Scenic Drives

NEAR PARK CITY

MIRROR LAKE SCENIC BYWAY

SR-248 (Kearns Blvd.) east to Kamas. Left on SR-32 two blocks to SR-150 (Scenic Byway). Mirror Lake is about an hour drive from Park City. Return the same way or continue on to Evanston, WY and return via I-80 westbound. Many small lakes, falls, camping sites, trailheads and wildlife are along this beautiful route. There are no retail services within the forest area. Shop and gas before you begin your drive. Fee area. Driving time: 1-1/2 to 3 hrs.

WOLFE CREEK PASS

SR-248 (Kearns Blvd.) east to Kamas. Turn right on SR-32, 2 miles to Francis. Left on SR-35 through Woodland and into the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. The road eventually intersects SR-208, 6 miles beyond Tabiona. Turn right (south) 10 miles and pick upUS-40 west through Heber City. Forest, river, wildlife, hiking, camping and reservoirs. Drive time 1 to 3-1/2 hrs.

JORDANELLE STATE PARK

Hailstone Recreation Area, SR-248 (Kearns Blvd.) east to US-40 south. Drive south 4 miles to the Mayflower exit. Cross over the highway and down to the park. Boat, fish, picnic, and camp. Fee area.

Rock Cliff Recreation Area, continue south on US-40 another 4 miles beyond Hailstone and turn left (east) at the traffic light to SR-32. Drive approximately 5 miles. Bird-watching, boating, hiking. Drive time: 15-25 minutes. Fee area.

GUARDSMAN PASS

SR-224 south on Deer Valley Drive. Exit from the round-about on Marsac Avenue and continue on up Ontario Canyon to Guardsman Pass. This partially paved road (SR-190/224) travels through forests and valleys to the summit area between Big Cottonwood Canyon and the Park City Resort area. Length:14 miles. If you continue on this road, it will take you to Salt Lake. Return to Park City on I-215 north to I-80 east. Not recommended for trailers. Closed in winter.

HOMESTEAD/WASATCH MOUNTAIN PARK

SR-248 (Kearns Blvd.) east to US-40. Go south on US-40 for 8 miles to US-32, the Midway turnoff. Go west (right) on SR-32 and follow the signs to the Homestead or Wasatch Mountain State Park. Drive time: 20 minutes.

NEAR PROVO

CASCADE SPRINGS

Beginning at the summit between American Fork and Provo Canyons, the pavement portion of the road ends at Cascade Springs where a large mountain spring cascades down a series of limestone terraces and pools. From the springs, a steep and narrow dirt road continues north to Midway. Length 25 miles. (Sundance to Midway.) 801-342-5240. Closed in winter.

ALPINE LOOP SCENIC DRIVE

SUNDANCE RESORT

SR-248 (Kearns Blvd.) to US-40 south. Proceed to the south end of Heber City. Go west on US-189 14 miles to SR-92. Sundance is 3 miles up the canyon. Continue on SR-92 past Mt. Timpanogos Cave and intersect at Alpine with I-15 north to Salt Lake City, then pick up I-80 east. Drive time: about 50 minutes to Sundance or 2-3 hours for entire loop. If you wish to hike to the caves, reservations are recommended. Call 801-756-5238. Fee charged.

NEAR ODGDEN

MORMON PIONEER SCENIC DRIVE

I-80 east to Echo. After exiting, make two left turns onto the Frontage Road. This will take you through Echo, the first town in Utah, settled in 1854. Continue following the Frontage Road over I-84 to Henefer. In Henefer, make a left onto SR-65. SR-65 goes by East Canyon Reservoir and rejoins I-80 at Mountain Dell Golf Course. Take I-80 east to return to Park City. Drive time: 2 hrs.

HUNTSVILLE, UT

Take I-80 east to Echo. Pick up I-84 west and travel about 5 miles past Morgan to Exit #96 (Trappers Loop). Follow the signs about 15 miles more to the picturesque town of Huntsville. You can also return via Ogden Canyon and Salt Lake. Drive time: 1-1/4 to 3 hrs.

