The mountain is named after Lester Wire, an American policeman of Salt Lake City, Utah, who in 1912 developed the first red-green electric traffic light.

[4] Mount Wire is a common spot for adventurous hikers and has many access trails, some created by nearby Red Butte Gardens.

An interesting man-made rock outcropping about halfway up the mountain looks like several lawn chairs in a row, and is a common rest stop for hikers.

An old airway beacon, now out of service, is on the highest point of the mountain and can be climbed for better views of the surrounding terrain.

Old electrical wire is strewn about in various places, and rusted conduit is still present, along with boxes that contained breakers.

An unimproved road for ATVs and four-wheel drive vehicles also exists for those who do not want to hike to the summit, and starts in Emigration Canyon directly to the east.