Mount Wire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mount Wire
Mt. Wire from the University of Utah
Highest point
Elevation	7,146 ft (2,178 m) NAVD 88
Prominence	103 ft (31 m)
Naming
Etymology	Lester Wire
Geography
Mount Wire Location in Utah
Location	Salt Lake County, Utah, U.S.
Parent range	Wasatch Mountains
Climbing
Easiest route	Hike

Mount Wire is a mountain on the east side of Salt Lake City, Utah. It is also known as Wire Mountain or Big Beacon. The mountain stands tall at 7,146 feet (2,178 meters) above sea level.

Mount Wire is named after Lester Wire. He was a policeman in Salt Lake City. In 1912, he invented the very first red-green electric traffic light.

This mountain is a popular spot for people who love to hike. It has many trails, and some were made by the nearby Red Butte Garden and Arboretum. You can easily find trails to the top from the east side of the University of Utah.

For a long time, Mount Wire was easy to spot because of two large structures near its top. These were called passive microwave repeaters. They looked like big billboards. Their job was to bounce microwave signals over the mountain to parts of northeastern Utah. An old airway beacon is also right on the summit.

About halfway up the mountain, there's a cool spot made of rocks. It looks like several lawn chairs lined up. This is a common place for hikers to rest. From here, you can see great views of Salt Lake City and the Wasatch Mountains.

Hiking to the Top

Hiking to the summit of Mount Wire can be a bit challenging. The trails are not marked, but they are usually in good shape. The easiest way to hike up is often from the west side of the mountain. These trails are usually clearer.

For most hikers, reaching the summit takes about two hours. This can change depending on the trail and the weather. It's always a good idea to bring plenty of water and some snacks. If you are a very athletic hiker, you might reach the top in about 45 minutes.

What You See from the Summit

Once you reach the very top of Mount Wire, you get amazing views! You can see the entire Salt Lake Valley, from North Salt Lake all the way to Draper.

• To the north, you can clearly see Antelope Island and the nearby mountain, Mount Van Cott.
• To the west, the whole Oquirrh mountain range stretches out.
• To the south and east, you can see Emigration Canyon and the rest of the Wasatch Range.

An old airway beacon sits on the highest point of the mountain. It's not used anymore, but you can climb it for even better views. Many people have written their names and the dates they reached the summit on the beacon. Some of these dates go all the way back to 1954! You can still see old electrical wires and rusted boxes nearby, showing where the beacon once got its power.

The two large passive microwave repeaters that were southwest of the beacon were removed on November 9, 2013. These structures were used to reflect radio signals.

There is also a rough road for ATVs and four-wheel drive vehicles. It starts in Emigration Canyon to the east. However, this road begins on private land. Using vehicles to reach the summit is strongly discouraged. Parts of the mountain are on National Forest land, where such vehicles are not allowed. The road ends near where the radio repeaters used to be.

Gallery

• 

  Red Butte, right next to Mount Wire, in January 2008.

• 

  The two microwave radio reflectors that were below the summit. They were taken down in late 2013.

• 

  The old airway beacon right on the summit.

• 

  Downtown Salt Lake City, as seen from the top of Mount Wire.