In Salt Lake City, Utah, a favorite local activity is going for a scenic drive. The landscape features mountains, greenery, rivers, lakes, and even waterfalls. You can easily access these locations by driving your car around designated routes. There are several drives you can take around Salt Lake City, so we've created a guide that goes over the top scenic drives in the area. Let's discuss each route and what makes them so stunning.
The Alpine Loop Scenic Byway
The Alpine Loop Scenic Byway is one of Utah's most popular scenic drives. This 20-mile drive is open from late May to late October, and it loops through the rugged canyons of the Wasatch Range. During winter, it's closed due to snow. Although it's open through several seasons, try to go on this drive during fall. Stunning and bright fall colors elevate this route, making it unforgettable. You'll drive by waterfalls, caves, and lakes. You'll even pass by a luxurious ski resort. On the way, you might see some wildlife, which adds to the natural feel of this drive.
The loop begins in American Fork Canyon and takes Utah Highway 92 through Uinta National Forest before reaching Provo Canyon, which takes you to Highway 189. If you havetime to spare, take a short detour to Cascade Springs, which is a mountain spring with a quarter-mile boardwalk. And if you're interested in hiking, you can stop to hike along Bridal Veil Falls.
Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons
Little Cottonwood Canyon is a short drive that has several easy hiking opportunities. This is a great drive for a family. The Little Cottonwood Canyon route is a quick seven miles that leads to the Snowbird and Atla ski resorts. Once you get to Little Cottonwood Canyon, you can stop and enjoy a day full of activities. If you have kids, they'll love the playground and other fun opportunities there. The opening of the canyon is a quarry site with large granite blocks that make for a great family photo.
Just north of Little Cottonwood is Big Cottonwood Canyon, which, as it's named, is a much larger canyon with three driving routes you can choose from. The first route leads to the Solitude and Brighton Ski Resorts, the second route goes to Park City, and the third route leads to Heber Valley. The first route to Solitude and Brighton is 15 miles, and as you're on this route, you may be able to see old mines along with hillsides.
Emigration Canyon to Parley's Canyon
If you're looking for a route that can be an all-day adventure with several activities, then consider the route from Emigration Canyon to Parley's Canyon. This route goes up Emigration Canyon Road and goes down to SR-65 and I-80, ending at the mouth of Parley's Canyon. On this route, you'll pass several interesting destinations, including the University of Utah, The Hogle Zoo, and This Is The Place Heritage Park. You can even stop by Ruth's Diner, which is a nice place to grab a meal.
When you drive Emigration Canyon to Parley's Canyon, you can take one of two routes. The first route is shorter and doesn't include Park City, while the second route goes through Park City and is longer. If you skip Park City, you'll go straight down to Parley's Canyon toward Salt Lake City. This route is open all year round and is 17 miles from Kimball Junction. When driving from canyon to canyon, you'll enjoy several scenic views and rock formations.
Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake is a very popular driving route that is 42 miles long across Route 150. It begins with scenic farmlands before turning into rich forests and meadows with mountains in the background. An added bonus about this route is that there are several places where you can park your vehicle to take pictures. You can even pack your lunch and have a picnic while enjoying the gorgeous scenery. Some of these locations have campgrounds, which is great if you want to stay overnight.
The Mirror Lake Byway ascends up to over 10,000 feet to Bald Mountain Pass before descending past Mirror Lake. This lake gets its name due to its reflective surface. Looking at the lake, you'll see the scenery reflected upon the water, which makes for perfect pictures. If you take this drive during fall, you can enjoy the beautiful leaves. But if you come during the spring or summer, you can swim, fish, canoe, kayak, or paddleboard. Additionally, you can go mountain biking or backpacking. And if you visit during the winter, some fun activities include cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.
Provo Canyon
Provo Canyon is a 28-mile drive that winds around rock formations, waterfalls, and other gorgeous natural sites. On this route, you'll see the Bridal Veil Falls, Deer Creek Reservoir, and Heber Valley. To get to Provo Canyon, you start on US-189, which is parallel to Provo River. Next, you drive the Alpine Scenic Loop on U-92 that leads to Sundance Resort, Uinta National Forest, and Timpanogos Cave National Monument. Once you're at the top of Provo Canyon, you can do several fun activities on the reservoir, including sailing, fishing, windsurfing, and boating.
Finally, the bypass ends in Heber Valley and Soldier Hollow State Park, which was the venue for cross-country skiing, biathlon, and Nordic combined events during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. If you drive to Provo Canyon during the winter, you can cross-country ski or snowshoe 16 miles' worth of trails that circle Soldier Hollow. But if you can't make it during winter, you can hike or bike the trails.
If you're looking for an easy and fun activity, try driving these scenic routes. Whether you want to go on a short drive or a drive that turns into an all-day adventure, you'll find the perfect option for you. Did we miss one of your favorite routes around Salt Lake City? If so, please let us know so we can add it to our list.