The Living Room

Several months ago I overheard my daughter and her boyfriend talk about a place called, "The Living Room."  I didn't take much notice at first, thinking that it was just some imaginary place in the back of someone's mind.  After all, I've done a fair amount of hiking along the Wasatch Front, and surely I would have heard of this place if it was very popular – right?  Well, one day when I had a little time on my hands I decided to research this place to see if it really existed.  Exiting I-80 at Exit 129 onto Foothill Drive (or I-215 from the south), I drove northward along Foothill Drive and then veered to the right (northeast) onto Wakara Way.  Continuing along Wakara Way, I turned right again (southeast) onto Colorow Drive, where I parked alongside the road just beyond Tabby Lane.  Be sure to park before the "No Parking" signs to avoid possible ticketing.  A small trailhead sign sits along the east side of Colorow Drive not far from the "No Parking" signs.

The trail starts in a brief wooded area and climbs to a clearing near the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, where various trails begin to appear.  Basically, you will need to head for the drainage just to the right (south) of the main Georges Hollow drainage.  Be careful not to crosscut areas where vegetation restoration is taking place.  Once at the mouth of the lesser drainage, a well-marked trail ascends this drainage for about 0.5 miles to the top of the ridge with Georges Hollow.  From here the trail continues to climb another 0.4 miles across Georges Hollow to a point known as the Living Room at just over 6,000 feet elevation.  The Living Room is merely slabs of stone made to look like living room furniture, where hikers can sit, relax, and take in the views of the valley below.  Further down the slope lies an old quarry structure, which is part of the Red Butte Garden complex.  With a good set of binoculars, it is possible to watch a Utah football game at Rice-Eccles Stadium.  Distance from the trailhead to the Living Room is approximately 1.2 miles one-way with an approximate elevation gain of 1,000 feet.  Continued scrambling up the ridge above the Living Room will take you to the Red Butte ridge.

The Living Room equipped with
an old television remote

View of the Salt Lake Valley and Oquirrh
Mountains from the Living Room