Round trip: 5.2 miles

Hiking time: 3.5 hours

Elevation gain from trailhead: 1,158 feet (starts at 6,220, high point 7,378)

Difficulty: Moderate/difficult

Trailhead restrooms: Yes

Dogs: No

Fee: No

Directions: From Interstate 80 in Parleys Canyon, get off at East Canyon exit and turn left. Go several miles and turn left again into Emigration Canyon. Continue up the hill for about a mile and a half until your reach the summit where you will see a dirt parking lot with a restroom on the left side of the road.

Description: The trail to Dale Peak is littered with scurrying lizards, yellow and white wildflowers and scrub oak. The trail begins behind the restrooms and wanders southwest. You will encounter a number of moderately steep hills on this hike. The first one is about a half-mile in and lands you more than 300 feet above the trailhead. Heading west, you get great bird's eye views of Emigration and Parleys canyons. Dragon flies circle above as you negotiate the rolling hills. After about 1 1/2 miles, you'll reach a scrub oak field where the trail narrows and the branches lick and scratch at your ankles and knees. At 1.8 miles you will get your first glimpse of Salt Lake City. This is where the steepest stretch of the trail beings. There are no switchbacks on this difficult part of the thinning trail as loose shale and dirt slip under your feet. At mile 2.4 you will reach a false summit. Continue south for about a quarter of a mile. When you finally reach Dale Peak, you will get panoramic views of Parleys and Emigration canyon, as well as views of Salt Lake City and communities south. Look carefully for the U.S. Coast and Geodetic survey button to confirm your arrival.