Didn’t the Ute people consider Emigration Canyon a place of Great Power? Thousands of years before America was even a concept, the Ute, Goshute, Navajo, Paiute and Shoshoni tribes gathered food in the Salt Lake Valley for the winter. This valley was known as the Land of Peace between Nations.
Emigration Canyon’s history is ancient. It is important to Native Americans and early Utah settlers. It also mattered to immigrants bound for California.
The first known settlers in Emigration Canyon were the Killians. They built a ranch near the top. The family lived there until Killian’s death in 1858. The area was a popular passage for travelers on the Mormon Trail. But it became less traveled after the transcontinental railroad was completed. Then, the canyon became a location for homesteaders. Many squatted there without filing claims.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Emigration Canyon saw various uses. There was a brewery at the mouth of the canyon. It was also pasture land for sheep. The Pinecrest Inn was a mountain resort accessible by electric light rail train service. By the 1930s, some residents took up permanent residence in former summer homes. From the 1950s through the 1970s, more people settled in Emigration Canyon. These people wanted to escape city living. Many homes were DIY projects. It was hard to get a home loan from banks. They saw it as risky to loan to such a “depressed area.”
This Walden-esque view of Emigration Canyon began to change in the 1980s. There was growing interest in upscale development. Multi-million dollar homes appeared among the self-built canyon homes. This led to disputes between residents about the canyon’s direction. Settlers ranged from wealthy business people to those seeking solace and even UFO watchers. The area officially became a metro township in 2017. In May 2024, Emigration Canyon became a city.
Emigration Canyon was significant in early Utah history. It was the original route used by pioneers. It was part of the Hastings Cutoff route used by the Donner Party in 1846. The Mormon Pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley through here in 1847. Brigham Young looked over the canyon and declared, “This is the right place. Drive on.” These words became famous in Utah history. This event is commemorated at This Is The Place Heritage Park at the canyon’s mouth. Historic markers designate camps, trails and milestones of the Mormon Pioneers. One example is Lost Creek Camp.
Hogle Zoo is at the mouth of the canyon but within Salt Lake City limits. Emigration Canyon is home to Camp Kostopulos. The Kostopulos Dream Foundation established it in 1967. It is a summer camp for disabled children, teens and adults. Ruth’s Diner, established in 1930, is adjacent to the camp.
Emigration Canyon is an accessible canyon for cycling from Salt Lake City. It is 7.7 miles long with an average grade of 5 percent. There are approximately 1,300 feet of elevation gain. Cyclists often call the top “Little Mountain.” There is a shoulder to ride in. Locals are used to bicycle traffic. Restrooms are at the bottom and top of the canyon.
Much of Emigration Canyon is protected within the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. With its proximity to Salt Lake City, unprotected areas have been of interest to developers. The Utah Open Lands Conservation Association has preserved numerous parcels of land.
The footsteps of thousands have marked the pathway of this historic Emigration Canyon.