Destination: Utah Valley

Utah Valley offers countless choices for family-friendly day trips, romantic getaways for two, or even exciting destinations for the adventurer in all of us. The variety is endless and changes with each season, bringing new elements to be enjoyed and explored.

All Things Outdoors

Utah Valley is a world-class outdoor adventure destination. With abundant mountains and trails, rivers, lakes, and campgrounds, make sure to bring your gear so that you can experience the best that Utah has to offer!

Hiking

There are hundreds of miles of trails just waiting to be hiked in the mountains surrounding Utah Valley, and springtime, as well as summer, offers beautiful wildflower displays to be enjoyed from a hiker's perspective. Some of the best trails include Mount Timpanogos Trail (moderate difficulty), Box Elder Canyon Trail (high difficulty), and the Alpine Loop trails: Box Lake (1 mile), Stewart Cascades (2 miles), Big Springs (4 miles), and Bear Canyon Trail (2 miles).

Canyons

Summer heat is no reason to have lazy days. Canyons offer ways to escape the heat in cooler temperatures and shady trails. You can choose from destinations like Vivian Park - one of several parks located a short drive up Provo Canyon - for a family picnic, or choose from over fifty trails of varying difficulty for some serious mountain biking. Provo River Parkway is a paved trail that runs from Provo to Bridal Veil Falls that can be used for hiking, biking, or rollerblading.

Camping

If you want to extend your trip to longer than just the afternoon, there are ample places to camp in the valley. The Uintah National Forest and Utah Lake State Park both offer campgrounds, and there are RV parks located in Provo and Springville. Utah Lake State Park also offers a full marina, boat launching sites, and beaches to lounge on.

Fishing

Utah Valley is home to some great fishing spots. Payson Lakes, at the south end of the valley, is a beautiful recreation area, centered on three lakes. It's a great picnic spot and a good place to teach the kids how to cast their first lines.

For those who are a little more experienced, Provo River is considered one of the top ten fly-fishing rivers in the United States. You'll find many a flyfisher there on the weekends, fully decked in waders. Some other favorite holes include American Fork Creek, Hobble Creek, and Spanish Fork River.