Fresh air, stunning views, mountains, valleys, and water – there’s no better place to enjoy the great outdoors in the summer than the Wasatch Mountains of Northern Utah. With pleasantly cool temperatures throughout the summer months, and bright, sunny days, it’s refreshing and exhilarating to enjoy a hike through the mountains, a day on the golf course, or a dip in natural geothermal springs. Here are just a few of the ways to experience the best summer activities in the Wasatch Mountains:

Hiking

If hiking is your thing, or you’re interested in trying it out, there’s no better place to do it than in Utah. This mountainous region has breathtaking landscapes that hikers of any skill level can appreciate. From leisurely strolls to overnight backpacking, hiking in Utah never disappoints. Here are a few of our favorite areas for an unforgettable hiking experience:

Cottonwood Heights – Located along the Wasatch Front, Cottonwood Heights has miles of popular hiking trails, some of the most popular including Ferguson Trail Head (hard), Big Cottonwood Canyon Trail (easy), and Crestwood Park Loop (easy). 

Midway – This mountain valley is perfect for seeing snow-capped mountains, lakes, and rivers along your hike. Recommended trails are Cascade Springs Interpretive Trail (easy), Ridge Trail 157 (moderate), and Pittsburg Lake Trail (hard). 

Heber – Located in the same mountain valley as Midway, Heber has 31 hiking trails of its own, including Nobletts Creek Trail (easy), Heber Valley Overlook (easy), and Phosphate Trail Loop (moderate).

Dog Parks and Leash Trails

When exploring the great outdoors, we can’t forget about our fur friends. They might love the fresh air and fragrant wind even more than we do! Luckily, most of the hiking trails mentioned above are dog-friendly as long as your pup is on a leash. Millcreek Canyon also offers multiple beautiful hiking trails where dogs are allowed to roam freely off-leash on odd numbered days and then must be on-leash on even numbered days.

There are also a couple of off-leash dog parks where they can explore on their own (while supervised). Valais Dog Park is located in Midway and features rough grass, wood chips, and bare dirt. Heber City Dog Park is grassy, fully-fenced, and provides clean-up bags. Draper Dayland Dog Park in Draper, Utah offers separate sections for small dogs and large dogs, as well as hills to run up and dow, water to play in, and both grass areas and dirt areas to meet new furry friends.

Outdoor Yoga

As deeply as you breathe in yoga, it’s only right that you inhale fresh mountain air. Outdoor yoga is a great way to celebrate both nature and your health. Try it out with Utah Yoga & Wellness‘ Summer Solstice Yoga in the Park every Saturday at 9 a.m. at Midway Town Square. Seek Studio provides outdoor yoga at Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City, Utah in the summer, beginning mid-June.

Golf

One of the things that can make or break a great golf experience is the view! In Utah, the views (and courses) along the Wasatch Mountains don’t disappoint. Glance up at snow-capped mountains while you perfect your putt and enjoy the cool summer temperatures while you deliver your drives. Here are our favorite golf courses in the area:

Wasatch Mountain Golf Course in Midway – consistently ranked among the most popular, affordable, and scenic courses in Utah 

Homestead Golf Club – located by our Kantons new home community, this course is rated the #1 golf course in Utah by Golf Advisor and is a convenient course to play where our Kantons homeowners are walking distance from enjoying this fun course and our Appenzell homeowners are able to enjoy after a short minute drive.

A few popular golf courses in the Salt Lake Valley are the Old Mill Golf Course, Pebble Brook Golf Club, and River Oaks Golf Course.

Rentals

In the Wasatch Mountain region, you can rent just about any vehicle or equipment for a fun-filled day outdoors. From four wheelers and paddle boards, to horses and fly fishing gear, all you have to bring to enjoy the scene is yourself. Wasatch Adventure Guides is a good place to start to enjoy a cool summer experience in the mountains.

Natural Springs

Unique to Midway, UT is the sublime Homestead Crater. This naturally formed, geothermal spring is surrounded by a 55-foot limestone rock with a hole at the top of the dome that lets in sunlight. The crystal-clear mineral water stays a consistent 90-96 degrees Fahrenheit all year long. Visitors can swim, scuba dive, snorkel, or enjoy a simple therapeutic soak. There’s a ground-level tunnel through the rock that provides direct access to custom-built decks overlooking the springs. This is the perfect place for our homeowners at Kantons to walk over and unwind since our Kantons community is directly next door. It’s only a short minute drive from our Appenzell community, as well.

Farms and Gardens

The Wasatch Mountain region is abundant with clean soil, bright sun, and fresh air – a perfect recipe for growing food, flowers, and butterflies! Here are a few of the places you can experience the miracle of growth:

Thanksgiving Point – This non-profit farm, garden, and museum complex offers myriad ways to explore and learn about the natural world. Farm Country is a working farm where you can meet farm animals and learn about farming through hands-on experiences. Ashton Gardens features 50 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens that are perfect for peaceful strolling. In the Butterfly Biosphere, you can observe over a thousand butterflies from around the world in a natural setting. 

Wasatch Community Gardens – Here you can learn about, grow, and contribute food to in-need communities in the area. There are classes, events, youth and school gardens, and job training programs to empower people to grow and eat healthy, organic, local food.

Summers in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah offer some of the most unique, memorable, and beautiful outdoor experiences in the country. If you are considering a move here to enjoy these activities whenever you’d like, we invite you to take a look at  Regal Homes. For the last 25 years, we’ve built thoughtfully-designed, brand new homes and communities in the most desirable locations in Utah. If you are interested in a new home along the Wasatch Front or Wasatch Back, we’d love to show you around. Please contact us at 385.297.8216 to schedule a private appointment today.