6 Outdoor Experiences in Northern Utah
- Posted on June 30, 2016
Whether you’ve been here for a while, just moving in, just visiting, or thinking of making northern Utah your home, make sure you check out these must-see places to witness nature at its finest.
Our beautiful area has landscapes and experiences you just can’t find anywhere else.
Here are six of our favorites:
Timpanogos Cave
Rising high above Utah Valley, Mount Timpanogos is a spectacular site on its own. But inside, it’s a completely different kind of stunning. From May to October, you can take a guided tour of Timpanogos Cave National Monument and see this incredible cave system. For accessibility, you’ll find a wide paved path that takes you the 1,000 feet up to the entrance.
Tip: The caves are popular, so they recommend you make reservations in advance to ensure you can get in when you want to.
Bear Lake
Nestled high up in Logan Canyon, Bear Lake is a must for anyone who loves playing in the water. It’s family friendly with beach areas, calm waters, and more than enough space for sailing, boating, fishing, jetskiing, and more (after all, the lake is 20 miles long).
Tip: Cache Valley is known for its raspberries, so don’t forget to grab a raspberry milkshake while you’re in town. If you’re there in August, don’t miss the raspberry festival!
Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest
This national forest includes picturesque lakes nestled in woods and mountains that looked like they were designed for postcards. It’s a fantastic area for hiking, canoeing, biking, and camping.
Antelope Island
Located in the Great Salt Lake itself, Antelope Island is easily accessible by car and worth driving around even if you don’t get out to enjoy the visitor’s center, beaches, and hiking/biking trails. Because even from your car, you’ll probably be able to see the bison the island is famous for.
Wildlife is the main draw, and it isn’t just the bison, either. Pronghorn antelope, mule deer, hare, and coyotes all live on the small island.
Bonneville Salt Flats
This impressive (and flat) stretch of land is simply like no other. Like a permanent snow cover, the white salt that covers the ground was left behind by the ancient Lake Bonneville. Now, it’s frequently used for filming and racing. It’s such a strange place that you simply have to see it for yourself.
Tip: Make sure you stay on the roads. Don’t try to recreate the car commercials you’ve probably seen that were filmed here—much of the salt flats is dangerous for driving, and it’s an environmentally protected area.
Big Cottonwood Canyon
Unlike some canyons, you can take a scenic drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon from Salt Lake any time of year. The views are worth the drive, and worth the hike—you can see even more if you stop for a picnic and hike on one of the many canyon trails through evergreens and aspens.
There are mountain biking trails and rock climbing areas, too, for those with the experience and equipment.