Red Butte Garden occupies 100 acres on the south side of the University of Utah campus, backing directly against the Wasatch Mountains. The formal gardens include native Utah plants, herb and rose gardens, a children's discovery garden, and ponds, while the wilder upper sections connect to trails leading up into the foothills. The views over the Salt Lake Valley are excellent throughout.
The garden runs a popular summer outdoor concert series that draws national acts — if one happens to fall on your visit, it is worth knowing about. A small admission fee applies to the formal garden areas; the upper trails are free.