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Dry Gulch Trail Head

4.7 ★★★★★ 58 Google reviews · Running trail in Salt Lake City, Utah · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Dry Gulch Trail Head's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Open 24hShadedScenicDog-friendlyHillyTrailhead parking

Clearly-marked starting point for hikers & mountain bikers plus a gradual incline & smooth trail.

What runners say about Dry Gulch Trail Head

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (58 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 6 mentions

“It is a beautiful single trail in a slot canyon, windy, slight incline, shady in some spots.”

🌳 shaded & cool 3 mentions

“It is a beautiful single trail in a slot canyon, windy, slight incline, shady in some spots.”

This is a very popular bike trail so it does get very crowded. It seems to be more popular in the spring than in the fall. It is a nice easy walk to get up to a nice overview of the city. I would recommend it. Just be ready to move to the side often due to many on the trail.

★★★★☆ — Steve , May 2016

I think everything that's been posted says it all. For those of you looking to take kids, just know to get to the trailhead you have to go through a private gated community that you can't drive a car through, so there's a .6 mile "pre hike" before the actual hike.

★★★★☆ — Shea , Nov 2019

It was a very fun hike. The trail was super wide and was not to difficult. The only problem was that there was no water for our dogs. But other then that it was a great hike.

★★★★☆ — Tyler , Sep 2022

Phenomenal place for a run or a quick hike. Phenomenal views of the mountains and the University. Do it at dawn or sunset.

★★★★☆ — Erik , Nov 2017

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 58 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 12 mentions

“It is a beautiful single trail in a slot canyon, windy, slight incline, shady in some spots.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 5 mentions

“I'm from "sea level" and this little climb smoked me (I hadn't acclimated to the altitude)!”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 5 mentions

“For those of you looking to take kids, just know to get to the trailhead you have to go through a private gated community that you can't drive a car through, so there's a .”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 3 mentions

“It is a beautiful single trail in a slot canyon, windy, slight incline, shady in some spots.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 3 mentions

“The only problem was that there was no water for our dogs.”

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Plan your run at Dry Gulch Trail Head

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Dry Gulch Trail Head

Salt Lake City, Utah

Get directions

Running trails near Salt Lake City

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

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All running trails in Salt Lake City, UT →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.