Mehraban Wetlands Park

Draper’s Mehraban Wetlands Park offers visitors up to a mile of walking opportunities on paved and gravel paths through a natural wetland environment. In addition to lush wetland vegetation the park also features two large ponds that are popular with fisherman and nature lovers alike. The entire trail is either paved or packed gravel and is suitable for children and adults of all abilities.

Trailhead

Mehraban Wetlands Park is located at 898 E. Riparian Drive in Draper, Utah. To reach the park from I-15:

1. Take Exit 292 for 11400 South.
2. Turn east onto 11400 South and continue 1.7 miles.
3. Turn right onto 1000 East and continue 0.5 miles.
4. Turn right onto Riparian Dr., and continue 0.2 miles to the parking area on the left (40.536410, -111.866495).

The Route

From the parking area, begin hiking on the paved path heading into the wetlands. The path circles around the south end of the park before arriving at a junction. To the left is a trail that accesses two small ponds while continuing straight leads to the north end of the park on Willow Wood Dr.

Turn left at the junction and continue walking to the first of two ponds in the park. A gravel path follows the perimeter of the first pond. Several park benches and a dock are available. Just beyond the first pond, cross a wooden bridge before arriving at the larger of the two ponds known as Sunset Pond where another dock and park benches offer visitors a place to sit and take in the scenery.

Return the way you came. Total hiking distance is variable depending on the route you choose, but it is easy to walk up to 1 mile by following the various trails throughout the park.

Rules and Regulations

• Dogs allowed on leash.
• Clean up after pets.
• No littering.
• No smoking or open flames.
• Stay on designated trails.
• Park closes at 10 p.m. daily.

Logan canyon sites

Here's what and where in Logan Canyon - starting from the west side (Logan) and going to the east (Bear Lake side). There are obviously more things to do/see than are listed here, but these are things that caught my eye. (There's not room to list everything anyway.) This long list should convince you to never complain about that "long" canyon road again. In fact, just knowing what's in the canyon and where it has made the drive seem a lot shorter for me.

All mileage should be considerd approximate with the Lady Bird rest stop being the starting point. R.S. and L.S. are abbreviations for right and left side road locations.(Some non-tourist locations are listed as reference points only.) - Lynn Arave

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1. Lady Bird rest stop (0 miles, R.S.) Clean restrooms, a nice water fountain, a bird's-eye view of the River Heights area of Logan and a smart pre-canyon stop if you've already driven a long way.

2. First Dam (.5 miles, R.S.) Small park and fishing.

3. Hydro Park (.5 miles, L.S.) Small park.

4. Logan canal. (1.8 miles, L.S.) The most popular entry point for tubing participants. (Starts near a green pipe.) The ride is slow out of the canyon, and the water is very cold, but the canal is open with no tunnels to go through.

5. Second Dam (2.5 miles, R.S.) Fishing.

6. Logan City power plant (2.6 miles, R.S.).

7. Xanadu Lodge (3.0, R.S.) This historic structure was converted to a restaurant but is now up for sale and not in use.

8. Bridger Campground (3.3 miles, R.S.) A great lower elevation/early season (May-October) site for picnics or camping (11 units) at 5,000 feet above sea level. (Some summer homes are close by, too.)

9. Geological sign (4.0 miles, L.S.) Tells about ancient Lake Bonneville and points out the old lake's shoreline across the canyon in the Spring Hollow area.

10. Third Dam (4.0, R.S.) Fishing.

11. Spring Hollow Campground Area (4.4 miles, R.S.) Camping (16 units)/picnic area. Fishing is very popular off the narrow bridge at the entrance.

The three-mile Crimson Trail starts in this area and continues along some steep cliffs, ending near the amphitheatre in the Malibu-Guinavah campround (located a mile up the canyon).

Several other nearby trailheads lead on long hikes to Logan Peak, Providence Canyon and Millville Canyon.

12. Logan City drinking water supply (5.0 miles, R.S.). Just a clearing with visible concrete sections, but it's a good parking place for Wind Cave trail hikers.

13. Wind Cave (5.0 miles, L.S.) This cave, high above the canyon floor, can be seen from the DeWitt Campground. A rugged 1.5-mile trail, improved in 1977, provides access. The cave is actually a triple arch, part of the "China Wall" rock formation, a cavernous rock formed by wind and water erosion.

The Wind Cave trail continues on to North Logan, to Green Canyon or Mount Jardine.

14. DeWitt Campground (5.0 miles, R.S.) Has camping (five units) and picnic facilities, too. At 5,200 feet above sea level, the sign for this campground was taken by vandals. Only the two support posts remain.

