Things to do / Travel Guide
Whether you've skied their slopes or just ogled their summits from afar, whether you've hiked their heights or merely admired them from below, adventurous souls can also appreciate northern Utah's grandiose mountains from above. Skydiving, paragliding, and hot air ballooning afford you superb panoramic views of the white-tipped Wasatch Mountain Range, the lush Wasatch Cache National Forest and, of course, the Great Salt Lake. But if you'd rather not test the bounds of gravity, perhaps a speedy snowy escapade might quench your passion for action. Go ahead and snowmobile the twisting trails through northern Utah's rolling hills, wooded mountains, meadows, and plateaus. If you're lucky, your ride might just take you near a herd of Rocky Mountain elk.
Skydiving in Northern Utah
Step out of a plane and spread eagle. Recline on a bed of clouds, your mattress the atmosphere. Northern Utah skydiving affords both beginners (in tandem dives) and advanced adventure-seekers the opportunity to freefall from above all year round. Specific skydiving hubs are located around Ogden, Provo, Salt Lake City, and Wendover.
Paragliding in Northern Utah
Foot-launched aviation is another name for this soaring sensation. Paragliding starts with just a single step … off the edge of a mountain! Using the same techniques as birds, you will glide on warmer air currents as you learn to ride the rise of the breeze. Paragliding will allow you to reach heights of up to 17,000 feet and speeds of up to 35 miles per hour, and if you aren't quite ready to go it alone, and instructor-accompanied tandem ride will give you the rush without the pressure. Paragliding companies in Salt Lake City and Sandy offer year-round gliding with launch sites in Randolph, Heber City, and Orem. Beginners can request a launch in Springville or Bountiful, and those who wish a more spectacular (and adrenaline-intense) glide can opt for launch sites at Snowbird Sky Resort or Point of the Mountain, in Draper, which are known to have more challenging surroundings to navigate and admire from your open-air perch in the sky.
Hot Air Balloon Rides in Northern Utah
The oldest form of human aviation (the first trip took place in France in 1783), hot air ballooning is a gentle and magnificent way to experience the northern Utah countryside. Lift off before dawn and rise with the sun; inflate your mood and lift your spirits with a champagne toast just before landing. Hot air balloon companies are based in Park City, Eden Park, Salt Lake City, Heber City, and Ogden, and offer rides year-round, usually lasting between one and two hours. If you want to take a ride when the sky blossoms with color, try a hot air balloon excursion during the yearly Ogden Valley Balloon Festival, held every August in Eden. Amidst live music and artist booths, a wide range of balloon companies offer sunset and sunrise flights.
Snowmobiling in Northern Utah
Leave a cloud of powder in your wake as you tear through the hundreds of mountainous, well-groomed and remote trails in northern Utah backcountry. There may be no better way to conquer the snow than flying through the forest at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. For an unforgettable snowmobiling adventure, take a ride to Hardware Ranch Snowmobile Complex, in the vicinity of Logan near the Utah-Idaho border, managed and operated by the Division of Wildlife Resources. More than 600 Rocky Mountain elk herd in the area, and Hardware Ranch will help you get an up-close look. SnoWest Magazine ranked the area around Beaver Creek Lodge, east of Logan, as one of the top 15 snowmobiling areas in the West. Other popular snowmobile trails are located in and around Ogden Valley, Wasatch Mountain State Park, Mirror Lake, and Uinta Basin (north of Vernal). It is possible to take a guided snowmobile expedition or, a more common and popular option, to get a map of the trails and go it alone; snowmobile rentals can be had in Heber City, Ogden, Logan Canyon (30 miles east of Logan), and at Beaver Creek Lodge. To rent a snowmobile in northern Utah you must be at least 21 years old and have a valid credit card and a driver's license. To operate a snowmobile, you must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver's license. There is no age restriction for snowmobile passengers.
All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Excursions in Northern Utah
Let the mountains eat your dust as you rove your way over northern Utah's back roads on the seat of a four-wheel-drive (4WD) all-terrain vehicle (ATV). On an ATV, you can get close to the off-the-beaten-path beauty secreted away from main highways and thoroughfares along rugged, alpine paths. ATV tours (usually two hours in length) are available at Snowbird Resort near Little Cottonwood Canyon in the vicinity of Salt Lake City, where you will get a glimpse of wildflowers, waterfalls, forests, and the towering mountain peaks. ATV tours are also offered at Bear River Lodge near the Utah-Wyoming border, where you will take a breathtaking jaunt amidst high mountain streams, and the aspens and junipers of the Uinta National Forest and possibly spot deer, elk, and moose. ATV tours are only available from July-October, and, given their popularity, it is best to reserve in advance.
Olympic Adventures in Northern Utah
Take a chair lift ride to the world's highest-altitude ski jump (7,130 feet); travel at 70 miles per hour, 5Gs of force, for a 40-story drop on the Olympic Bobsled Ride; tour the venues of 2002 Winter Olympics; take a snow sports lesson; and watch world-class athletes training for competitions. The Utah Olympic Park in Park City is open year-round for guided tours and a host of fun, sports-related activities. Bobsled rides cost $65 per person in the summer and $200 per person in the winter; admission to the park is about $8. At Soldier Hollow, near Midway, take a tremendous tube down one of Utah's longest tubing hill lanes. You'll rush down the hill as Mt. Timpanogos watches your back.
Salt Lake City, Park City, Northern Utah
Adventure-Travel
|
|
|