The Devil's Kitchen

In honor of National Trails Day, coming up on Saturday, June 4, this week I'll be sharing 5 of my favorite Utah hikes.  Please feel welcome to share some yours with me!

Devil's Kitchen

(Bryce Canyon Micro-sized!)

Want to to be surrounded by stunningly odd wilderness without getting dirty, being tired, or spending an entire day to get there? The Devil's Kitchen is the hike for you!

Located on the Payson Canyon end of the the Nebo Loop scenic byway, the drive to Devil's Kitchen is beautiful and green with evergreen and aspen forests and rocky mountain vistas.  Pulling off the road into the parking lot for this 1/2 mile round-trip hike you'll feel like you're not really seeing anything new.  Walk a few minutes down the smooth asphalt trail, though, and prepare for your mouth to gape wide open!  Buried in the middle of this section of the Wasatch mountain range are red-rock spires you'd only expect to see in southern Utah. With a fenced outlook at the end of the trail it's easy to stand still and take in the bewildering 360-degree view. And the view truly is bewildering!

For the more adventurous wanderer, a single-track footpath branches off the maintained trail and veers down the side of the mountain.  And once you've seen what it is you came to see, the short walk back to the parking lot is not going to leave you winded.  Different wildflowers bloom throughout spring, summer, and fall and there are picnic tables terraced in near the trailhead to give you a little more out there surrounded in beauty.

Directions and Information:

Take I-15 to the Payson Exit, Exit 250 and turn east under the freeway.  Drive approximately 1-mile to the 1st stoplight at 100 N Main and turn left.  Again drive approximately 1-mile to the next stoplight and turn right onto Peteetnet Boulevard (after the turn you should be driving along the north side of Peteetneet Academy).  Follow this road into the mountains, and watch for signs directing you the rest of the way.  

The Nebo Loop Road holds many more views and adventures if you'd like to spend a day or a weekend.  You can choose to return home the same way you came or continue on the Nebo Loop Road until it brings you back to I-15 near Santaquin.  

MapSource- http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2012/travel.html

Another Waterfall Adventure

In honor of National Trails Day, coming up on Saturday, June 4, this week I'll be sharing 5 of my favorite Utah hikes.  Please feel welcome to share some yours with me!

Stewart Falls

It seems fitting that since my husband and I met and got engaged at a waterfall (in Alaska, but still a waterfall), we should continue making waterfall memories.  While my 5 hikes this week are not all going to conclude with a cascading flow of water, today I am going to share another of my favorite Utah waterfall hikes. (Be sure to see yesterday's post on the Battlecreek Trail)

Last summer my husband nonchalantly informed me he wanted to take our two young boys toTimpenooke and Emerald Lake.  Only later did I translate what he was actually saying as, "I think we should drag ourselves and our little boys that mostly need carried 11,000 feet up to the top of Mt. Timpanogos."  Before being tricked into that one, I convinced him perhaps we should try a slightly shorter hike to see how far our little ones could make it.  (We are actively searching for a backpack that will carry a 3-year-old's weight, but can't convince ourselves it's worth the cost since he really does like walking.)

That is how we found ourselves on the relatively short (4 miles roundtrip and rated as "easy to moderate")  hike to Stewart Falls.  It was a BEAUTIFUL trek through wooded mountainsides.  Even in the height of Utah's dry summer season the trail was lush and green with wildflowers blooming everywhere.  It rivaled many of the hikes I've been on in the midwest and eastern states.  

Part of what makes the Stewart Falls Hike great is the fact that it is a relatively flat walk.  The initial ascent from the parking lot is steep and the eventual descent down to the waterfalls is tricky, but the 4-mile round-trip adventure really is quite relaxing.  Whether hiking with children or not, there are many areas perfectly suited for resting, snacking, and scenic gazing.  

The falls themselves are amazing!  You can hear them before you see them and the air temperature drops refreshingly just at the point when you really need it.  Be amazed as the triple-tier of cascading water comes into view, and then remember to follow the trail down and to the left.  We followed a group of teenagers to the right and discovered they were sliding down a scree field.  Not the safest way to go.  

My one piece of advice is this:  Plan to linger and enjoy your time at Stewart Falls.  There's no reason to rush along the way and you'll want time to cool down and replenish before making the journey back to your car.  Bring a lunch, dip your feet in the ice cold snowmelt stream, and enjoy being in one of the most beautiful places Utah has to offer.