15. Malibu-Guinavah Campground (5.3 miles, R.S.). This is the MOST heavily used lower-elevation camping area. It has 48 units. It also contains an amphitheatre, picnic areas and hiking access.

16. Brown's Roll Off Picnic Area (6.8 miles, R.S.) has three picnic-only areas.

17. Card Picnic Area (7.1 miles, R.S.) has two picnic units at 5,400-foot elevation.

18. Card Canyon (7.3 miles, R.S.) A dirt road that leads to Canyon Spring and also a trailhead to Blacksmith Fork Canyon.

19. Card Ranger Station (7.3 miles, L.S.) is an old station where two rangers live. (The station is NOT continually manned.)

20. Pine Bluffs summer home area (7.7 miles, R.S.)

21. Chokecherry Picnic Area (7.8 miles, R.S.) Three picnic sites at 5,400-foot elevation.

22. Preston Valley Campground (8.2 miles, R.S.) Has nine campground-picnic areas.

23. Geological sign (8.9 miles, L.S.) Describes the "fucoidal quartzite" found to the left of the sign - a 400 million-year-old seaweedlike structure left by ancient marine worms.

24. Right Fork (9.2 miles, R.S.) No. "047" road (this number corresponds to Forest Service Maps). A paved road leads past "Tea Pot" Rock. This rock formation is about one-half mile off the main highway and can be found by looking through a "spotting scope" on the right side. The "Lion's Head" rock formation is reportedly in this same area but is not easily found.

The road forks after another half-mile and neither fork is paved. The No. 055 road dead ends quickly, while No. 047 heads past a girls' camp and also "Lodge Campground" (10 units). It then travels to Crowley Canyon and eventually leads to Blacksmith Fork Canyon (10 miles) and Temple Fork access.

There are many hiking trails and other dirt roads in this area, also a popular snowmobiling location.

"Old Ephraim's Grave," a 4.5 ton native stone (9 feet 11 inches tall), marking the final resting spot of one of the biggest grizzly bears ever, is also found along an unpaved side road between Logan and Blacksmith Fork canyons.

Ephraim roamed the area for many years killing cattle, sheep and wildlife until he was shot by Frank Clark of Malad, Idaho, in August 1923.

The marker represents the bear's true height, but his actual weight was believed to be 1,100 pounds. (The bear's skull is found in the Smithsonian Institiute.)

The grave marker was erected by Logan area Boy Scouts in 1966 and includes a poem about the infamous bear.

Portions of the road are packed with clay and so caution is advised in wet weather.

25. China Row Campround (10.0 miles, R.S.) Four camping/picnic areas at 5,600 feet above sea level.

26. Wood Camp (10.2 miles, L.S.) Is found to the right of the Juniper Jardine Road and only a few hundred yards off the Logan Canyon Highway. Has six camping-picnic units.

27. Juniper Jardine Trailhead (10.3 miles, L.S.) Take the middle fork dirt road that goes 100 yards past Wood Camp and leads to an unmarked trailhead with a horse loading area.

A rugged 1.5-mile-long hike starts here that zigzags up 2,000 vertical feet to the great, 3,200-year-old "Juniper Jardine" - believed to be the oldest and largest of its kind. It was discovered in 1923. It is named for William T. Jardine, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (1925-29) and a Utah State graduate. It's more than 44 feet high and almost 27 feet wide.

(The trail to the tree can be difficult to follow and confusing side trails lead to Tony Grove, not the tree!)

28. Logan Cave (11.9 miles, L.S.) A deep, 2,000-foot-long cavern that can just barely be seen from the highway. Parking is a real problem, with sites available for only two cars on the right side of the road (across where the cave's water output crosses the road) and one car spot on the left across from the cave itself. (More parking is available 300 yards up the canyon on the left side near a small bridge.)

The Forest Service is aware of the cave's parking problem and is awaiting the outcome of proposed improvements for U.S. 89 prior to any work being done.

The cave entrance can be seen from the highway. It's a 150-yard hike (50-foot climb) to the cave entrance. The cave itself varies from 5-10 feet wide with a ceiling height between 30 and 100 feet. It has three levels and in normal water years has a stream flowing out of it that can be knee-deep in spots. (It was dry at the cave entrance last summer.)

The cave was formed by the seepage of water through limestone and has a year-round temperature of about 50 degrees.

Allow five hours for a round trip to all three cave levels. The walk is not smooth. There are many big boulders to cross over or slide by.

Most geological features in the cave have been destroyed by vandals, and litter and graffiti have been cave problems too.

29. Temple Fork (14.9 miles, R.S.) is a dirt road (No. 007) named after pioneers got wood from here to help build the Logan LDS Temple. The road is almost exactly halfway up the canyon and is good enough in the summer for an average car. It leads to the Temple Springs trailhead, to "Chicken Guzzler" and "Mud Flat" and connects with Right Fork road and also Blacksmith Fork Canyon. A good snowmobile area, too.

