The best walks and hikes in Tooele County

Miller Fork Canyon Trail is a popular way to get to Deseret Peak and South Willow Lake. The trail begins in South Willow Canyon with a gentle climb, followed by switchbacks leading to a ridge with views into Indian Hickman Canyon. This section of trail takes you through aspen, fir, and spruce forests, with sections of open meadow as you climb higher, with wildflowers in the summer. Autumn is particularly stunning, with vibrant fall colors and there are abundant opportunities for wildlife sightings all-year-round, that include deer, coyote, and grouse. Starting early in the summers is key and you should bring ample water as none is available on the trail.

White Pine Canyon Trail is a rough, challenging trail that quickly ascends White Pine Canyon, beneath White Pine Peak though pine forests and large aspen groves. It's a great trail to do on its own, or link with the Butterfield Peaks Trail, or with the trail up to Kelsey and White Pine Peaks, or Middle Canyon South Meadow Trail for a nice loop. This trail can be made even more challenging in the spring and summer by downed trees so be sure to check in with locals about the trails conditions before heading up here.

The short, steep trail up to the giant white "T" for Tooele is a local favorite for getting in a quick challenging hike during a lunch break or after work. The grade of the trail is made a little harder by the gravelly, sometimes slippery nature of the path, but is a nice way to get the heart pumping. Once you reach the bottom of the "T" you get great views over the town and surrounding area. If you wish to scramble to the top of the "T" there is an unofficial series of short, steep switchbacks to the top that can be a little loose at spots. Be on the lookout for rattlesnakes during the warmer months!

White Pine Peak stands at 10,321 feet and is a great summit to do in addition to Kelsey Peak and the Butterfield Peaks for an epic day hike. This open summit is marked by a stone cairn and sign, and gives you sweeping, panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.

Kelsey Peak is a 10,373-foot mountain on the boundary of Tooele and Utah Counties in Utah, making it the fourth-highest summit in the Oquirrh Mountains. This is a challenging, remote-feeling summit that is often completed in conjunction with White Pine Peak, which is just north of it. The trail up the steep ridge can be a little faint at times, but fortunately since you are ridge running, it's not hard to generally stay on the trail. In the summertime, especially after a wet spring, there are abundant wildflowers making Kelsey Peak a great place to rest, relax, and snap some photos of the flora and surrounding mountains.

South Willow Lake is a beautiful alpine lake located in the Deseret Peak Wilderness. This lake is a must-do if in the area and if you're looking for a less challenging (but still hard and rewarding!) or committing hike than Deseret Peak or some of the surrounding summits. The lake is usually reached either via the Stansbury Crest Trail or Mining Fork Trail.

Butterfield Peaks are a twin set of summits in the Oquirrh Mountains, just west of Salt Lake City. These two summits sit across from each other and make for a great, challenging day hike. The eastern summit has a radio tower and an access road up to it, but the western peak has no man-made structures, making it perhaps the better of the two summits to pause at and snap some photos.

Middle Canyon South Meadow Trail connects Butterfield Pass to White Pine Road along the south end of Middle Canyon. This scenic singletrack trail passes through a pine forests and aspen groves with a creek crossing at the confluence of two small streams below Butterfield Peaks.