Directions and information:

The Stewart Falls trailhead is on the Sundance end of the Alpine Loop.  Driving through Provo Canyon, follow the signs to Sundance, continue past the resort and BYU's Aspen Grove facility.  Just before coming to the Alpine Loop fee booth you will see a parking lot on the left of the road.  This is where the trail begins.  (You will have to pay the small Alpine loop fee-we tried to avoid it by parking on the side of the road and got a ticket).  

Several different trails begin from this parking lot so be sure to read and follow the signs.  Once you're on the right trail you'll be on your way.  

It is also possible to hike to Stewart Falls from the Sundance Resort.  The hike will start at the top of Ray's Lift and be more of an uphill, then downhill hike than from the trailhead I've described above.  Check out the Sundance website for more information on that alternative.

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Let's Get Hiking

In honor of National Trails Day, coming up on Saturday, June 4, this week I'll be sharing 5 of my favorite Utah hikes.  Please feel welcome to share some yours with me!

Battle Creek Trail

 I discovered the Battle Creek Trail last summer on an excursion with my family to hike to the "G" high up on the Pleasant Grove mountainside.  With no indication which of 3 or 4 trails went where, we chose the path most traveled and headed up, not to the "G", but instead to an impressive 50' waterfall.  It ended up being a rewarding decision!

The hike itself is only about a mile up into the mountains.  On the way it follows a little stream with a reservoir for rocking throwing, a bridge for swinging your feet, and a cave for curious toddlers.  A short, steep side trail takes you down to the waterfall and I'm certain it's 10-degrees cooler once you've settled in, making it a refreshing destination in the heat of summer. (At this point you can also choose to continue on the original trail to get views of the waterfall from above or connect up with a bigger system of trails.) 

It would be easy to spend half a day at the Battlecreek waterfall!  Pack a picnic lunch and book.  Let the kids get wet.  The times I've been there the water hasn't been pooled too deeply at the base and the stream quietly gurgles away.  There is plenty of space to spread out and find a quiet place of your own, and plenty of fallen or bending trees naturally arranged for comfy seating.

The Battlecreek Trail and waterfall are a perfect example of the beautiful Utah resources we have available close to home.  Head up there and let me know how it goes!

Directions and Information:
The Battle Creek Trailhead is located appropriately at the top of Battle Creek Drive, or E 200 S, in Pleasant Grove.  The road ends in a parking lot for Kiwanis Park.  A small bridge crosses a creek on the north end of the parking lot, and the Battlecreek Trailhead branches off to the right before you cross that bridge.

Also, as of today I have not been up to the waterfall yet this spring.  With melting snow and recent rainfall, the waterfall and streams may be running faster than in the times I have been there later in the year.

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Welcome and Getting Started

"If I can provide the information that gets just one person off the couch 

and out the door, then I will have been a success."

I fell in love with Utah shortly after moving here 9 years ago.  With the central location of Utah County as my jumping off point, I've explored and discovered some of the most amazing creations. 

I love the diversity of locations and attractions from Northern Utah to Southern Utah!  Whether you're sunning on Bear Lake, hiking and biking on the many mountain trails, or standing in awe of the beautiful red rock vistas there is something here for everyone.  

Close to home there is a plethora of activity as well.  We live in a unique culture where children's activities are often offered for free or close to free.  Every town has it's own week-long festival and celebration offering unique opportunities to get out and enjoy being part of a community.  And if there's an activity you've itching to try, I can almost guarantee you can find it here somewhere!

So come along with me as I share my favorite excursions and activities!  From time to time I'll rotate between the many topics you see listed in pages at the top of this blog, including:

   ~Getting Outdoors: Hiking, Biking, Camping, Swimming, Disc Golf, Fishing, and more

   ~Festivals & Celebrations: Highlights of upcoming parties as well as photos and commentary as they go on.

   ~On-Going Activities: Storytimes, Library presentations, Rec Center Programs, Etc

On the left of this page you'll see a list of activities going on this week and next.  It'll always be changing, so check back often.  

I'll be posting regularly the activities that my family and I have in the works.  We're always looking for adventuresome companions and would love to have you come along! 

And, please, feel free to share your experiences and favorite activities!  Where do you hike and bike?  Have you found a great picnic park or know of an activity coming up that everyone should know about?  In the future I will be looking for contributing writers and would love to share your Utah photos and videos.  Send your information anytime to:

alocalwander@gmail.com

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