Olympus offers majestic views

There are at least three Mount Olympuses in the world: the one in Greece (elevation 9,750), another in Olympic National Park (7,954 feet) and Salt Lake's own 9,026-foot summit, located between Mill Creek and Big Cottonwood canyons.

Sure, there are many higher peaks in the Wasatch Mountains to hike, but the Olympus summit offers majestic views of the Salt Lake Valley, and the trail up is a serene wilderness. It's also an appropriate "Olympic" peak to hike during this, an Olympic Games year.

Not for the faint of heart, this hike has the infamous "Blister Hill," a half-mile section of grueling switchbacks. It also has, for those who want to summit it, a final section that requires precarious scrambling. Although this section of ledges is not exposed to huge cliffs, it does require much more effort and daring than ordinary trail hiking and may make some people uncomfortable.

How tough is this hike? The Wasatch Mountain Club gave it an 8.9 difficulty rating in its guide released in 1995. That compares to an 11.0 rating from Aspen Grove to Timpanogos, a 14.5 from Dry Creek or the Little Matterhorn from Dry Creek, or a 2.3 for the paved Timpanogos Cave path. (Anything 8.1 and up is "most difficult" by Wasatch Mountain Club standards.)

Still, the reward is an Olympic-worthy view, and those who choose to scramble the final rock wall do have some good views, too.

The Mount Olympus trail is also one where dogs are allowed, though canines would have trouble scrambling the final rocks up to the actual summit.

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Trail rating: 2 stars

Scenic rating: 4 stars

Distance: 5.5 miles one-way, though some hiking guides underestimate it at just four miles

Elevation gain: 4,200 feet

Difficulty: Very difficult

Time required: Two-four hours to reach the summit

Directions to reach the trailhead: Go on Wasatch Boulevard to the trail sign, located south of Pete's Rock (about 5600 South). There is some parking on the east by the trail sign or by Pete's Rock (named for a 1930s rock climber).

Trail description: The path begins with steep travel up the eroded hillside. It then turns right and connects with an old Tolcat Canyon trail. Don't take the direct canyon trail.