Look into the construction progress at the visitor's center before you go since that relates to…read moreavailability of potable water. The recommendation is drinking 1L of water per person per hour. I was surprised that this state park has $15 entry per car, but I think it's worth it! I found the restrooms clean. Some roads are dirt while the main parts are paved. The roads are well maintained. The self guided tour of the ranch including original equipment from many decades of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries was informative. Parking is easy next to the ranch. Horses are still there. A marina is onsite, but it appeared quite dried up such that you cannot dock boats on the day I went. Even in the first 20 minutes past the visitor's center, you'll likely see flies, dragonflies, bison, antelopes, birds, and more!

Absolutely stunning state park north west of the SLC area. only $15 for a vehicle, $5 for a…read moremotorcycle. There is so much to do here! Take in the epic views of the great salt lake from up high, walk along the coastline of the lake. There hiking trails up the mountains. There are bison all over to explore and photograph, as well as tons of species of birds to watch. If you're lucky you'll spot some Antelope or long horn sheep. Saw lots and local bicyclists, I imagine it wpuld be a blast to ride. You can park at the entrance and ride in at a small parking lot. The drive down the eastern coast is spectacular and if you don't mind a dirt road you can continue for a little further to the southern tip. Or stop at the pavement and check out the ranch that's been there for generations. What a cool place, I am so glad I got to visit an check it out. Ext time I'll stay for an extended period in one of the campgrounds!!

How has no one reviewed such a great little trail?! Birdsong Trailhead is a part of the Rainbow…read moreTrail - to access, park in the back lot at Rainbow Gardens (quite possibly the most eclectic shop I've ever stepped in) and follow signs. There was literally not another soul on this trail today and being terrified of hiking alone, I was a little skeptical. No need, Nervous Nellie, this easy 1 mile walk is a piece of cake. Would be perfect for kids. Or someone who is trying to avoid work for an hour, let's say. Lots of shade, breezy and no treacherous aspects. Wooded in parts, little streams, flocks of dragonflies. Lizards. Ants. Very well maintained and safe. I went farther than the trail indicated, but not far enough to see if anything really amazing was at the end, before I realized I needed to be in a meeting and high tailed it back to my vehicle. Oops. A few other trails here that looked great too - nice views of the surrounding mountains and valley.

I am visiting from Texas and was thankful for the previous review. This hike was great for kids…read more Partially shaded and a great view. We saw a deer and lots of beautiful foliage. Again great walk for kids.

Very nice area to walk around. There's a long wooden bridge path throughout to walk on and see many…read morewaterfowl. Just be sure to bring your insect repellent! Nice place to take sunset photos and see and hear many resident birds. Beautiful area to see the snow capped mountains or if in winter the frozen lake. Definitely worth a stop!

Review #700!! This is one of my favorite places in the whole world - been coming here for years - I…read morecan't believe I haven't reviewed it yet haha!! I visit my son in SLC often and come here every chance I get when I'm in town - the birding is SPECTACULAR! The trails are well maintained and the surrounding ponds and mountains are beautiful. This is a helluva place to practice birding and bird photography skills. I've lost count of how many bird species I've seen here - there are over 60 species known to nest here! I've seen so many "lifers" here (birder-speak for first time sightings lol). The Bald Eagles nest here in winter and are easily spotted everywhere! Tundra Swans also pass through in the colder months are a quite a sight to see. They have a small rookery of nest boxes on tall stilts for the Great Blue Herons in spring and they're so fun to watch - especially once the babies hatch! It's especially picturesque with the big red barn reflecting on the large pond. It's right off the parking lot next to the Eccles Education Center. It's truly a beautiful place in all seasons - even winter when it's coveted in snow. You're surrounded by mountains and ponds on all sides - some close and some distant. Wildlife, birds, marshes, dramatic vistas - such a lovely, peaceful place. The Great Salt Lake is so close - and that's one reason there's so many birds (native and migratory) - it's a very important resource for them! There are numerous trails - they're almost entirely flat. Very well maintained- mostly gravel but some boardwalks across the ponds and marshes. There is also a seasonal driving route - it's closed in winter for the nesting birds. The roads are also gravel and dirt and can be a bit rough but doable. I've never needed anything more than our normal car. You can drive up to Goose Egg Island which gives you a great vantage point for the surrounding area and has nice views of the Great Salt Lake. Seasonal duck hunting is allowed so be vigilant and careful. They have a large paved parking lot with plenty of spaces. There are bathrooms in the parking area - decent, regular bathrooms in the education center when it's open and some vaulted toilets open year round and earlier/later than the education center. You don't need any special hiking gear - trails are super easy. But be sure to bring your binoculars or telephoto lenses!!

