Elk can be found on the front from Little Cottonwood (rarely) all the way up to Brigham City I suppose. I've found elk at the top of nearly every canyon along Salt Lake at one time or another.
Most of the time they hang out right up along the boarder at the very tops of the mountain.
Any elk on this side of the boarder are virtually silent and they act like whitetailed deer. The hunker down and wait for you to move. Then you're busted. It takes a lot of hard work, super fitness and a ton of patience to find any elk on the front.
I've never bagged one on the front, but I've been close a few times on smaller bulls, usually when there is snow up high.
Go up there and dig around. You'll be amazed at what you might find.
Cheers,
Pete