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Mississippi pioneers led by John Holladay planted the settlement of Big Cottonwood here in 1848, which makes Holladay one of the oldest communities in Utah. Today it is a leafy residential city of about 31,000 sitting right under the sheer face of Mount Olympus on the east side of the Salt Lake Valley.
Holladay keeps a few pioneer homes on its older roads, and its small village center at Holladay Boulevard still feels like a town square. The Carmelite Monastery welcomes visitors to its chapel and hosts a summer festival, and Knudsen Park turns a stretch of Big Cottonwood Creek into a playful waterside park. The former Cottonwood Mall site is being reborn as a new walkable district.
The real draw is the mountains. The Mount Olympus Trail climbs steeply from the edge of town, the protected Mount Olympus Wilderness rises behind the houses, and the ski resorts of Big Cottonwood Canyon are a short drive away. Downtown Salt Lake City is about 20 minutes north.
A demanding trail from Wasatch Boulevard up the west face of Mount Olympus, gaining more than 4,000 feet in about 3.5 miles to a rocky summit above 9,000 feet. The last stretch is a scramble. Start at dawn in summer, bring plenty of water, or simply hike the first mile for valley views.
A Catholic monastery of cloistered Carmelite nuns set on peaceful grounds in Holladay. Visitors can attend Mass in the chapel and walk the quiet gardens, while the nuns remain apart. Each summer a festival with music and food raises funds for the community. Dress modestly and keep voices low.
A modern city park along Big Cottonwood Creek, with boulder play areas, a small waterfall, wooden bridges, walking paths and shaded lawns. Kids can splash at the creek edge in summer. It is a good stop after a canyon hike, and the paths are stroller-friendly.
The historic heart of Holladay around Holladay Boulevard and 4800 South, with locally owned restaurants, coffee shops, a few boutiques and a small plaza. It keeps a village feel despite the growth around it. Come for brunch or an evening dinner, then stroll the nearby older streets.
A federally protected wilderness of steep canyons, granite ridges and conifer forest rising directly behind Holladay. Trails from the city's edge lead into it, with chances to see mule deer, moose and golden eagles. No bikes or motor vehicles are allowed, and dogs must be leashed on most routes.
A handful of 19th-century homes built by early settlers survive along Holladay's older roads, including historic brick and adobe houses of the Brinton and Casto families. They show how the Big Cottonwood farming settlement looked before the suburbs. The houses are private, so view them from the street.
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