NEAR SALT LAKE CITY

SCENIC ROUTE TO SALT LAKE CITY/HOGLE ZOO/THIS IS THE PLACE STATE PARK/RED BUTTE GARDENS

I-80 west about 5 miles to SR-65 North. Turn left at the Emigration Canyon turnoff. This traverses part of the route by which Brigham Young and the first Mormon Pioneers entered Salt Lake Valley. Hogle Zoo and This is the Place State Park are located at the bottom of the Canyon just before entering Salt Lake. Continuing west less than a mile beyond Hogle Zoo, turn north on Wakara Way and follow the signs to Red Butte Gardens. Drive time: 45 minutes.

POINTS OF INTEREST

KENNECOTT COPPER MINE

Exhibits on the history, geology, and operations of the country’s largest, most productive copper mine. Open April-Oct. Admission fees donated to charity. Copperton, take I-15 to 7200 So. Exit and follow 7800 So. to the mine. 801-252-3234.

HILL AEROSPACE MUSEUM

30 miles north of Salt Lake. One of the finest collections of old and current military aircraft, missiles, munitions, and aviation art in America. 8-4:30 daily. Free admission.

LAGOON AMUSEMENT PARK/PIONEER VILLAGE/LAGOON-A-BEACH WATERPARK & CAMPGROUND

17 miles north of Salt Lake on I-15. Take Lagoon Drive Exit, Farmington.

PICNIC SITES IN THE UINTAS

Kamas – Mirror Lake Scenic Byway (Hwy. 150) offers picnic and campground sites. Fee area.

Oakley – Smith & Morehouse 11 miles east off SR-213 (Weber Canyon). Fee area.

Woodland – Wolf Creek Pass 13 miles east on SR-35.

Maps and information are available at the US Forest Service, 50 East Center Street in Kamas. 435-783-4338.

CAMPGROUNDS

HIDDEN HAVEN: Park Ave. (SR-224) north to I-80. Go over the freeway and turn left on Rasmussen Road 1-1/2 miles to campground.

HOLIDAY HILLS: I-80 east to Coalville Exit 164 (approx. 25 miles.) Go left over freeway and left into campground.

NATIONAL AND STATE PARKS WITHIN A FEW HOURS DRIVE TIME

ANTELOPE ISLAND STATE PARK: 40 miles north of Salt Lake. Antelope Island, the largest island in the Great Salt Lake, is accessed via a 7.2-mile causeway. Its 28,022 acres are home to a unique variety of wildlife. Hike, bike, horseback riding, primitive camping. The causeway is 7 miles west of I-15 Exit #335 near Layton. 801-773-2941.

ARCHES NATIONAL PARK: 234 miles east of Park City. The largest concentration of natural stone arches in the world is found in Arches National Park. Over 2,000 of these “miracles of nature” grace the 119-square miles area.

DINOSAUR NATIONAL MONUMENT: 151 miles east on US-40. The largest quarry of Jurassic Period dinosaur bones ever discovered is on this site 20 miles east of Vernal. 435-789-2115.

GOLDEN SPIKE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE: I-15 north to Brigham City and take U-83 northwest to the Golden Spike National Historic Site. This is the site of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 and two exact working replicas of the original locomotives, the Jupiter and 119.

BIRDWATCHING

Woodland SR-248 to Kamas, turn right on SR-32 and go south 2 miles. Turn left on SR-35 and proceed to Woodland. Turn right at the red brick church and drive along the bench. It rejoins SR-35 about three miles later. This area is teeming with Sandhill Cranes, Stellar Bluejays, hawks, owls, Mountain Bluebirds and others. Look for moose and deer in the trees and pastures. You may also see porcupines and badgers alongside the road. 25 minutes.

Rock Cliff/Jordanelle Reservoir State Park The Provo River is a blue-ribbon trout stream and an internationally recognized important bird area. Right by the dam is an area of outstanding birding that stretches for several miles along the Provo River. This area offers birding for songbirds and marsh birds. Western Warblers, Flycatchers, and American Dippers are just about a sure bet. And above the dam, on the Jordanelle Reservoir, you can see anything from ducks to loons. To access this area, take US-40 south 10 miles to SR-32. Drive east about 5 miles and turn left into Rock Cliff. Boardwalk guided tours with a park ranger are available. Fee area.

Visitor Information Center

750 Kearns Boulevard

435-658-4541

Park City Museum & Information Center

528 Main Street

435-649-6104

Park City Chamber of Commerce/Convention & Visitors Bureau

1910 Prospector Avenue, Ste. 103

P.O. Box 1630

Park City, UT 84060

800-453-1360/435-649-6100

www.parkcityinfo.com