Previous << Workforce

Trails

Next Private Colleges >>

Go To Churches Climate Community Profiles Senior Centers Amusement Centers Comedy Clubs Dancing Lagoon Liquor Laws Mormons Museums Theater Collegiate Sports Golf Professional Sports Skiing Employers Taxes Workforce Trails Private Colleges Public Colleges Public School Districts Historical Sites Health Departments Newspapers Radio Television

Sundance

Actor, director and producer, Robert Redford fell in love with Sundance in 1969 during the making of the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Since then, the affair has flourished into 6,000-acres of mountain paradise at the base of Mt. Timpanogos in the north fork of Provo Canyon.

Redford built Sundance Village, a romantic enclave that includes a ski resort, award-winning restaurants, an artisan center, conference facilities and 95 guest cottages. Sundance is open year-round. In the winter, guests enjoy skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing and weekend film screenings. In the summer it’s hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, fly-fishing and outdoor theater. Guests may also participate in craft and culinary art workshops presented by fine artisans from around the globe.

Sundance is also the site of Robert Redford’s world famous Sundance Film Festival.

Thanksgiving Point

Alan and Karen Ashton, co-founders of WordPerfect, wanted to give Utah a present, a token of their gratitude for their abundant blessings. So, instead of sending every Utahn a fruitcake in the mail (thank heavens!) they built a 550-acre sanctuary and called it Thanksgiving Point.

Thanksgiving Point, surrounded by an 18-hole championship golf course, is located just off of Interstate 15 smack-dab in the middle between Provo and Salt Lake City. It is a perfect place for a family to spend a Saturday afternoon.

·The Animal Park will be a sure-hit with the kids. They can milk a cow, feed the pigs, pet the rabbits and ride the ponies.

·Thanksgiving Point is home to one of America’s finest display gardens.  Founder Karen Ashton said these gardens are to be for inner healing. The two-mile path includes the Vista Garden, the Rose Garden, the Monet Garden, the Fragrance Garden and the Butterfly Garden.

·A $20 million, 83,000- square-foot dinosaur museum and giant screen movie theater is sure to please everyone.

·A $12 million arts center is in the works and will be built adjacent to the museum. The arts center which will house touring Broadway productions will have five theaters with seating for 1,800, as well as an art gallery and studio and classrooms for art instruction.

Mountain Canyons

Whether you head north or south, east or west from the center of Utah County, you’ll run into a beautiful canyon. Utah County Canyons include:

1.                  American Fork Canyon

2.                  Hobble Creek Canyon

3.                  Provo Canyon

4.                  Spanish Fork Canyon

If you want to camp, fish, hike, bike or enjoy relaxing hot springs, your hardest decision will be deciding which canyon to explore.

Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls has probably witnessed more marriage proposals than any other Utah landmark in Utah County. And how could a woman resist any fellow proposing on bended knee behind this double-cataract waterfall that cascades 607 feet down Provo Canyon?  The waterfall can be viewed from Provo Canyon below or from a turnout on Hwy 189 and is accessible off of the Alpine Loop.

Deer Creek Reservoir

Seven miles southwest of Heber is the Deer Creek Reservoir. With its waters well-stocked with rainbow trout, brown trout, perch, walleye and smallmouth bass, Deer Creek attracts lovers of fishing from all over the state. And because of the swift canyon winds coming from Provo Canyon lovers of sailing and wind surfing flock there as well. You can fish on the shore or on the reservoir and then camp at the numerous campground facilities located in the Deer Creek State Park. (435) 654-0171

Strawberry Reservoir

Utah’s largest trout was caught here in 1930 -- weighing in just under the average super-model at 26.5 pounds. Heavy stocking of Strawberry Reservoir occurs several times a year and includes cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and Kokanee salmon. The Strawberry Reservoir is located 23 miles southeast of Heber on Hwy 40.

Utah Lake State Park

You can fish year-round for channel catfish, walleye, white and black bass and several other species of panfish. And in the summer, Utah’s largest fresh-water lake offers powerboating, sailboating, canoeing, kayaking and water-skiing. In the winter months you can skate on an Olympic-sized rink. The Utah Lake State Park is located five miles west of Provo just off of

I-15.  4400 W Center, Provo (801) 322-3770

Yuba Lake State Park/Mono Reservoir

Located 25 miles south of Nephi is a favorite for fishermen. Yuba Lake is also perfect for ice-fishing and during the hunting season, there’s no better place to find waterfowl. Just north of Nephi near Yuba Lake is the Mono Reservoir and it too is great for camping, fishing, and picnicking.

Alpine Loop Scenic Byway

Circling Mt. Timpanogos is the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway. From the Alpine Loop you have access to such treasures as Bridal Veil Falls, the Heber Valley Historic Railroad, Sundance, Timpanogos Cave National Monument, American Fork and Provo Canyons as well as other trails, like the Cascade Springs Interpretive Trail. The Alpine Loop is closed in the winter.

Hwy 92 at American Fork and Provo, (801) 785-3563

Cascade Springs Interpretive Trail

Accessible from the Alpine Loop or through the Wasatch Mountain State Park in Midway is this Garden of Eden-like trail. It’s mostly flat and most is handicap accessible. You’ll see brooks, aquatic plants and waterfalls with the finale at the natural springs. (801) 785-3563

Jordan River Trail (Bonneville Shoreline Trail)

Eleven miles of this trail which stretches between Brigham City and Nephi are contained in Provo. The trail runs along the Wasatch Mountain foothills.  Great for biking or walking.

Nebo Loop Scenic Byway

This 45-mile paved drive takes you along three lakes and four campgrounds from Payson to Nephi. Off the drive are plenty of hiking and biking trails that lead you to an even closer look at the beauty contained in the Mount Nebo Wilderness. The Byway is open between May and October.  Late September and early October the Byway provides a gorgeous fall-foliage drive.  In the spring, take in the lush green acres painted with wildflowers of every color.

Provo River Parkway Trail

Whether you’re a runner, a biker, an in-line skater, a speed walker or a casual stroller, you have a place on the Provo River Parkway trail. This mostly paved trail is wide enough for two-way traffic and it will carry you 13 miles from Utah Lake, through many Provo city parks, up through the mouth of Provo Canyon, past the beautiful Bridal Veil Falls to end at Vivian Park.

Rock Canyon Trail

From the trail head at 1450 E 2300 North, Provo, this mostly paved trail runs up along Rock Canyon to the Rock Canyon campground where it meets the Squaw Peak Trail. It continues up Dry Fork through Big Springs Park and then connecting to the Great Western Trail. From the trail head the route is 13.5 miles, uphill if heading towards the canyon and downhill if coming from the canyon.

Squaw Peak Trail

Starting at Hwy 189, about seven miles north of Provo is the Squaw Peak trail, connecting Provo Canyon to Hobble Creek Canyon.  Part of the trail is asphalt and the rest is dirt. There is also a 4-wheel drive route following the trail’s path.

Timpanogos Cave National Monument

Tucked away along the foot of Mt. Timpanogos are three limestone caves.  From the 1,065 foot ascending trail you can see the mountains and the canyon below.  Entrance to the caves is about a 1.5 mile hike through American Fork canyon.  The cave is open seasonally between mid-May through mid-October and the visitor’s center is open year-round. For more information call (801) 756-5238.