Things to do / Travel Guide
Coast into canyons, voyage through vast valleys, snake along alpine streams, marvel at northern Utah's most majestic mountains. Fill your tank, get your ride in tip-top shape, and set out on a cruise in northern Utah.
Logan Canyon Scenic Drive
Here's the lowdown on Logan Canyon Scenic Drive: Follow U.S. Highway 89 for 40 miles of looming limestone cliffs of Logan Canyon and you'll get a glimpse of Caribbean-turquoise Bear Lake as well as a welcoming committee of moose, elk, and deer in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Continue on past Logan, skirting the banks of the Logan River, and you'll embark on a steady climb past the Beaver Mountain Ski Resort (at an ear-popping elevation of 7,800 feet). Then you'll shoot down towards the aquamarine water at Bear Lake. The drive ends at Garden City, where you can treat yourself to a raspberry shake, the local specialty, any day of the year.
Big Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway
The Big Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway is a 15-mile highway offers startling views of the Salt Lake Valley and towering canyon walls. Along the way you'll catch some great views of the mythically-proportioned Mt. Olympus (elevation: 9,026 feet). Located just 25 miles from Salt Lake City, the drive begins when you take I-215 to the 6200 South “Canyons” exit. You'll travel east on State Road 152 toward Solitude and Brighton. Along the way you will traverse the course of an alpine stream through a tall-walled canyon, ascend to nearly 12,000 feet within the Wasatch-Cache National Forest, and enjoy breathtaking views of the western side of the Rocky Mountains. Note that this route may be closed during the winter.
Skyline Drive
Keep one eye on the winding road and the other on the spectacular skyline on this short, 28-mile Skyline Drive, north of Salt Lake City. Glorious alpine scenery, the colorful rocks of Farmington Canyon, and one of the best views of the Great Salt Lake are just a few of the stunning sights you'll see. From Farmington, travel north on State Road 106 for one mile, then turn left on 100 East Street toward Farmington Canyon. You will pick up Skyline Drive and travel east toward Bountiful Peak Overlook (elevation: 9,250 feet) and continue on toward the town of Bountiful. The drive is open from May-October.
American Fork Canyon to Provo Canyon
Robert Redford's Sundance resort, the Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Mt. Timpanogos (the second-highest mountain in the Wasatch Mountain Range at 11,752 feet), and a particularly lush stretch of the Uinta National Forest are just a few of the highlights on this short 20-mile drive. Veer off onto the Cascade Springs Scenic Backway for a worthwhile 10-mile detour of the clear falling water of Cascade Springs. Take U.S. Highway 189 in Provo, travel through the Uinta National Forest and then continue on to State Road 92 through the American Fork Canyon. The drive is open from May-October.
Flaming Gorge - Uintas Scenic Byway
This 70-mile drive from Vernal to the Manila follows U.S. Highway 191 north and then picks up State Road 44 West around the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. While driving along you'll travel through the Ashley National Forest, track though the foothills of the Uinta Mountains, cruise alongside million-year-old geological formations, pass unspoiled views of the flaming Red Canyon, and see superb panoramas of the blue-green Flaming Gorge Reservoir. If you go for a spin along this route in the spring, you'll certainly catch sight of bighorn sheep, elk, mule deer, and moose. This drive is open year-round.
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