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Lakeside RV Campground Provo, Utah |
Spotlight: Heber Valley/Wasatch
Dive into a Utah community ripe with adventure
The expansive Heber Valley is a year-round vacation destination for adventure seekers and leisure lovers alike. From historic railroad travel to steaming hot springs, you’re sure to make great vacation memories here. The valley is home to three state parks, a Swiss-themed town, five mountain golf courses and more. Bird watchers will be glad to know that the valley is a habitat for American bald eagles.
Bryan Rowland Photography
Heber History
Prior to the first settlements here in the late 1850s, Heber Valley and Wasatch County were a destination and a rest stop for fur trappers and explorers. The first settlers built homes in Midway and Charleston, and in the area just north of present-day Heber City in 1859. Wasatch County is known as the Switzerland of Utah, thanks to its alpine climate, streams and green meadows—and, of course, the Swiss settlers who made Midway their home in the 1800s.
Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum in Wasatch County tells the story of early settlers through artifacts and portraits. The Commemorative Air Force Utah Wing Museum displays historic aircraft that have been restored to airworthy status to honor the nation’s military aviation history. Displays also feature women in aviation and a history of commercial aircraft.
Uinta National Forest, at the southwestern edge of the valley, is a wilderness paradise with natural wonders. Cascade Springs send 7 million gallons of water each day down limestone terraces and into pools surrounded by lush vegetation. The fall leaves make for a picturesque hike to the springs when the weather turns cooler.
Deer Creek State Park is a short drive from Uinta and offers year-round fishing for rainbow trout, brown trout, perch and bass in the early fall. Daniels Creek, east of Heber Valley in Daniels Canyon, is another popular spot for casting a line or enjoying the adjacent playground and nature trail with the family.
Under the Dome
Feel the warmth in the Homestead Crater mineral dome in Midway. This geothermal spring rests under a 55-foot-tall beehive-shaped limestone rock with a hole at the top that lets in sunlight and fresh air. The interior is a balmy 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and visitors are invited to take a dip in the warm mineral water or go scuba diving. The crater sits in a residential resort and is open to the public.
Get on board for a scenic trip on the Heber Valley Railroad. Historic steam locomotives take visitors on trips through farmland, across the Provo River and beside the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains down to the west bank of Deer Creek Reservoir, before descending into Provo Canyon.
Winter sports are a hallmark of the Utah adventure, and snow tubing at Soldier Hollow in Midway is one of the newest attractions. Slide down 1,200 feet of cool lanes day or night, then take a lift back to the top to enjoy the ride over and over. Deer Valley Resort provides top-notch facilities for downhill skiing, and Heber Ranger District offers several trails at various skill levels for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling.
Heber Valley Tourism and Economic Development
Tee off at the Lake and Mountain golf courses in Wasatch Mountain State Park. These picturesque courses were carved from the mountain and are frequented by the local wildlife as well as golfers of all skill levels. The Mountain course offers challenging terrain while the gentler Lake course is an all-skill favorite. Soldier Hollow Golf Course above Heber Valley is uniquely designed to incorporate native vegetation, inviting players to test their skills in the shadow of Mount Timpanogos.
Hike Heber
Stretch your legs and admire the natural beauty of Heber Valley on any of several hikes through Center Canyon, Clegg Canyon and Co-op Creek. The Center Canyon trail winds 4 miles through aspen forests and columbine-filled meadows and is frequently visited by wildlife. The Clegg Canyon trail wanders through oak, conifer and aspen stands. On the Co-op Creek trail, hikers often spot elk, moose and deer along the way.
Scenic drives are plentiful in the valley and perfect for taking in as much of the landscape as you can in a single day. Provo Canyon Scenic Byway stretches 32 miles along Highway 189 into Provo Canyon. Along the route, you’ll see steep limestone cliffs and waterfalls rippling over the rock into the stream. Wolf Creek Highway climbs to more than 9,000 feet through spruce and fir forests, and in the fall the aspen groves turn gold.
Alpine Loop Scenic Byway, along Highway 92 from American Fork Canyon to Provo Canyon, stretches through the alpine canyons of the Wasatch Range and provides spectacular views of Mount Timpanogos and neighboring glacier-carved peaks. Travel during its open season, from May to October.