So far this is my favorite hike. Not too long, not too short, not too hard. Just enough...well, for…read moreme. It located just south of Pineview dam. This is the Wheeler Canyon trail that follows Wheeler Creek. The trail is wide and heavily traveled. Great for hiking, biking, horseback riding, skiing and snowshoeing. I did the loop, it took me 2.5 hours and 5.73 miles. That was stopping frequently to take pictures because it's so pretty all over. From the beginning it's gorgeous. You're surrounded by towering, rocky mountains and the sound of the river below. As you get farther on the trail, the leaves are gold, red, and orange. One day we took our toddler to walk up the trail and explore a bit. It was easy and fun for her. Lots of birds, butterflies and caterpillars to check out. That's when I knew I had to come back and take a hike. After Wheeler Canyon there's a fork that takes you to Ice Box Canyon on the right or Art Nord trailhead to the left. I read about this trail and many prefer to go counterclockwise and go through Ice Box first. I also recommend going this route. It's a steady climb, not hard and shaded the entire way until you get to the south slope meadows. Ice Box Canyon was magical. The birds were singing, the sound of the water was hypnotic, and the red leaves blanketed the trail like a celebrity red carpet, minus the paparazzi and a little less narcissism. I had to stop and take pictures every second. I couldn't help it. If you're doing the loop, you'll run into another fork (on the south slope) once you're out of Ice Box Canyon. The sign is missing off the post. Go left. That will take you down through some meadows across a couple of bridges and then uphilll to the Art Nord Drive/trailhead. You will see Snowbasin Road on the right as you approach a trail map kiosk. Keep following the trail. You will descend on a windy trail towards a parking area. Keep going and you'll soon be back in Wheeler Canyon. I think about .65 miles. Take a jacket and plenty of water. When I went it started pouring the last quarter mile and the wind was awful tunneling through that canyon. It about knocked me over. I came out of the canyon only to find out there were 2 freaking tornadoes taht touched down. I'm not sure of the odds of that happening again but just be prepared for the weather. This would be a great hike for a family. Do the loop, go check out Ice Box Canyon, or just go up a little and back. No matter what you choose I think you'll enjoy it!

This was an amazing scenic drive that was highly recommend by a friend who lives in town. I took…read morethe drive early in the morning stopping at a few different places to take more and more pictures. It was beautiful. I passed a stop called the bloods lake hike which I remember reading about as I was planning my trip. So I stopped to take the hike. I thought it was going to be shorter than it was so I left my bag with water, back up charger, etc. Wish I brought it with me. The hike to bloods lake and back from the parking lot took 3.3 miles. It was tough for me because of the inclines and I'm no hiker. I'm from Florida and used to flat land so I don't know if my calves have ever worked so hard. The trail was very populated giving it was a Monday. Many people with dogs. The view once you arrive to the lake is worth the journey! I took a couple photos before my phone died. I then returned to this drive later in the evening to watch the sunset. I stopped at the one of the fist stops called empire pass and it was gorgeous. Same view as the morning but so much prettier with the colors in the sky!