30. "The Dugway" (13.2 miles, L.S.) Referred to by many the spot in the canyon where the Logan River flows more than 100 feet below the road. The highway is steep and narrow in this stretch, too.

31. Ricks Spring (15.4 miles, L.S.) There's no sign here thanks to vandalism. There's also no drinking water or restroom, but it's still a pretty midcanyon stop with a small cavern.

However, Ricks Spring is NOT really a spring. It is mainly a diversion of the Logan River with a little mountain snowmelt mixed in.

The Forest Service hopes to develop this area in the future as more of a tourist attraction.

32. First cattleguard (17.1 miles). Speed limit also increases from 35 to 55.

33. Utah State Management Development Center (9.5 miles, R.S.)

34. Tony Grove Side Road (19.2 miles, L.S.) A 7-mile paved but winding road that climbs 2,300 feet (and passes through several cattle grazing areas) to beautiful Tony Grove Lake (8,100-foot elevation) and a very busy campground (36 units).

The road en route passes by a fork to the USU Forestry Field Station and also to the Lewis M. Turner Campground (10 units).

Tony Grove is only open July-September. It is also a popular snowmobile area.

There are several small caves above the lake and trailheads lead to the Mount Naomi Peak Wilderness Area, to Smithfield and even to Franklin, Idaho, as well as many other Logan Canyon locations.

35. Red Banks Campground (20.2, L.S.)

36. Second cattle guard (20.8 miles).

37. Beaver Mountain Ski Road Junction (24.2 miles, L.S.) No. 110 road goes to the ski resort and also connects with the Sink Hollow dirt road and Beaver Creek Road.

38. Dirt roads (24.2 miles, R.S.) Stump Hollow, Amazon Hollow and North Sink dirt roads. (Crosses some private land.)

39. Dirt road (27.9 miles, R.S.) Leads to Middle Sink. Also snowmobile area. (Also, a UDOT storage shed, yard, L.S.)

40. Middle Sink (29.7 miles, L.S.) Popular snowmobile area.

41. Bear Lake Summit sign (30.2 miles, L.S.) is at 7,800-foot elevation and marks the entrance into Rich County.

42. Lumberpine Trailhead (30.3 miles, R.S.) is usable from July-September with plenty of parking and restrooms available. Has a 12-station, 30-minute, loop nature/forest walk. Pick up a pamphlet at the start of the trail on the right-hand side. Trail returns on the left side.

43. Sunrise Campground (31.0 miles, R.S.) Has 27 units and is heavily used all summer.

44. Bear Lake Overlook (31.1 miles, R.S.) A loop turnoff that offers the first bird's-eye views of Bear Lake from a 7,568-foot meadow. Good parking with new signs that explain the history and geology of the lake.

45. Bear Lake, (37.1) about 5,900-foot elevation. This lake is almost 20 miles long, from 4 to 8 miles in width and is as much as 208 feet deep on the east side. Half the lake in Utah.

Utah has Rendezvous State Park Beach on the south end, just past the rest stop, while Idaho has North Beach State Park.

Great for fishing, boating and swimming. The lake contains "cisco" fish, found nowhere else in the world.

Here is a link to a map of hikes in Logan Canyon.

Cedar Canyon Nature Park

CEDAR CANYON NATURE PARK

In October 2000, Rocky Mountain Power/Pacificorp donated 22.6 majestic canyon acres in Cedar City, Utah to create a permanent wildlife rescue facility and nature park.
Nestled between beautiful red sandstone mountains, our goal is to provide a public educational facility dedicated to the environments’ represented by the Colorado Plateau and the Great Basin. The Cedar Canyon Nature Park sits on the transition point between the two unique ecosystems.
This site is the historical site of Southern Utah Power Co. which was built in 1952. Coal Creek flows through the center of the property year-round and includes a waterfall built by the CCC in the 1930’s.

Walking/Biking path

Campfire Concerts In the Canyon

In the spring of 2003 a paved walking and bicycle trail was built through this property with matching funds from Utah Division of Parks and Recreation and Cedar city, connecting the 23-acre nature park area to the city’s existing trail system.
Boy Scouts from Utah and Nevada have worked on a number of projects, including rehabilitation chambers, trail improvements, signs and a campfire program area. Each summer the SWF property is host to a free Campfire Concert in the Canyon series showcasing the Nature Park property and local musical talent in Southern Utah.

