Mount Olympus (Utah)

Mount Olympus
Elevation	9,026 ft (2,751 m) [1]
Prominence	386 ft (118 m) [1]
Location
Location	Salt Lake County, Utah, USA
Range	Wasatch Range
Coordinates	40°39′24″N 111°46′16″W / 40.6566144°N 111.7710429°W / 40.6566144; -111.7710429Coordinates: 40°39′24″N 111°46′16″W / 40.6566144°N 111.7710429°W / 40.6566144; -111.7710429[2]
Topo map	USGS Sugar House
Climbing
Easiest route	Mount Olympus Trail: Hike

Mount Olympus in the U.S. state of Utah, is one of the most prominent and recognizable mountains viewable from practically every location in the Salt Lake Valley. Mount Olympus is not the tallest peak along the Wasatch front, but its unusual form and location make it a popular hiking destination for locals. The mountain is situated immediately east of the center of the Salt Lake Valley (due east from Murray and Taylorsville). One distinctive feature of the mountain are its twin peaks, and other outcroppings, the highest of which is called "Summit Peak" and towers above the valley to an elevation of 9,026 feet (2,751 m). Thus, the peak looms about 4,800 feet (1,463 m) above the valley floor.

Hiking

Because of its close proximity, visibility, and accessibility to such a large metropolitan area, Mount Olympus has been a popular hiking destination for the residents of the Salt Lake valley for many years. Most climbers reach the summit via the Mount Olympus Trail, which is a steep climb from the mountain base and stretches approximately 3.1 miles (5.0 km) to the summit. This peak is also a popular winter mountaineering route because the terrain is not as avalanche prone as many of the surrounding peaks. Hiding near the base of the mountain, unknown to many locals, lies Utah's second deepest, and Americas 13th deepest cave, known as Neffs cave.

Mount Olympus as seen from I-215. This is the North/West face.

See also

• Wasatch-Cache National Forest

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Mount Olympus, Utah". Peakbagger.com. http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=5450. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
2. ^ "Mount Olympus". Geographic Names Information System, U.S. Geological Survey. http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:1444093. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 

External links

• "Mount Olympus". SummitPost.org. http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/151263/mount-olympus.html. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
• "Mount Olympus". UtahPictures.com. http://utahpictures.com/multiviewMTOLYMPUS.html. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
• "USA Deepest Caves". CaverBob.com. http://www.caverbob.com/usadeep. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
• R., William (1959). "The Story of the Great Caves of the West and the Men Who Explored Them". America's Deepest Cave. Harper & Brother, Publishers. http://www.caves.org/grotto/timpgrotto/Neffs.html.