Walk, Run, Ride or Play

One of my favorite things to do on a summer evening (or even a summer day) is to ride my bike along the Jordan River Parkway Trail.

The Jordan River Parkway trail is a wonderful place to go for a walk, run or to ride a bike. All along the trail are various parks, maintained by the different cities the trail passes through. Many of these parks have playgrounds, restrooms, and drinking fountains, and most are also trailheads, places where you can park your car and enter the trail going in either direction.

The trail will eventually be a paved, mixed use trail that parallels the Jordan River from Utah Lake in the south, to the Great Salt Lake on the north- about a 40 mile route. It also is, or will be connected to other trails such as the Provo River Trail, the Legacy Parkway Trail, and the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.

The longest completed section of paved trail runs from just south of North Temple and goes south to 7800 South to Gardner village. The paved portion of the trail does run a bit further south, to around 9000 South, but the trail has not been completed and it dumps you off onto 700 West in the Midvale/Sandy area. The trail from 7800 South to about North Temple has plenty to do and see, including several nature preserves and the International Peace Gardens.

So you don't have to attempt to cross major streets, tunnels or bridges have been built to help you safely across, although there are a few minor, quiet streets that you will need to cross in a cross-walk.

How do you get there? Drive along nearly any major or minor east-west streets to the Jordan River and look for the signs announcing parks or trailheads. Most are easy to find.

The trail is open from sunrise to sunset. It is an easy walk or bike for the entire family (my 8 year old son made a seven mile round trip ride along the trail last year). Don't go too fast- for courtesy's sake as well as for the fact that if you do, you are guaranteed to miss some amazing things in this urban retreat.

Hint: The Nature Center of Murray is between 5400 South and 4800 South and is the second largest designated wetland on the trail. It is home to hundreds of birds, a few dozen species, and there are plaques within the Nature Center to help you identify them.

An Island in the Middle of the Desert

One of the places that I've taken my kids more than any other seems to be an anomaly when living on the deserts edge- an island in the middle of an ocean-like lake.

Antelope Island is the largest island of the eight on the Great Salt Lake. You access the island by driving out on a 7 mile long causeway that gives the impression of flying low across the water. You enter the island at the northern tip and immediately see a small marina where boat owners dock while not sailing the lake (yes, you can sail on the Great Salt Lake).

There is a road system on the island that gets you to the major points of interest, but by and large the island is free of roads, particularly at the southern end of the island, where there is even a dearth of hiking trails.

One of the first stops to make is the visitors center that you see sitting atop a hill above the entrance to the island. The visitors center has information and exhibits about the history, geology and habitat of the island. Get a sense of the island at the visitors center, ask state park rangers any questions you might have, get your bearings and decide what to see.

One of the most interesting drives is along the east coast of the island, south to the Fielding Garr Ranch. The ranch house is the oldest continuously occupied house in the state of Utah and the oldest house on its original foundation. There are activities going on quite often at the ranch. My kids loved learning how to dip candles. Check the events schedules to know when things are going on.

On your drive down to the ranch, keep an eye out for the herd of roaming bison. About 500 live on the island and graze in the open rangeland most of the year. Once a year they are rounded up and brought to the corral for checkups and thinning the herd.

There are several trails on the island for hiking or biking. Some are shorter than a mile and the longest ones run about 7 1/2 miles. Two of my favorites are the short, Buffalo Point trail at the north end of the island and the slightly longer Frary's Peak trail. The trail to Buffalo Point is less than 1/2 mile long and is a fun hike for kids and adults alike. From there you get a great view of the lake looking north. The Frary's Peak trail is a bit longer at 3 1/4 miles, but takes you to the tallest peak on the island. It is a bit steeper than the Buffalo Point trail, but my kids still were able to hike it with a few stops along the way.

Camelbak Backpacks: Free Shipping

If you're hot and tired after a hike, head down to Bridger Bay, a developed beach with campgrounds nearby. Take a dip in the lake, but be warned. With low lake levels, the water has not been close to the white sandy beach for a while and it may take a short trek to get to the water's edge. Also, once you get to the water, you will need to make your way through a swarm of brine flies, but once past them, the lake is is fun to play in and is shallow enough for the littlest of kids. If you want a little deeper water, just walk out a little further. Once you are done in the water, head back to the beach and shower off- unless you want to be encrusted in salt when you dry off.

My advice, when heading out to see attractions around the state is always to bring food and drinks with you- it's cheaper that way. But, Antelope Island does have concessions, and the one thing you may want to try is a buffalo burger, just to say you did.

There is no end to adventure on Antelope Island, so be prepared to spend an entire day, and like myself and my family, make follow up trips to go where you didn't get to go on your first trip to the island.

Place: Antelope Island State Park
Location: Take Exit 332 off Interstate 15, then drive west on Antelope Drive to the park entrance.
Phone: 801.773.2941
Hours: May through September: 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. / November through February: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. / March: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. / April: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. / October: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visitor Center and Fielding Garr Ranch Hours: September 15 to April 14: 9a.m. to 5 p.m. / April 15 to September 14: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost: $9.00 per car


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Distance from:
Salt Lake City: 40.2 miles
Ogden: 24.8 miles
Provo: 81.8 miles
Logan: 69.5 miles

Bridal Veil Falls- Walk, Hike and Picnic

The first time I ever went to Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon, I don't remember seeing the waterfall. How could I miss it? It's right there, bigger than life, in your face and hard to miss. I was more than fascinated with the aerial tram that climbed its way from the side of the Provo River to a location high above the falls on the top of sheer cliffs. The tram, often cited by locals as the steepest aerial tramway in the world, was amazing to watch- and I wouldn't go anywhere near it as I'm afraid of heights.

The tram was destroyed in an avalanche in 1996 and for a while after that, the area became kind of junky, vandalized and only a place for a short stop to see the falls on the way through the canyon.

Recently, I was back at Bridal Veil Falls again. The tram has not been rebuilt, but the entire area around it has. There is a park with picnic and barbecuing areas with plenty of parking (in a couple of parking lots). Lots of trees surround the grassy picnic areas, but it is open enough to toss around a Frisbee or a football. The park is set right next to the Provo River and it is just a short walk up the paved Provo River Parkway Trail to Bridal Veil Falls.

The Falls are impressive. The water comes from a year round spring the flows over the edge of the cliff and falls over 600 feet through a double cascade. The water expands from a narrow point at the top of the falls to a wide, lacy veil. Thus, Bridal Veil Falls gets its name.

At the bottom of the Falls is a small shallow pool that people love to play in. Just a bit further up the paved Parkway Trail is a dirt trail that takes you right up to the base of the lower cascade. It is a steep, but fairly short hike that most people can make in a matter of 10-15 minutes. You get a great view of the canyon and river below.

There is a separate trail that goes up to the top of the falls, but it is a steep and difficult climb and should not be attempted unless you are a serious hiker or climber.

The Provo River Parkway Trail that runs through the park and past the base of the falls is a 14 mile long paved trail that runs from Utah Lake to Vivian Park in Provo Canyon. This is a great place for walking, jogging and bicycling.

Take an afternoon and enjoy Bridal Veil Falls.

Place: Bridal Veil Falls
Location: About 2 1/2 miles up Provo Canyon on Highway 189 on south side of the road.
Phone: None
Hours: Provo River Parkway Trail is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Cost: FREE


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Distance from:
Salt Lake City: 45.8 miles
Ogden: 81.2 miles
Provo: 10.8 miles
Logan: 126 miles