Our Guide To East Bench | Salt Lake City, Utah

Welcome to East Bench

You get to experience the very best Salt Lake City when you live in East Bench. You’ll be close to nature (and will likely spot deer and rabbits in your yard), have a beautiful view of the area from your home, and will be surrounded by high-ranking private and public schools. You’ll also be close to the University of Utah, Downtown, Sugar House, and the freeway.

East Bench Real Estate

The majority of the real estate here includes large rambler-style homes with landscaped yards. From the condos to the extravagant single-family houses, many of the homes here have been remodeled. Since Emigration Creek runs through the Canyon, some homes in the area have water frontage with amazing scenery.

The Locals

This is a great neighborhood for anyone who works at the University of Utah, the hospital, or Research Park, as its location allows residents to avoid the congestion and traffic that most commuters face on Foothill Boulevard. There are many long-time residents in this community.

Our Local Tip: If you live in the northern part of East Bench, you can sometimes hear the seals and lions from the Hogle Zoo at night.

Parks & Nature

At Donner Park, the kids can play on the playgrounds while you take in the beautiful views. You can perfect your golf game at Bonneville Golf Course, take a walk along the Shoreline Trail (accessed at the end of Devonshire), or escape up Emigration for a hike in Killyons Canyon.

Schools

Indian Hills Elementary is an excellent public school located on St. Mary’s Drive and within the Salt Lake School District. Nearby private school options include Rowland Hall (Pre-K-12), The McGillis School (K-6), JE Cosgriff Memorial, (Pre-K-8) and the Montessori Community School (toddler to Grade 6).

Elementary-aged kids in Emigration Canyon are part of the Granite School District and attend Eastwood Elementary in Olympus Cove.

Arts & Culture

East Bench is home to This Is The Place Heritage Park, where the Mormons first arrived in Salt Lake City. The park features a historic monument and interactive programs to learn about Utah’s history. Hogle Zoo is also located in the neighborhood, with hundreds of animals, tropical gardens, and a carousel.

Shopping

Residents here have easy access to a few grocery stores, fitness centers, and more, just off of Foothill Drive. There’s also a Walmart just south of the neighborhood, and for everything else, Downtown is just a 15-minute drive away.

Dining

You’ll find most of East Bench’s restaurants and cafés in the neighborhood’s west end. We recommend taking a drive up Emigration Canyon and having lunch at a local favorite, Ruth’s Diner. This trolley-car-turned-restaurant is cozy inside and has amazing views from the patio outside.

Getting Around

With no drive-through traffic in the area, East Bench is fairly quiet. There’s no public transportation, so shopping, dining, or running errands requires a car, but there are biking trails (although the hills can be a challenge).

Explore the Communities

What East Bench community suits you best? Here’s what we love about each of them:

St. Mary’s
Emigration Canyon

Located in the northern part of East Bench, St. Mary’s is an affluent community close to the University of Utah and is home to many noteworthy residents. Residents here typically move in and never leave, giving it a close community vibe.

Looking for a more secluded community? Emigration Canyon offers mountain living without the commute. This area has fantastic scenery no matter the season and is much-loved by the cyclists who enjoy riding up and down the mountains.