In 2012 over 320 volunteers hours accompanied $15,500 Cedar City RAP taxes and $10,000 George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation along with many other donations to build and install a 96’ long pedestrian bridge crossing Coal Creek connecting the Cedar Canyon Nature Park trailhead to the existing trail system.
We are currently working on fundraising for Phase VI: The construction of an Information Destination and ADA public restroom facilities. The location is planned along the existing city trail just south of our footbridge and west of our campfire program area. Projected construction planned for 2015/ 2016; for more information on this project coming soon.
We are happy to announce that our first $100,000 has been pledged for a Visitors Center which will begin upon completion of our Information Destination and ADA Public Restrooms facility. We are continuing to seek funding for both projects. If you would like to make a donation

Wood’s Ranch Recreation Area & Kids Pond

Open late May through September. Located 12 miles east of Cedar City on Hwy- 14. Two pavilions are available for groups. A nice area for picnics, volleyball and hiking (Virgin River Rim Trailhead). The Kids Pond is available to kids 12 and under for free and must be accompanied by an adult with a valid Utah fishing license.

Park Discovery

On a hill just above Cedar City stands an assembly of wooden towers, mazes, slides, dinosaur digs, play volcanoes and rocket ships. This is Park Discovery, a fun, educational place where kids of all ages can learn and play. Concepts from over 4,000 local kids where integrated into the design concept of the park. Along with educational play elements, there’s an outdoor classroom, stage area, a separate play area for toddlers, handicap accessible ramps and swings and a ¾ paved walking trail that surrounds the park.  To get to Park Discovery head west on Cross Hollow Road (I-15 Exit #57) to Royal Hunte Dr., turn right and go all the way to the top of the hill.  On the left hand side you will see the Park Discovery next to the Iron County School District building.  Park Discovery is open year round, weather permitting, every day from sun up to sun down.  FREE. For more information call (435) 865-9223.

Neptune Park in Saratoga Springs

Last week at a church meeting, everyone was talking about a new park in Saratoga Springs called Neptune Park. Well, I had to find out more about this park, so when I got home I looked it up and found out that the grand opening was the next day (end of April).  Unfortunately, we have been running around with a million things to do the past few weeks, so we didn’t have a chance to go. Until TODAY!

We headed out to the new Neptune Park. It was very nice. Everything is brand new and there are lots of fun toys for the children to play on. It’s distinctive feature is a huge pyramid built with ropes for the children to climb up and down.

There is an area for little children and more toys by the pyramid for older children. A lot of the toys are for spinning around so my boys spent most of our time at the park dizzy, but they didn’t seem to mind. There is also a pavilion, bathrooms (yea!), basketball courts with all different heights, a huge field, and a stage. We spent about an hour, and would have stayed longer, but it was so windy and we were hungry. My boys said they loved this park. So I will have to give it a great rating. We will definitely be heading to Neptune Park again.

This also has the light playground, fun for kids in the dark!

To get to Neptune Park, take Pioneer Crossing toward Saratoga Springs (west). Turn South (left) on Redwood Road. Take 1st right on 400 North. The park is about 1/2 mile down the road, across the street from Lakeview Academy. You can’t miss it!

Highland Glen Park

Highland Glen Park is a huge park right next to Lone Peak High School in Highland. We recently went to check out the park and found a lot of things to do there. There is a playground, a pavilion, a beach volleyball court, and a large pond. You are allowed to swim in the pond, but remember there are no lifeguards. There were quite a few people fishing on the pond, and when we left there were a bunch of people showing up with small boats to launch. We spent some time wading in the pond and feeding the ducks.

The beach is tons of fun for the kids.

There are trails wandering all over the park. In fact, there is access to a larger trail system known as Murdock Canal Trail. We took the short trail around the pond. As you follow the shady trail, you come across different platforms to walk out onto and see the ducks and fish. There were quite a few trails that branched off into the wood that you could spend lots of time exploring. We saw a few people on bikes exploring these trails. There are also plenty of benches along the trail for those people who need a short break.

Highland Glen Park has bathrooms and lots of grass. We didn’t bring a picnic, but we will next time. This park is a great place to spend a few hours.

Nielsen’s Grove Park in Orem

We found a new fun park this week. Nielsen’s Grove Park is in south Orem behind the Wal-Mart on University Parkway. This park has huge grassy areas–perfect for picnics. My boys commented that there was plenty of room to play a baseball game, and I agreed. They had a playground and a duck pond, which was really the highlight of the trip. Fortunately, I knew about the duck pond beforehand so I came prepared with a few hot dog buns. We spent a lot of time by the pond just watching the ducks (lots of babies), and the fish.

We walked around the park following the pathways. There are little pavilions with ivy for shade, as well as a fountain for looking at, not playing in. We also came across a huge swing that spun around like a carousel. There are only three swings available on the carousel swing, but it looked like a lot of fun. There are bathrooms and water fountains, which is always a plus at the local park. We really enjoyed this new park and my boys can’t wait to take dad back sometime.

