Alien Tower Hike: Draper, Utah
The Alien Tower Hike leads to the top of a small peak with an old a-frame, metal structure and amazing 360 degree views of the Wasatch Mountains and valleys below. It is a dog and family-friendly, out-and-back hike, that gains 538 feet over 2.5 miles, and is well worth the trek.
KID RATINGS
Fun: ⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
Difficulty: Very Easy Easy MODERATE Hard Very Hard
KEY FEATURES
Hiking Distance: 2.5 miles round trip
Hiking Elevation Gain: 540 ft
Terrain: Dirt trail, rocks, exposed trail,
Time Needed: 1.5 to 2.5 hours
When to Go: Spring, Summer (morning or evening), Fall
COST
Free
AMENITIES
- There is a single port-a-pottie at the trail-head. The closest gas station is a Chevron, 4.5 miles from the trail-head on Highland Drive in Draper, UT.
- There is a water fountain at Maple Trailhead Park just north of the Alien Tower Hike. It is only on during the summer months.
THINGS TO BRING
- Sunscreen, trail exposed
- Water
- Snacks
- Dogs allowed. There is an off leash area on the trail.
DETAILS
The Alien Tower hike is a fun, free adventure in Draper, Utah. We hiked to the Alien Tower in early spring with an 11, 9, 7 and 2 year old. We had fun making up stories about aliens and how the tower got to the top of the mountain.
Trailhead
The Alien Tower hike begins from a small parking area at the end of Deer Ridge Drive in Draper, Utah. If there is not enough parking near the trail head, Maple Trailhead Park is directly adjacent on the north side and has a few parking stalls. There is a trail that connects Maple Trailhead Park to the Alien Tower Trailhead if you park there or you can just walk from the park to the Alien Tower Trail via the sidewalk.
There is a chain blocking the large trail to restrict motorized vehicles from entering. This is where the hike begins.
The Hike
There are two main route options to get to the alien tower but they begin from the same place. After a few minutes on the main trail there is a trail to the left that heads south. We followed this route. However, you can continue on the main trail where the off leash dog area is. Each route leads to the alien tower.
We enjoyed coming up with stories about aliens and what the alien tower might be used for. There is a twin alien tower on the top of Lake Mountain, near Saratoga Springs and maybe aliens use the two towers for communication. 😉
The Alien Tower
The alien tower is a-frame metal structure and marks the turn-around point at the top for the hike. We took a break here for a snack, enjoyed the views and pointed out landmarks that we know.
Dogs
Dogs are allowed on this trail and there is a specific area where dogs are allowed off leash that is well marked. There was a lot of dog waste along the path. Please clean up after your dog if you bring one.
The distance and climb make it a great hike for families. It is not too short and not too steep, but there was still enough climbing to get couple minor complaints from our youngest daughter. According to my GPS, the hike was closer to 2.8 miles. There are not any trail markers along the way so you can follow the All Trails route.
PROS & CONS
PROS
- Beautiful views of Salt Lake and Utah County Valleys
- Fun destination to Alien Tower
- Family friendly: Not too steep or long for kids
CONS
- Can become crowded with hikers, mountain bikers and dogs
- Lots of dog poo on the trail
DIRECTIONS
The trailhead is officially called Deer Ridge Offleash Dog Trailhead on google maps, but there is not a sign that calls the trailhead this. The address is 1455 Deer Ridge Dr, Draper, UT 84020. Type Deer Ridge Offleash Dog Trailhead in google maps or the exact address to get you to the starting point.
We pulled up the map from All Trails to get directions to the trail head and follow the actual trail to make sure we were going the most direct route.
There are a few different ways to get to the alien tower, we took the most direct route taking a left at the first fork in the road. You can make this hike slightly longer by adding in a loop.
MAPS
OTHER NEARBY ADVENTURES
Rocky Mouth Waterfall Hike (10 minutes)
Draper Suspension Bridge (15 minutes)
Horsetail Falls Hike (30 minutes)
ABOUT
Hi, I’m Corrine! I’m an outdoor enthusiast and mother of four.
My goal is to inspire you to get outside and create your own amazing memories as a family. Life is precious and there are too many adventures to be had to spend life on the couch or in front of a screen.
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Is there a hike to the “sister” alien tower in Saratoga? Thanks!
You can follow Israel Canyon to the top of Lake Mountain to the sister alien tower. Israel Canyon is hike-able, but its a long one for kids. We 4 wheeled up Israel Canyon and explored on foot once we got to the top. You would probably be fine taking a high clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle up. The views are gorgeous from the top of Lake Mountain with Utah Lake on one side and Eagle Mountain on the other. Here is the all trails link for Israel Canyon. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/israel-canyon-trail. I don’t know if the map on all trails takes you exactly to the tower, but it gets you close. Once you are to the top its pretty easy to find.