Living on Salt Lake City's East Bench

What it's like to live on the East Bench

The city describes the East Bench as older, distinctive homes on its western side and newer homes up on the foothill slopes, with views across the valley. It's part of City Council District 6, along with Yalecrest, Bonneville Hills, Wasatch Hollow, and Foothill Sunnyside.

Some of Salt Lake City's biggest draws are right here or next door: the University of Utah and its Research Park, the VA hospital, Hogle Zoo, This Is The Place Heritage Park, the Natural History Museum of Utah, and Red Butte Garden. For everyday errands, there's Foothill Village and the shops and restaurants along Foothill Drive, plus the Anderson-Foothill library.

You'll also hear "east bench" used more loosely for the higher ground along the whole east side of the Salt Lake Valley, as far south as Cottonwood Heights. This guide covers Salt Lake City's East Bench neighborhood. It's one of the three Salt Lake areas I focus on, along with Millcreek and Cottonwood Heights.

Getting outside on the East Bench

• The Bonneville Shoreline Trail runs along the foothills above the neighborhood. Salt Lake City's 13.5-mile stretch goes from North Salt Lake to Parleys Canyon.
• Red Butte Garden and the Natural History Museum of Utah are both up by the University of Utah.
• Park City is about 26 road miles away, up I-80 through Parleys Canyon, with Park City Mountain and Deer Valley.
• The Cottonwood Canyons: Snowbird, Alta, Solitude, and Brighton are about 20 to 24 road miles away.

Good to know before you buy on the East Bench

Schools. The East Bench is inside Salt Lake City, so its homes are in the Salt Lake City School District, whose boundaries match the city limits.

Where the city ends. Just south, Millcreek is a separate city with its own rules, even though many homes there have a Salt Lake City mailing address. We'll confirm which city any home is actually in.