To find Nielsen’s Grove Park, take University Parkway in Orem and head east. Turn right (south) onto Sandhill Road–this road is the first light after you exit the freeway. The park will be on your left around 2000 South Sandhill Road.

Heritage Park in Cedar Hills

We found a new amazing park yesterday. Heritage Park in Cedar Hills has a lot of fun things to do. First of all, there are huge shady trees. I love that! So many parks have no shade, but this park had plenty of great places to throw down a blanket in the shade.
The playground was a little small, but my boys had fun on it for awhile. There was a huge pavilion which would be nice for a family lunch, or even party.

The best part was a small creek running through the park. It was about ankle deep on my 4 year-old and safe enough to play in. The water was moving, so you could lose a toy downstream, but it wasn’t fast enough to worry about. It was also freezing, but that didn’t stop my adventurous boys from playing in the creek for about an hour. The bottom of the creek is lined with rocks, so there was plenty of rock throwing. One of our friends had brought some water guns which provided lots of entertainment, and I made a note to take some next time we went. We will definitely visit this park again with water guns and swimsuits! Make sure to keep an eye on your kids even in this shallow water.

Directions: Heritage Park is located at 4425 W. Cedar Hills Drive in Cedar Hills. If you can find Lone Peak High, then you can find this park. Take North County Blvd (aka 1100 North in American Fork or 2000 W in Pleasant Grove or 4800 W in Highland) north toward Highland/Alpine or if you are coming from the Alpine Highway, head south. Head east on Cedar Hills Drive (you’ll see a Wal-Mart). The park is about 1/2 mile on your right.

Bicentennial Park in Provo

Bicentennial Park in Provo is a beautiful hidden gem. It is only about 5 minutes from the 1-15, but you feel like you are tucked away in the mountains. We spent a full morning exploring this park before we got rained out. And my 3-year old didn’t want to leave even though it was raining! That makes this park a definite winner.

Bicentennial Park has a fun playground. There were some unique things to climb and explore. That makes the park perfect for big and small children! Our youngest couldn’t climb on everything, and the sign specifies that the climbing structures are for ages 5-12, but he was able to climb on a lot of things, and the playground was perfect for him. There were slides, an easy rock climbing wall, and two steering wheels. He was very excited about that. Since it was a school morning, there was no one else there, so we had the playground to ourselves.

Once you are done with the playground, there are some other aspects of Bicentennial Park that you will want to explore. First of all, there is a huge grassy field with lots of shade. One tree is massive!  We were very impressed with the huge tree at this park. This would be the perfect place to have a picnic. There is also a pavilion with tables if you wanted to sit or eat there. There were a few Frisbee golf holes around the grass, so bring along a Frisbees and play.

There is a duck pond with a bridge and there were a few ducks when we visited. We also spotted some fish in the pond and my son has to “fish” with a stick anytime we are near water. He loved that we could spot the orange fish in the water and also that if we sat really still near the edge of the pond, the ducks came very close, too. There is no sort of barricade around the water, so watch your little ones as they could easily fall right in.

We had a lot of fun exploring the boardwalk trail behind the pond. Just behind the big tree mentioned above, look for some garbage cans. These cans mark each end of the boardwalk trail. We headed to the right one and it begins in a wetlands area. We found a few more ducks and tiny fish. We really wanted to see a frog, but we did not spot one. There are some signs explaining about plants and animals that live in wetlands, and also some benches along this boardwalk. You could easily push a stroller around this walk, but you would have to push it over the grass to get there.

There is a little loop that walks through the wetlands area, and then you enter a forest environment. There were lots of trees and tons of shade, and towards the end of the trail you come to a natural spring. This spring is what feeds the wetlands area, and the family that owned this property built this barricade to hold the water, but it still drips. We found it fascinating to see the natural spring right there. Shortly after the spring, you will return to the grassy park. The trail was only about 1/4 mile long.

One other aspect of this park that dog lovers will appreciate is there was a separate dog park. It was a fenced area, and we saw several people coming and going at the dog park. They let their dogs run around, or played with them. We also saw a few people walk their dogs on leashes around the boardwalk. So if you have a dog, this would be a great park to visit.

We loved Bicentennial Park. My little boy kept saying, “We have to bring Dad and my brothers back here.” This would be a great park for the Summer when it’s hot because of all the shade, but we loved going in the Spring, too. It’s beautiful since it sits right next to the mountains, and it has plenty of fun places to explore. Put this one on your list to enjoy!

Dry Creek Trail Park and Disc Golf Course

We went to a new park in Lehi today, and our boys loved it. This park, called Dry Creek Trail Park, is tucked along a small creek and stretches for nearly half a mile. The park has some really cool features.

