Short Cool Hikes - Utah County??

[accadacca]

Looking for a 2-3 mile hike in Utah County that has some wow factor. Needs to be easy for some non outdoor people. The hike will take place this Saturday. A waterfall or cool lake would be awesome...taking suggestions.

Thanks in advance,

acca

[Scott P]

Battle Creek Falls
Stewart Falls
Rock Canyon
Silver Lake
Ridge Trail
Timpanogos Cave

Stewart Falls would be really nice assuming tee autumn leaves are still out.

[James_B_Wads2000]

Stewart Falls fits the bill. A hike there combined with a stop at Bridal Veil has quite the wow power. Throw in a drive over the Alpine Loop to check out the fall colors and you have yourself a mighty fine day. Be sure to hike from the Aspen Grove trailhead, that way is free. Don’t hike from Sundance unless you want to pay per-person. Plus I don’t believe in supporting ski resorts that eliminate backcountry access. YMMV

James

[asdf]

I was at stewart falls last week, there was not too much water running down the falls. But its still fairly impressive.
Upper falls (next set of falls east of BVFalls) is always nice and has far less people.
Rock Canyon has some great colors right now.
Big springs up south fork is always nice too, not much WOW to that hike but there are some great views and excellent fall colors.

Plus I don’t believe in supporting ski resorts that eliminate backcountry access.

... what back country would you like access too? anything that can be accessed around sundance is pretty much certian death. That the main reson they dont open it up.... makes sense to me.

[Iceaxe]

Fifth Water Hot Springs

[asdf]

Fifth Water Hot Springs

Yeah fifth water is tight, but beware of naked hippies (and not the sexy kind).

[James_B_Wads2000]

Plus I don’t believe in supporting ski resorts that eliminate backcountry access.

... what back country would you like access too? anything that can be accessed around sundance is pretty much certian death. That the main reson they dont open it up.... makes sense to me.

About ten years back you used to be able to hike to Stewart Falls from the resort itself, Straight up the drainage to the falls. Now they have built condos and lodges in that access path and don’t allow anyone through. So if you buy your day-hiking pass in Sundance the only way to the falls is to take Ray’s Lift(?) in the exact opposite direction of the falls from the lift base. At the top you hike a trail cut into the side of the mountain that eventually leads to the south side of the steam at the base of the falls.

The route from Aspen Grove immediately climbs from the parking lot up and over two drainages before steeply dropping down to the stream, this time on north side at the base of the falls.

I think nothing is more chicken-shit that building on private property that bumps up on public land, then closing existing access to the backcountry. And they would say,” Well there still is a trail that makes it there that is accessible by public lands.” Yes but that path isn’t the path of least resistance. The nice and easy path is now only used by those who own the property downstream from the falls.

What these people don’t understand is that all the mountains in Utah are my mountains. They belong to anybody who has ever looked at them and got inspired (including the blind). But don’t me started I will never shut up.


James

[asdf]

Well the reason they closed off the trail is because of high traffic. That area is not owned by sundace resort. Its private property, so blame the millionaire home owners.
I understand what you are saying and this is by far the simplest path to the falls. But if I (or you) paid millons of dollars for a cabin the last thing I would want is my street turning into a parking lot of weekend warriors that are looking for the shortest possible route to enjoy nature.
If you park at the base of the resort the have a maintained trail that goes all the way to the falls. Yeah, if you ask they want you to buy a ticket. But he trail head is pretty easy to find.

[accadacca]

Hey thanks for the love guys. Stewart Falls looks great! Can you give me directions to a couple of these places. Cheers.

[asdf]

Hey thanks for the love guys. Stewart Falls looks great! Can you give me directions to a couple of these places. Cheers.

http://www.sundanceresort.com/summer_map.htm

These are the route from sundance, If you take the lift there is a fee. If you hike from the base it free, this option has the most vertical but it not hard at all.
The old parking area that James is referring to is near the area marked 23 on the map
The other option is to head up aspen grove, that's going to cost you $3. There is a map there at the trail head.

[accadacca]

Hey thanks for the info Summit. So how many miles from the base? Also how much to ride the lift?

[asdf]

Hey thanks for the info Summit. So how many miles from the base? Also how much to ride the lift?

8 bones per person
I would guess 1.5 miles each way hiking from the base.
From the lift to the falls then base is around 3, all down hill.