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Considering a move to SLC
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Hey, I was just offered a job in Salt Lake City and am considering relocating from Boston, MA. As far as I can tell Utah seems like one of the best cities in the US for outdoor access (skiing, climbing, trails, etc). How are the other aspects of SLC? Any recommendations on neighborhoods to rent in? Job would be based in between downtown and capital hill. I would prioritize a short work commute (ideally bikeable) and then also prioritize short commute to rock gym (recs?) and ability to get to real rock (mostly climb sport but also some bouldering). It seems like Sugar house/mill creek/cottonwood area would be nice for that? Would also like to be around some restaurants/coffee shops (if they ever open again) but lower on priority list. Any other beta to spray?
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It's getting more expensive to live here by the day because people keep coming. If you're working downtown, cottonwood heights will seem like an eternity away and won't be bikeable unless you're into that kind of thing. Living in the avenues or marmalade will situate you closest to work with sugarhouse being another more expensive alternative. More gyms than we know what to do with now so that won't be an issue since they're all <15 minutes from each other. If you're leaning toward being in a bikeable/walkable neighborhood with good eateries and coffee shops nearby I would look into the 9th & 9th, Trolley Square, Avenues, and Marmalade areas. They're definitely also the most liberal regions of the city. |
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For commuting and biking to downtown I would say Marmalade, Avenues, Cap Hill, or Rose Park. The Front climbing gym off 400W and just south of 1400S isn't far from downtown but the parking is really bad. I did however receive an email indicating The Front is working on fixing the problem, so maybe that'll be remedied soon enough. For outdoor rock access in minimal time you'd want to live closer to the eastern side of the valley, off 215 most likely, which would put you farther from downtown. Traffic here isn't horrible but pre-covid it was definitely noticeably worse year over year. I guess you need to balance how frequently you'll be going to work and the gym vs getting outside. If I had to choose I would stick close to downtown but not far from I-15, because from my experience the biggest time suck when downtown is just getting to I-15. Regarding other beta, yes, great access, but as Greg indicated with increasing expense as a result of people moving here (and inherent population growth due to reproductive rates) it's also getting ever more crowded at crags, trailheads, ski resorts, national parks, etc, etc. However, compared to living in Boston you may not care or simply laugh at what I consider crowded! Good luck with your decision making process. |
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The big issue with SLC is and always will be the winter air quality during inversions. They can be brutally depressing, though it seems like it has been getting a bit better the last few years and may get a lot better this year with so many fewer people commuting. Summer air quality from fires has been pretty bad this year too. I used to live in Marmalade and liked it, but there are some big hills there and in the avenues for bike commuting home at the end of the day. Nice to be above the worst of the inversion though. I'm in Millcreek now, which is much less expensive but has less character. Millcreek is just starting to redevelop an ugly section of blah buildings into a cohesive town center around Highland and 3300, and that might actually turn Millcreek into more of a community. Biking or driving into downtown is easy and mostly flat, and it is halfway between downtown and the cottonwoods for climbing. In short, the bubble north of I80 and west of I15 is more urban or are neighborhoods with more character, but much more expensive. Rose Park is cheaper but further away from the Cottonwoods. Millcreek is cheaper with less character and halfway between downtown and the Cottonwoods. The other suburbs like Murray, Cottonwood Heights, and Sandy keep getting further away and don't really have advantages over Millcreek if you commute downtown. |
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Easy in Salt Lake City and immediately surrounding suburbs, Park City, and Ogden. Trickier as you get into the further out suburbs, Utah county, and rural areas. Any problems will be more of a lack of common interests than any kind of hostility. |
Andrew Gram wrote: Ehh, I've found mixed results. I moved to slc from colorado and people here definitely aren't as outwardly friendly, ESPECIALLY to people with dogs. Finding partners for climbing and skiing is easy enough. |
Other Other wrote: Community is pretty easy for outdoor people. Business and jobs: at my work there is definitely two groups. No hostility and everyone gets along 99.9% of the time but I have had a few awkward moments. It also makes a difference the industry; i work in the medical field but friends in the outdoor industry have a completely different experience ie no one is religious. |
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Wow thanks for the info everyone. Really good tips on living areas. Hopefully the perks of inner city living (coffee shops and restaurants and higher general density) will be perks again soon once we can get past covid. What are the best/worst neighborhoods besides Marmalade for the inversion? |
Abe Weintraub wrote: The inversions affect the entire valley - neighborhood is irrelevant. |
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Not completely true Marc. When I lived on Capitol Blvd a few hundred feet above the capitol, I would pretty regularly have blue skies and crystal clear air, but wouldn't be able to see the buildings downtown through the cloud layer. You have to be pretty high up on the benches to make a difference though, and in the worst inversions even the benches get engulfed. |
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I moved to Salt Lake about 2 years ago from ‘back East’ and couldn’t be happier. It is hard not to find yourself with an ear-to-ear smile when you are driving home from rad evening climbing a mere 20 minutes from your house. All of the downsides (I.e inversion, Mormons) are just marketing to keep people out. Kidding though -inversion is a bitch. I’m in Rose Park and commute about 5-10 minutes to downtown. It’s more of a buyers market though (not too many renters). Housing prices are continuing to rise and I’d say Salt Lake has a serious affordable housing issue at this point. Even renting in a popular area is expensive though perhaps is apples-to-apples coming from Boston. If I was you I’d look in any of the neighborhoods South and east of downtown but north of 215. This will give you nice access to downtown and the mountains. Sugar house and Holiday would be great but are pricey. Marmalade could be cool too as others mentioned.
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Andrew Gram wrote: We live at 4980' about 2 miles from the mouth of LCC. We're regularly engulfed during the typical inversion. While there are likely pockets as you described, for the most part inversions do not respect neighborhood boundaries. |
Other Other wrote: 0 |
Abe Weintraub wrote: Hi Abe! I'm also planning to move to SLC soon (for a postdoc at U of Utah) from Boston (currently climbing at CRG/outside whenever possible), and I grew up in CA as well! Thanks for this post - I have many of the same questions as you do. Please reach out if you end up moving and are in the market for a new climbing partner/friend :) |
Other Other wrote: 0 is not far off. Spring and fall are like that for a short period, though spring is often wet. It was over 90 just about every day from mid-May until September this year. The factor that makes it tolerable is that it just takes a half hour to drive to the top of LCC in the summer, and you can comfortably climb at 9000+ feet when it over 100 in the valley. There is also no humidity and nights cool off, so the heat isn't as oppressive as it is on the east coast - mornings are always pleasant and you can chase shade when it is hot. In the winter you ski or drive to the desert on weekends. |
Other Other wrote: No, it’s been over 80 all week but it will be below 60 on Sunday. |
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Once you get to Colorado, STOP. Thanks |
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Anyone got any leads/info about a place to rent? Yes, I'm moving there, sorry! Although overall I think I'm a net-positive with lots to offer my new community. Appreciate the help! |
Russ Keane wrote: There's a Utah climbers Facebook group that regularly has folks with rooms for rent. If I recall correctly, there might even be a spin-off group specifically for climbers/outdoor types to list and look for rooms. You could give that a whirl. |
Russ Keane wrote: Welcome to town! facebook does seem to be the best place to find "climber room for rent" info. |
Andrew Gram wrote: When I first moved here I made this spreadsheet to navigate The Front's membership policies in conjunction with outdoor climbing viability. Thought I would share.  |