The first thing this park has is a Frisbee golf course. There are 12 holes, and the course is beautifully laid out. There are a lot of trees (I think I hit all of them with my Frisbee), which makes it somewhat difficult, but the holes and tee boxes are well-maintained. Our boys loved following the course, and even though they golfed about 40 over par, they had a great time. Even our three year-old had fun throwing his Frisbee–he had the smoothest throw, but no distance!

There is also a really cute fairy house at the park. The house has several different sections and is built into an ancient tree. We’re not sure who created the house, but it is beautifully furnished if you open the doors and look inside, and either it’s new, or people have kindly left it in very nice condition. To find the tree house, head north along the trail from the playground for about 50 yards. You’ll see the house in a tree over by the river on the right-hand side of the trail. Please leave the fairy house nicer than you found it.

Third, there is a nicely maintained playground at this park. The swings and climbing toy are not large, but there is a really steep slide and a fun “zipline” that our boys think is pretty awesome.

Some other neat features are a nice pavilion for picnics and the stream that runs through this park is pretty shallow. We visited in the summer last year and some kids were wading in it, but it was a little cold when we went in March. Make sure to keep an eye on your kids by the water. Our boys love throwing rocks and sticks into the stream and crossing the two bridges that go over the water.

The stream was full in early spring, but even full isn’t very deep. It is much shallower in summer.

There is also a paved trail that walks along the Frisbee golf course. It is a pretty area and would be a great place to take your stroller for a short hike or walk. There are also bathrooms which makes any park a pleasant place for young families.

Dry Creek Trail Park is located at 100 W 1580 N. To find this park, take 300 W in Lehi north and cross State Street and go under the freeway. At the stop sign, turn right onto Frontage Road (600 W). You will driving parallel with the 1-15. Turn left onto Cedar Hollow Road (1450 N), and then left onto Nuttall Drive. The park will be on your right.

Paul Ream Wilderness Park in Provo

Sometimes I think my favorite parks are the ones where you find a little wilderness just a few blocks away from the 1-15. It’s almost like I appreciate these areas a little bit more because they are fighting so hard not to be taken over by city life. That is how I felt when we arrived at the Paul Ream Wilderness Park in Provo. It was like a piece of the mountains next to the busy Center Street exit in Provo.

When you arrive at the Paul Ream Wilderness Park, you’ll pull into the large parking area. Right in   front of you will be The Provo River Parkway and the Provo River. When we got out of the car, we got really excited at the beautiful surroundings we could see. My boys had so much fun throwing rocks, looking for fish, and enjoying the river while we were here. There are a few places where you can safely climb down to the edge of the river’s edge, but we did go in October. In Spring, I’m sure the river is raging, so be careful!  One of the fun things about this park is that you have to cross the river to get to the park area. We liked looking at the ducks and fish from the bridge and of course, taking pictures!

The Provo River Parkway goes right past the Paul Ream Wilderness park, so you can hike or bike while you’re here if you want.

Once you are on the other side of the river, you will see large grassy areas and three big pavilions with picnic tables. There is also a playground and bathrooms. The playground is a standard playground, but we really loved the 3 slide section. My boys said it was like Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear slides, and they had to take turns going down each one. And there was even one other slide on the other side of the playground. There were also a few swings in the playground area.

The park is quite large and there is lots of grass for playing games.

Another highlight of this park is the duck pond. So not only do you have the river where ducks like to swim, but there is a small duck pond where LOTS of ducks like to swim. There is a little trail that walks around the duck pond and we had ducks following us, but we didn’t bring any treats for the ducks. Luckily for my boys, the nicest mom and little boy came to the pond with three loaves of bread and they gave each of my boys a few slices to share with the ducks. They were ecstatic and so I’m determined to pay it forward and bring extra duck snacks everywhere we go now! And yes, I know that bread isn’t the best food for ducks. Some healthier options are: cut up grapes, oats, bird seed, chopped lettuce or salad greens, or rice. Anyway, the duck pond is definitely fun, so be prepared!

This park also has another section behind the playground that has picnic tables and bbqs on cement pads. There are tons of trees here so it is the perfect place for a picnic. We found a little trail that wound behind the tables, and walked next to a small stream. There were a few little bridges that crossed over the stream and we enjoyed exploring underneath the trees. It was especially beautiful with the leaves beginning to change!

There are a few places where you can cross the stream over to the picnic tables from the trail.
Paul Ream Wilderness Park is an amazing place. There is a ton of stuff to do and I think children of all ages would enjoy this park. We can’t wait to go back!

