Canyon Recreation The Plentiful Provo By David Grover There are several things that visitors to Utah often misunderstand. Yes, it's possible to get a drink here. No, local husbands do not each have several wives. Another misconception is that the recreation exists mostly in Southern Utah. Sure, the lower half of the state is well known for its vast red-rock deserts and narrow slot canyons. But Utah and Wasatch Counties sport tons of opportunities to put a smile on your face-whatever recreational mask you choose to wear at the moment. Flyfishing, hiking, climbing, biking; you can do it all under a canopy of trees and at altitudes hovering 8,000 feet above sea level.  p: Monique Beeley
Ridge Trail 157 may have a name that is at best blasé, but the recreation is anything but. Choose your starting point and pick your poison, because just about every type of trail is available here. As a bare minimum, the trail map at the American Fork Canyon Fee Station is a must, and most of the local bike shops will have guidebooks with more detail of other nearby hikes and rides.
Climbing in American Fork Canyon is world-famous. The majority of the rock is limestone, and, with a few exceptions, the routes are all bolted. A 60-meter rope is a nice luxury in the area, and necessary on a few climbs, but a 165-foot rope will get the job done. Bring a rack of 10-15 quick-draws and several carabineers, and a tarp or rope bag to protect your rope from the scree at the bottom of the climbs. For the quartz routes in Rock Canyon, a standard rack is sufficient. Call one of the local shops for details, and log on to www.outdoorutah.com for more info. Visit the Utah Valley CVB's Info-now! page, code UCVB, to plan your trip to the area and to order an Adventure Guide.
Sundance Resort is another compact spot for summer recreation. Owned by actor and environmentalist Robert Redford, Sundance has been thoughtfully laid out to maximize summer fun. Miles of trails await adrenaline junkies of all types. The hardest decision is where to start. Ride the lift and save your strength for speedy descents, or give your lungs a productive burn while hiking or biking 1200 feet to the summit. Sundance is a full-service resort in an alpine setting. They have a full-service bike shop with rentals, and offer a Mountain Bike School, and a Ladies Day Program. Sundance Resort also hosts the Sundance/Soldier Hollow weekly mountain bike race series-come see if you have what it takes to be crowned a champion. Info-now! code SUND or (801) 225-4107.
Dry land not your forte? Hit the Provo River, literally world-class blue-ribbon water that stacks up there with the best western rivers. The Lower Provo is the most productive section. Best of all, this section is located at the mouth of Provo Canyon, so anglers can find themselves wetting a fly and throwing a first cast just a short fifteen-minute drive from downtown.
An excellent way to experience the Provo first-hand is through a reputable guide service. Rocky Mountain Outfitters is Sundance's premier fly-fishing guide service, and the only one in Utah to be endorsed by Orvis. Or, for a slightly different experience, join them during the fall and enjoy an array of colors and incredible sunrises over the Wasatch Front while being introduced to the Rutting season of the Bull Elk. Watch as mature bulls bugle their challenge to any who might want to vie for the rights to his herd. September to October. Info-now! code RMO or 888-654-4605. Intermountain Guide Service operates horseback trips into American Fork Canyon out of Snowbird Resort. Two and three hour trips are offered and the latter includes a deli-style lunch. Intermountain also guides flyfishing on the Provo River. Info-now! code IGS, or phone 877-882-4386.
 Provo River p: Monique Beeley
Continuing around Deer Creek and enter Heber City, fun pigs have the good fortune of several choices of ways to play in the sty. First stop should be to gather valuable information and maps at the Heber Valley Visitor Center, 475 North Main. Contact them at 435-654-3666.
From the Visitor Center, options are plenty. Head east on Main, continue on Hwy 40 at the edge of town, and follow the signs toward Strawberry Reservoir for more flyfishing fun. Or pick from excellent trails for hiking or mountain biking near the reservoir. The most popular trail in the area is the Strawberry Ridge Ride. This intermediate 14-mile loop begins just south of the Strawberry Visitor Center. Start near the corrals and climb Clyde Creek Road to Strawberry Ridge. The route follows the ridge south with panoramic views of the rugged Wasatch Mountains to the west and Strawberry Reservoir to the east. The route then follows Mud Creek downhill to a paved section on West Strawberry Road. Continue north to connect back with Clyde Creek. The trail is open to ATV's as well, but if you're on a mountain bike or hiking don't let that deter you, the experience is worth it!
Another alternative is to head for Wasatch State Park through nearby Midway, a charming, Swiss-Inspired town. Many of the trails in the park are preferred destinations for the more adventurous types who like to explore, because although well traveled, there are no signs to mark them. Snake Creek Canyon is a favored dirt road ride for mountain biking. It climbs high into Wasatch Mountains and accesses numerous singletrack trails, with varied distances by parking on one of several pullouts along the way. The main road is a popular out-and-back for intermediate riders. Singletrack branches off the main road in several places, and a few high elevation trails continue to the ridge. Wasatch State Park is also a popular hiking area. One of the more popular routes is a nature hike to a boulder field where smooth, glacier-dumped rocks lay piled high in a jumbled playground.
The southwest end of the valley holds one of Utah's 2002 Olympic venues, Soldier Hollow. Renowned for its part in the Salt Lake Winter Games, Soldier Hollow offers a surprising number of summertime activities. The Summer Olympic Biathlon Experience combines hiking or mountain biking with marksmanship skills on the Olympic shooting range for a fun and challenging test. Participants wear the actual bibs used by Olympic athletes during the 2002 Winter Games. Mountain bike tours are available on the same cross-country ski trails on which the Game's athletes competed and bike rentals/helmets are available. Or, ride the trails without a guide for a small fee. Several race series are held at the Hollow each year, so call or visit their Web site for additional information or for links to register for an event. www.soldierhollow.com or (435) 654-2002.
If relaxing at the end of an adventure, or looking for a great place to spend the day with the family is on your mind, Thanksgiving Point has countless activities to keep the kids and kids-at-heart alike busy and entertained. Thanksgiving Point Gardens are open from March 25th through October 28th for the 2006 season. Covering 55 acres, Utah landscape architect Leonard Grassli designed the Gardens by themes. The Rose, Monet, Vista and Waterfall Gardens are just a few of the sweeping vistas here. Thanksgiving Point is also home to a 3-D Mammoth movie screen, and hosts eclectic Farmers Market Fridays. There are hundreds of activities throughout the season, so visit www.thanksgivingpoint.com for details.
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