Vitamin N straight from Mother Nature's source can be found in abundance at Utah's resorts during the summer months. Use this helpful guide to learn about wildflower hikes, guided geology tours, stargazing and more...
WASATCH WILDFLOWER FESTIVAL
The annual Wasatch Wildflower Festival is a series of free events supported by the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation meant to inspire and educate visitors during peak wildflower season in the Wasatch Mountains. Since 1996 the festival has celebrated the beauty, diversity, and fragility of our mountain environments while educating folks about our unique natural resources and watersheds. Festival dates are co-hosted by Brighton, Solitude, Snowbird and Alta Ski Area and feature volunteer-led walks, crafts for kids, music and food in the Cottonwood Canyons. Festival dates for 2024 are below, and registration is required, click here for info.
ASTRONOMY
BRIAN HEAD
Cedar Breaks National Monument is located just down the bend from Brian Head Ski Resort. Thanks to the area's remote location and high elevation, the monument is a certified Dark Sky Park with phenomenal stargazing opportunities. Throughout the summer (and winter) months park rangers will offer Dark Sky Tours to educate the public about astronomy and relevant astronomical events.
Tours take place throughout the summer every Friday-Sunday at the North View Overlook at 6:30PM. Guests will begin their evening with solar viewing and enjoy the fantastic sunset glowing to the west of the park's vermilion hoodoos. An astronomy talk will commence at 8PM, and telescope viewing is offered from 8:30–10PM. Take advantage of Brian Head's numerous lodging options and fun mountain activities to make a weekend in this neat desert oasis. Visit the park's website for more information.
SOLITUDE
Two stargazing nights will be hosted by Solitude on August 3 and September 7. This free event will provide several moderately large telescopes for admiring the cosmos. Stargazing sessions begin at 8:30PM at the Moonbeam parking lot. A star talk will be given by the director of the Stansbury Park Observatory Complex around dusk to provide education and interesting facts. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs, and binoculars. More info here.
GUIDED HIKES
DEER VALLEY
Deer Valley offers guided hikes from their mid-mountain Silver Lake Village or via a second chairlift ride to the top of Bald Mountain. Those who hike up the mountain may enjoy a complimentary chairlift ride down. The resort offers private guided hikes on a daily basis during which an expert guide will share stories about the area's rich history and identify local flora and fauna. There are also specialty historical hikes that cover approx. 6 miles over 3-4 hours to discuss the area's rich mining lore. Reservations are required and cost $10. Click here for guided hiking info.
SNOWBIRD
Guided hikes at Snowbird will be on offer during peak wildflower season in early July and August. Learn about the area's stunning natural beauty from a local expert guide. Hikes can be tailored to any ability level and group or private hikes are available. Click here for details.
SOLITUDE
Scenic guided hikes at Solitude are free with a valid chairlift ticket or a season pass. Ride the Sunrise chairlift and hike a pleasant trail to the lake as you pause to hunt for wildlife and discuss the local plant life and ecology. The guided hikes will often include sightings of mountain pikas, marmots, deer, and the occasional moose. Hiking at Solitude is especially spectacular during the peak wildflower season in July or with the autumn colors in late September and early October. Reservations are not required and the hikes depart from the bridge near the Village Pond at 10:15AM on Saturdays.
SUNDANCE
With over 20 miles of alpine trails ranging from easy to strenuous, there are many miles for meandering at Sundance. Dive into the ecology and geology of Sundance, and learn the stories and legends of the impressive Mount Timpanogos. Compare and delight in the differences in vegetation at various points along the mountain's elevation profile. In addition to guided hikes, Good Morning Hikes are offered at 7:45AM and provide access to the mountain before it opens for the day. Click here for info.
BIRDING AT ALTA
Alta Ski Area is for bird nerds, whether they are seasoned birders or just getting started with basic bird ID. Join a birding hike in partnership with Salt Lake City's Tracy Aviary or join an interpretive presentation about birds of prey from Utah's Hawk Watch.
BIRDING HIKES
Birding hikes at Alta provide a cool opportunity to participate in a citizen science initiative while hiking and enjoying the ski area's beautiful scenery. Each month the Tracy Aviary Conservation Team conducts a bird population survey. Learn about this year's findings and sightings from an aviary expert. Hikes are hosted on the fourth Thursday of each month, May-November from 9AM-2PM. Registration is required, info here.
DATES
May 23, 2024
June 27, 2024
July 25, 2024
August 22, 2024
September 26, 2024
October 24, 2024
November 7, 2024
HAWK WATCH BIRDS OF PREY SHOW
Meet native raptors and birds of prey in a unique and interactive event at Alta Ski Area in partnership with Hawk Watch and the Alta Environmental Center. Observe birds of prey at close range and learn the important roles these avians paly in our regional ecosystems. Get up close and personal with these majestic creatures. Presentations take place at Our Lady of the Snows center at Alta from 1-2PM on the following dates, info here.
DATES
June 20, 2024
July 25, 2024
August 15, 2024
GEOLOGY HIKES AT SOLITUDE
Free geology hikes are on offer at Solitude for those with a season pass or a scenic chairlift ticket. Start with a 30-minute presentation on the mind-bending geology of the Wasatch Mountain Range. The crew will then take a scenic lift ride on Sunrise and hike on to Lake Solitude to learn more about the area's terrain features and rich mining history. Tours begin at 9AM at the Solitude Village Pond and will conclude around 1:30PM on July 6, August 17, and Sept 7, 2024.
NATURE AT SUNDANCE
Nestled amid the mountains, Sundance Stables is the perfect place for beginner or expert horse lovers to indulge in a relaxing ride. Rides are available daily from mid-May through mid-October and provide a serene environment to witness the vibrant seasons of Sundance. Rides can be booked for private groups or mixed groups up to six riders. A variety of trail rides are available depending on your comfort and experience level. For a special memory, book a sunset trail ride for primo wildlife viewing and unforgettable sunset views.
Sundance is hosting 3 exciting bird release events this summer in conjunction with the Great Basin Wildlife Rescue. Each event will feature an engaging talk to learn about birds of prey followed by the opportunity to release a rehabilitated bird into the beautiful natural habitat at Sundance. Featured birds may include a red-tailed hawk, a barn owl, or a great horned owl.
BIRD RELEASE DATES
July 20, 2024 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
August 17, 2024 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
September 21, 2024 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Just down the road from Sundance lies the Provo River, a bountiful fishery with plenty of pools and riffles for guests to try their hand at fly fishing. Ideal for beginners with shallow wading areas and close proximity, a fly fishing lesson provides an intro to the ecology of Utah rivers and a chance to catch larger German Brown Trout in a blue ribbon fishery. Classes and clinics encompass trips for experienced anglers, women's groups, beginners, group outings, casting clinics and fly tying classes.
Thanks to Utah's desert climate, summer can be a hot and sticky time. Utah's mountain resorts provide the perfect respite away from the heat, and in addition to the activities above, many of our resorts offer scenic hiking trails and nature walks that are free to access. If you're looking for further adventure ideas and opportunities in Utah, don't miss our county by county activity guide for 29 stellar ideas.