Directions: Exit 1-15 at the Provo Center Street exit and head east. Once you cross back on the off ramp, take your first left onto Independence Ave (You have to be in the left lane and be ready to turn…it comes up quickly). Follow this road to 500 N and turn right (east). The park is on your left. There is a big sign and huge parking lot–you can’t miss it!

Salem Pond

We really love Salem Pond. It is a great place to spend a warm afternoon. Salem is a small town just northeast of Payson. The pond is located at 200 W 300 S in Salem, and is also referred to as Knoll Park. The park has a ton of activities: fishing, birdwatching, a playground, big grassy areas, picnic tables, a path for walking and a bridge that crosses the pond. We even noticed a small sandy beach area where you can play in the summertime.

There are ducks, geese, and even a swan who live here. Make sure you take bread to feed them. They followed us around in hopes we might throw something their way. Our kids begged us not to leave when it was time to go. It was beautiful in the fall, but I think it would be a great place to visit year round.

A great time to visit Salem Pond is when they put Christmas Trees out in the pond for the holidays. They look beautiful all lit up and reflecting in the water.

If you want to head to Salem Pond, from 1-15, take exit 253 (Benjamin) and head east on UT-164. Turn right onto 1200 W. Turn left onto Center St. Turn right onto UT-198/State Rd. Turn left onto 300 S. Then left on 200 W. You can’t miss it.

Discovery Park in Pleasant Grove

Discovery park is often known as the wood park because it is a huge wooden castle. This park is fun because it is so big, and it caters to big children, which a lot of parks don’t. In fact, on the sign it says it was built for 5-12 year olds, but my almost 3 year old did fine with most things. There are some tricky things to climb, but he steered clear of them. There are lots of swings and lots of slides. The fun part is working your way through all the different parts of the wooden castle. They have little beehives for the kids to play in, instruments to play, tables and benches for moms and dads, and much more. This is a great park for hide and seek. Half the time I was trying to find our son because he never stopped moving the whole time we were there.

Some other benefits:

picnic tables for lunch
bathrooms!!
Tennis courts & baseball fields
The address for this park (called Manilla Park on PG’s website) is 1550 N 100 E Pleasant Grove. I took the Pleasant Grove Blvd exit and headed east to the mountains. You will stay on this road all to way until you reach 100 E which is a light. Go North (turn left). The park is just a little bit down the road on the west side of the road.

This website had a good description of the park. http://thingstodoinutah.blogspot.com/2008/05/go-to-park-and-learn-some-science.html

Wild West Park in West Jordan

We found a park similar to the Discovery Park in Pleasant Grove. You can find this park in West Jordan’s City Park–also known as Veteran’s Memorial Park–at 1985 W 7800 S, West Jordan. As we pulled into this city park, we circled around a large loop and passed 4 other playgrounds before reaching the Wild West Park. Each one we passed, my children would ask, “Is that it?” I wish I lived closer so we could try them all out.

The Wild West Park was so much fun! It has some Utah historical items such as a mural of the Bingham Canyon Mine, the trains meeting at Promontory Point, a stagecoach, and an old water tower. Other places are painted like the Old West with a bank and a jail. It has lots of places to climb, swing, crawl, and slide. You could spend a lot of time exploring here, and my kids had a great time playing hide and seek.

 This park is divided into two sections. One recommended for ages 1-5 and the other for ages 5-12. My children played in both (they are 3 and 6). The only difference was that the 1-5 age side is slightly smaller in area and in climbing things. I figure that is so the younger children won’t get lost or stuck up high on something, but my three-year-old did just fine in the large section, too.

The one down side to this park was limited shade. This made it a little challenging with my three month old, but we made it work. The older boys didn’t complain once about being hot. The playground nearby had lots of shade and there is a large covered pavilion close by with bathrooms. Next time I go, I’m planning on taking a picnic.

 It is actually made of trex instead of wood which is nice--no slivers!

Some people worry about how there are two exits/entrances to this park. There is a front and back entrance, but I make it clear to my kids that we are all staying inside the fenced area until mom says otherwise because I don’t want them to try and run to the other playground by the bathrooms. This park is large and there are lots of places to hide and climb, so you will lose sight of your children sometimes. Wild West Park does have video surveillance if that helps you feel a little better. This is an amazing park and my boys love going!

Nicholls Park in Fruit Heights

Nicholls park is a beautiful park in Fruit Heights right off Highway 89. There is a pavilion, bathrooms, large grassy areas, and best of all there is an amazing playground. The Castle Heights Playground is similar to Discovery Park in Pleasant Grove (one of our all time favorite parks). It’s a fun castle themed playground made of Trex, so it should last for awhile.

