Some of the best things to do in Salt Lake City are completely free. Here's our list of free things to do in SLC, from sunset hikes and free museum days to world-famous choir rehearsals. Where something has a small fee, we've flagged it.
The best free events, every Thursday. The SLC Weekender sends 60+ weekend picks to your inbox, including plenty of free ones. Free, and 7,500+ locals read it.
Free hikes and views
Ensign Peak: trailhead at 1002 N Ensign Vista Dr. A 1.8-mile round trip with 380 feet of gain and about 20 minutes to the top, for one of the best sunset views of the valley. No shade or restrooms; leashed dogs OK. Bring a headlamp.
The Living Room: trailhead near 383 Colorow Rd by the Natural History Museum. About 2.5 miles with roughly 970 feet of gain to a "living room" of stone chairs overlooking the city. Bring traction in winter.
Bonneville Shoreline Trail: the foothills trail running above the city, with easy access from the Living Room trailhead.
City Creek Canyon and Memory Grove: a leafy canyon walk minutes from downtown, plus an off-leash dog area in Memory Grove.
Free music and culture
Tabernacle Choir Thursday rehearsals: Thursdays at 7:30pm in the Tabernacle on Temple Square. Free, no tickets, first come first served. Check the choir's site for cancellations.
Music & the Spoken Word broadcast: Sundays at 9:30am in the Tabernacle. Free, but you need a reservation through TempleSquare.org or the app. Be seated by 9:10am.
Tabernacle organ recitals: Monday–Saturday at noon and Sunday at 2pm.
Temple Square: grounds open 7am–10pm, with a new Visitors' Center open daily 9am–9pm. (The Conference Center is closed until March 2027.)
Utah State Capitol: 350 N State St. Explore on your own any day, or join a weekday guided tour on the hour from 10am–3pm.
Gilgal Sculpture Garden: 749 E 500 S. A wonderfully odd hidden garden of sculptures, including a Sphinx with Joseph Smith's face.
Free museum days
Utah Museum of Fine Arts: free the first Wednesday and third Saturday of every month. Bank of America cardholders also get in free the first full weekend of each month.
Red Butte Garden: free on its community days, including the Holiday Open House on Dec 5–6, 2026. Admission is also half price December through February.
Clark Planetarium: the exhibit floors are free every day.
Utah Olympic Park museums (Park City): the Eccles 2002 Olympics Museum and Alf Engen Ski Museum are free.
Museums for All: UMFA and Tracy Aviary offer free admission for up to 4 people with a SNAP/EBT card.
Free parks and city spots
Salt Lake City Public Library rooftop: 210 E 400 S. Open daily, weather permitting, with downtown and mountain views.
Liberty Park: 600 E 900 S. Open 5am–11pm, Salt Lake's classic big park, with sledding hills in winter.
Sugar House Park: 2100 S 1300 E. A pond, a 1.38-mile loop, access to Parley's Trail and the city's favorite sledding hill.
The Avenues: walk the historic streets and stop at a neighborhood coffee shop.
Christmas Village in Ogden: a free walk-through light display, Nov 28 – Jan 1.
Christmas Street in Sugar House: a free neighborhood light display on Glen Arbor Street.
Christkindlmarkt SLC: free admission, Dec 2–5 at This Is The Place Heritage Park.
Gardner Village: free to stroll, with holiday lights from Nov 21 – Dec 31.
Solitude's New Year's Eve torchlight parade: free, Dec 31.
Wheeler Farm markets: free to browse. The winter market typically runs Sundays from January to April.
Worth the small fee: Antelope Island State Park is $15 per vehicle ($10 for seniors), plus a $2 Davis County causeway fee, for bison, sunsets and the Great Salt Lake up close.
More guides
Great weekends don't have to cost much. Get our picks, free events included, every Thursday.