***UPDATED REVIEW = My review is NOT for Guardsman Pass Overlook I did NOT go here. Yelp for some…read morereason attached my review for the Lake Lackawaxen Trail and Lake to Guardsman Pass Overlook. I never even went to the lookout. The trail starts down the street at the parking lot across the street from the new Bloods Lake Trail. Who ever the yelper app people are that did this it's not cool. You don't live here so you don't know the area. Trust that when people add a new "listing" they know what they are talking about! To get to Lake Lackawaxen trail you will need to first hike about 1.8 miles on the Bloods Lake Trail until you get to the lake. (which is a beautiful lake) Continue on the trail, which is clearly marked about a mile more up the trail. This part of the trail is a little more steep, and definitely more rocky but well worth the climb. There is a fork in the road where you can continue to go towards the left or make a right and climb up to Clayton Peak. If you want to go to Lackawaxen stay on the left side of the trail. It takes you past a couple rock scrambles but are easy enough to pass. This lake is very serene, and peaceful not as many people climb up to this lake as the one below. Dogs are allowed on the trail just not near the lake. Please respect the rules and keep your dog from going into the water as this is our watershed. Perfect time of the year to climb to the lake as the leaves are changing colors and the temps are much cooler.

I love taking friends from out of town on this hike! It's long enough that you feel like you did…read moresomething active, but not too far or too difficult that your friends never trust you to pick a trail again. The trail can be crowded at certain times of the day/year and it can seem confusing because of lack of signage/multiple spur trails but you really can't get lost if you keep heading towards the mountains. This trail is dog friendly! And the dog owners are very respectful and responsible. Which makes this trail even more fun to try!

Trivia: What university originally established in 1850 as the University of Deseret and used in the…read more2002 Winter Olympics sits rather close to the base of this trail? Finding the actual trail can be a little bit of a challenge. From the road where everyone seems to park, we started on a shaded, tree-lined trail that looked promising. But after a short jaunt, we arrived in a dusty, tree free area with trails going in lots of directions. The group in front of us took off like they knew where they were going, but I wasn't fooled by their confidence. Yay Me! But BOOO on the existence of trail markings. I reviewed the map and pointed my hiking companion and I to the trail I thought was most closely aligned with GOOGLE maps and AllTrails. Service was a little spotty. Luckily, it all worked out! The trail is a solid 1000-1200 feet of elevation over a mile which is a solid click of UP. Bring water as shade is rare and the trees are really more shrubs and bush size. The living room area is superb, but depending on the time of day, VERY congested. The seats will feel like the best chair you've ever parked your tired rump, and you will begrudgingly give them up when the crowds form around you.

This review is for Cecret Lake from Albion Base which was a ~4.5 miles round trip that took ~2.5…read morehours to complete. Trail starts from a ski resort which means it would be difficult or inaccessible during the winter! Extremely diverse terrain; stunning views from beginning to end. The last stretch up to the lake was steep and rocky! AllTrails map recommended. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/zkHFyRgwxMQ

We have hiked Cecret Lake many times and enjoyed this spectacular hike at Alta Ski Area. It's…read moreespecially outstanding in the summer when the wildflowers are peaking in colorful arrays. Our boys love climbing the many large rocks on the way to Cecret Lake, and we also enjoy traversing around the lake. If you're more adventurous, you can hike up to Sugarloaf Lift and check out the ski runs.

This was a great hike. I felt it was well maintained. The hike was not difficult yet challenging…read more May be too much for little ones. On the first part of the hike there is a stream which is always enjoyable on a hike. I started out from the parking lot around 9:30 AM and most of the hike was in the shade. There is a beautiful lookout over Ogden near the top.

This hike was fantastic! I hadn't been on a hike in over two years, so it felt extremely…read morerefreshing. Most of the hike is at an upward incline. There are a few steep drop offs that were a little scary to me, but not a problem as long as you're paying attention. Quite a ways down the trail you'll come to a fork in the road. The left side is a continuation of the Coldwater Canyon Trail while the right side turns into the Indian trail. We went up the Indian Trail for a shorts ways until we reached the makeshift teepee. After that, we turned around and headed back.