Creek. Several statue memorials honor significant city historic figures. Each summer between June and August, parkgoers can enjoy an annual summer concert series Tuesday through Friday evenings. On select Wednesdays throughout the summer, a lecture series brings civic figures to speak on a variety of educational topics.

North Temple & State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84103, Phone: 801-240-3323, Map

Canyon Rim Park is a charming 16-acre neighborhood recreation area in Millcreek City, open to the public daily between dawn and dusk. The spacious park offers a wide variety of sporting opportunities for visitors, including a community-use baseball field, volleyball nets, a horseshoe pit, and tennis and pickleball courts. A reservable picnic pavilion with barbecue grills can seat up to 175, perfect for picnic day trips or large special event gatherings. Other amenities include a safe all-ages children's playground and lovely scenic walking and jogging paths. Throughout the summer months, the park's amphitheater hosts community concerts and events, including the annual Venture Out summer festival.

Canyon Rim Park, 3100 S Grace St, Salt Lake City, UT 84109, Phone: 385-468-1800

Ensign Peak Nature Park is anchored around the gorgeous Ensign Peak, which was named in 1847 by Brigham Young and has long served as a religious natural monument for the LDS Church. The park, which is located approximately a mile north of the Utah State Capitol, is a great choice for area nature hikers and bikers, connecting to the nearby Bonneville Shoreline Trail. At Sandhurst Drive, visitors can also connect to the adjacent Stansbury Shoreline Preserve. Parkgoers can pack picnic lunches and hike to the top of the peak, which showcases a small monument dedicated to its connection to LDS Church history. Well-behaved dogs are permitted on trails on leashes on all trails, making the park perfect for visitors looking to explore the great outdoors with four-legged friends.

Ensign Peak Nature Park, 1002 N Ensign Vista Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84103

Fairmont Park is a delightful open space park in Salt Lake City, anchored around a free community fishing pond that serves as a natural landscape to address regional flooding issues. The park is a great spot for anglers to catch trout throughout the year, offering ample bench seating and a newly-installed elevated boardwalk that can be accessed on foot or on bicycle. Many gorgeous new park features have been installed over the past decade, including an off-leash dog park area offering play space for both large and small breeds. A seasonal aquatic center is home to a swimming pool throughout the summer months, while a disc golf course, a skate park, soccer fields, and pickleball courts offer recreational opportunities on land. Other amenities include a day-use picnic pavilion that can be rented as part of birthday party packages.

Fairmont Park, 1040 E Sugarmont Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84106, Phone: 801-972-7860

Gilgal Sculpture Garden is a charming city park showcasing the history of the LDS Church through beautiful sculptures and statues associated with the Mormon religion. The park was originally designed in the 1940s as a passion project of contractor and LDS Bishop Thomas Battersby Child, Jr., who constructed many of its statues in his backyard beginning in 1947. Today, the park is Utah's only designated visionary art environment, showcasing 12 original sculptures by Child representing significant themes and historical periods in Mormon history. More than 70 stones are also engraved with Mormon scripture passages and literary quotes. Since 2000, the park has been operated by the City of Salt Lake, open daily to visitors throughout the morning and afternoon hours.

Gilgal Sculpture Garden, 749 E 500 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84102, Phone: 801-972-7860

Herman Franks Park is a lively 10-acre park celebrating two of Utah's most notable baseball legends, including its namesake, Herman L. Franks. Throughout the 20th century, the Salt Lake City native was a noted player, coach, and manager for teams such as the Brooklyn Dodgers, the New York Giants, and the St. Louis Cardinals. Today, a plaque at the park honors Franks' life and career, including his involvement in Salt Lake City's community baseball scene. A second plaque honors local legend M.J. "Mickey" Scanlon, who went on to serve as a scout for the New York Yankees. Parkgoers can bring their four-legged friends to play at an off-leash dog area or make use of three baseball and softball diamonds throughout daylight hours. A children's playground is also offered, along with beautiful creekside views of Emigration Creek.

Herman Franks Park, 1371 700 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84105, Phone: 801-972-7800

The International Peace Gardens are one of Salt Lake City's most famed attractions, originally conceived in 1939 as an addition to the city's beautiful Jordan Park. Today, the gardens are overseen by the Salt Lake Council of Women's Past Presidents Council, located along 11 scenic acres of the Jordan River in the city's downtown district. Since 1952, 28 national gardens at the park have honored the city's diverse populations, with separate sections landscaped to represent regional immigrants from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Landscaping honors the concepts of democracy, brotherly love, and world peace, serving as an ideal for all visitors to be inspired to improve community relations. Visitors can stroll through the lovely gardens each day during daylight hours between May and September.

1000 S 900 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84104, Phone: 801-938-5326, Map

Liberty Park is one of the oldest public parks in the state of Utah, originally designated in 1882. Today, the spacious 100-acre park stretches throughout Salt Lake City's southeastern corridor, best known as the home of major landmarks such as the historic 19th-century Isaac Chase Mill, Utah's oldest still-standing commercial building. Parkgoers can enjoy a plethora of family-friendly attractions, including the Tracy Aviary, which showcases more than 135 species of rare, native, and exotic birds, or the beautiful exhibits of the Chase Home Museum of Utah Folk Arts. Beautiful Liberty Lake anchors the park, offering paddle boat rentals throughout the summer months. Other park amenities include a 1.5-mile multi-use trail, a seasonal swimming pool, and community tennis and volleyball courts.

Liberty Park, 600 East 900 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84105, Phone: 801-972-7800

Memory Grove Park is one of Salt Lake City's most picturesque public parks, originally constructed following World War I to honor the region's fallen veterans. Today, the gorgeous park is home to several more war monuments along the banks of City Creek, along with a replica of Philadelphia's famed Liberty Bell. World War I soldiers are honored at the park's large circular pagoda, which features inscriptions of all names of the area's fallen men. A well-maintained Freedom Trail is open to joggers and cyclists, originating near Canyon Road and traversing deep into Memory Grove. Well-behaved pets are welcome to join their owners along the trail on leashes.

Memory Grove Park, 300 N Canyon Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84103, Phone: 801-972-7800