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Mike and Heather Carmody have lived in Sandy, Utah, for over 30 years and raised their two daughters here. This is their plain-spoken guide to the parks, canyons, venues and everyday places that make Sandy home.
We're Mike and Heather Carmody. We sell homes all over the Salt Lake Valley, but Sandy is where we come home at night. We've lived here for over 30 years. We raised our two daughters here, and our four dogs have opinions about every trail in town. When people ask what Sandy is really like, we usually just tell them about our week. So here are the places that keep us in Sandy, plus a few honest notes.
If you've only driven across Sandy, you might not know that a long ravine of open space runs east to west right through the middle of it. Dimple Dell Regional Park is about 630 acres of natural land managed by Salt Lake County, with more than 15 miles of dirt trails shared by walkers, cyclists and horseback riders. Dry Creek runs along the bottom.
The main trailhead is Wrangler, on 1300 East, with parking, restrooms and picnic tables.
With four dogs, we pay attention to which trails allow them. Dogs are welcome on leash at Dimple Dell, which isn't true up the Cottonwood canyons, because those are protected watershed.
Being this close to Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons is a big part of why we love Sandy. Little Cottonwood Canyon starts at the city's east edge, and Snowbird and Alta are both up that road. Big Cottonwood Canyon, home to Solitude and Brighton, starts a little farther north in Cottonwood Heights.
Mike and the girls love skiing at Snowbird. They've had season passes since the girls were old enough to ski. On a typical non-peak day, Snowbird is roughly 20 to 30 minutes up Little Cottonwood from much of Sandy.
In winter, UTA has run a ski bus from the Historic Sandy TRAX station up Little Cottonwood to Snowbird and Alta. Routes and schedules change every season, so check UTA before you go. One honest note: on powder mornings, canyon traffic backs up onto some Sandy streets. If you're looking at homes on the east side, it's worth driving the street on a snowy Saturday morning before you decide.
Sandy has four TRAX Blue Line stations: Historic Sandy, Sandy Expo, Sandy Civic Center and Crescent View. The Blue Line runs north to downtown Salt Lake City and south to Draper.
There isn't a FrontRunner station inside Sandy, but the South Jordan and Draper stations are close by. You can also take TRAX to Murray Central and switch to FrontRunner there.
America First Field. Sandy has its own pro soccer stadium, which surprises a lot of people who are new to Utah. Real Salt Lake (MLS) and the Utah Royals (NWSL) both play here on State Street. It opened in 2008 as Rio Tinto Stadium, and plenty of locals still call it "the RioT." It became America First Field in 2022. The Sandy Expo TRAX station is right next door, so you can skip the parking lot.
Hale Centre Theatre. Hale moved into the Mountain America Performing Arts Centre on Monroe Street in 2017. It has two stages, including a theater-in-the-round where the audience sits on every side. For a lot of Sandy families, the Christmas show at Hale is a yearly tradition.
Sandy Amphitheater. On summer evenings, this outdoor venue hosts a concert series with reserved seats and a lawn. Bring a blanket and come early if you want a good spot on the grass.
The Shops at South Town (most of us still call it South Towne) is on State Street at about 10450 South, and between the mall and everything around it, we can get most of our errands done without leaving Sandy. It's also turning into a sports hub. The Utah Mammoth practice at the Mammoth Ice Center here, and the Jazz are building their new practice facility right next door.
And for the record, we enjoy Italian food at Scelto, and Tin Roof Grill is another favorite. Both are right here in Sandy.
Sandy is part of the Canyons School District. Voters in Sandy, Draper, Midvale, Cottonwood Heights and Alta created the district in 2007, and it opened in 2009. It was the first new school district in Utah in almost 100 years. Boundaries can change, so check the district's website for any specific address.
Every part of Sandy has its own feel. Here are a few names you'll hear a lot:
The best way to get to know a neighborhood is to spend an afternoon walking it. We're happy to show you around.
We love helping people find their place in the Salt Lake Valley, whether that's a first home, a move up, a downsize or, for Mike's commercial clients, the right space for a business. Sandy is just the part of the valley we know best, because we live it every day.
Little Cottonwood Canyon starts at Sandy's east edge, with Snowbird and Alta up the canyon road. Solitude and Brighton are up Big Cottonwood Canyon, which starts just north in Cottonwood Heights.
Yes. Sandy has four TRAX Blue Line stations: Historic Sandy, Sandy Expo, Sandy Civic Center and Crescent View. The nearest FrontRunner stations are in South Jordan and Draper, and you can transfer between TRAX and FrontRunner at Murray Central.
Sandy is in the Canyons School District, which also serves Draper (the Salt Lake County part), Midvale, Cottonwood Heights and Alta. To check boundaries for a specific address, use the district's website.
Dimple Dell Regional Park allows leashed dogs on its more than 15 miles of trails. Dogs aren't allowed in Little Cottonwood, Big Cottonwood or Bells canyons, because they're protected watershed.
Yes. America First Field, which was called Rio Tinto Stadium until 2022, is on State Street in Sandy. It's home to Real Salt Lake and the Utah Royals, and the Sandy Expo TRAX station is right next to it.
If you're thinking about Sandy, or anywhere else in the Salt Lake Valley, give us a call. We're happy to just talk, even if you're a year or two out.
Call Mike at 801.455.8252, call Heather at 801.633.7367, or send us a note. If you're curious what your current home might be worth, you can start here. And when you're ready to look, browse homes.
Mike and Heather Carmody, Mike Carmody Real Estate Group, KW South Valley Keller Williams