The playground has lots of places to climb and hide. You can look out of the tower, or slide down one of the two slides. We had fun playing hide and seek. There is also a section that looks like a boat where our three year-old had fun pretending he was a pirate.

There is also a Tot Lot section at Castle Heights playground with smaller climbing areas, toddler swings, and even a train to steer. Our three year-old wasn’t very interested in this area (even though it’s for his age) because he was able to keep up just fine on the bigger part of the playground. It was very accessible for all ages.

Another part of Nicholls Park that we liked was the walking trail in the ravine behind the playground. If you walk from the park west toward the pavilion, you will see a slope down to a dirt walking path. There is a path that follows the little stream and a few bridges that allow you to cross back and forth across the stream. The sign labels the stream as Baer Creek and it looks like it is a work in progress. We are excited to see what becomes of this project. We didn’t walk the full loop and there was no distance listed, but we had fun walking the trail for a little bit and then heading back to the playground.

We loved visiting Nicholls Park partially because we visited a part of Utah that is often overlooked because it is not next to the 1-15. This is definitely a beautiful park to visit and spend some time playing as a family.

Directions: Nicholls Park is located at 1105 Nicholls Road in Fruit Heights. Take Highway 89 either north from Lagoon, or South from the 1-84 or Ogden. Turn west onto Nicholls Rd and the park is just a short distance down the road.

Family Tips for Nicholls Park:

Wear good walking shoes if you are going to venture down to the trail.
There is a pavilion and lots of grass, so a picnic lunch would work well at this park.

Moyle Park (Alpine)

770 North 600 East

For tours or reservations

call (801) 756-1194

Open May 1 - Sept 30

Museum
Old Indian Fort
Picnic area

Coal Creek/ Cedar Canyon walking trail/ Cedar Canyon Park

0-5 miles RT, easy

This is a paved walking trail along the banks of Coal Creek, on the east side of Cedar City. It runs from the baseball fields through the Canyon Parks complex and up the canyon for approximately two miles. Drinking fountains and benches can be found along the trail. There is a visitor center. This trail can be accessed from many points. For more information call 435-586-5124.

The west end of the trail is at the Baseball fields, at approximately 200 N 200 E. From there it runs in a SE direction to Center Street.

The trail runs through the Canyon Park, 500 E Center Street, allowing easy access in multiple points.

The trail follows Coal Creek into Cedar Canyon. It runs along the south side of the creek, which is just south of Hwy 14. The trail ends about 2 miles into the canyon.

The Coal Creek Trail provides an easy paved hike or ride for 3.5 miles along its namesake waterway. The trail begins at Bicentennial Park, a grassy picnic area, and passes Rotary Centennial Veterans Park, a memorial to honor the city's veterans. Trail-goers will enjoy scenic views as the path continues through East Canyon Park, a popular place to picnic and play, to the mouth of Cedar Canyon.

Exit Interstate 15 east on W. 200 N. (State Route 56), and take it to its end. Turn left and you will quickly see the entrance to Cedar Canyon Fields at Veterans Park on your right. This provides parking and access to the middle of the Coal Creek Trail.

Cedar Canyon Park & Paved Walking Trail
Open all year, weather permitting. Head east on Center Street toward Cedar Canyon. The Cedar Canyon Park is located on both sides of Coal Creek.  Two pavilions are available for group gatherings. Volleyball court and playground are also available. The paved, scenic walking trail is located along the banks of Coal Creek and weaves its way up into Cedar Canyon for 3.5 miles.  The trail starts at the Cedar City Baseball Complex, goes past the Cedar Canyon Park and ends just above Rusty’s Ranch House.  The trail is perfect for roller-blades, bikes, and strollers.

Big Springs Park

Provo Canyon (turn at Vivian Park, go up the road quite a ways, turn right into Big Springs Park) 

This is a lovely park with pavilions, large grassy areas, and the cleanest, best-smelling vault toilets I've ever used.

If you want a fun "canyon" experience, drive up the park road to the top, where there is an upper parking lot with a trailhead. The first few hundred yards up the trail, there are a number of side paths off to your left that lead to small fire circles. Bring in chairs, build a campfire and make smores.

*When we hiked the trail (6/14/16) it ended up as a big disappointment. The "Big Springs" we were supposed to see at the top had all been diverted underground. All there is at the top are ugly cement cylinders and capped off pipes. My recommendation would be to just hike the first mile or so until you come to a main road crossing. Turn around there and you've seen the prettiest section anyway.

2 miles RT for the turnaround, 3.5 miles RT to the top

1-1.5 hours

Easy for the first mile, moderate for the last 0.7mile, 554 elevation gain

Mostly shaded

Restrooms and water in park (closed during winter)

Year round (can be snowshoed in winter, can be boggy/muddy in spring)

Picnic tables at parking area