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    Crystal Lake Trailhead

    4.5 (2 reviews)

    Crystal Lake Trailhead Photos

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    Nobletts Creek Trail - The cascade at the end of the trail.

    Nobletts Creek Trail

    5.0(2 reviews)
    11.8 mi

    It's a short little hike--something like 1.1miles each way on the main trail, so you probably…read morearen't going to make a day of it. And it's on the way to such great hiking farther up towards Wolf Creek Pass, so it's going to be overlooked by many. However, in the winter, this place is hopping. It's popular with the wintertime crowd, and the trees are all marked for winter x-country skiing and you'll hear a lot of motors that time of year, too. But I've only hiked it in summer--twice, actually--and both times it's been a delightful excursion. I ran it the first time, and though it's not perfect for running (some rocks later in the trail and some skinny parts that don't make for easy passing) it was fine. The last time I hiked it, I was carrying a picnic and that was just right. One mile, a nice cascade at the end, a lovely picnic, and back at sunset. You wander along a little river after parking in the massssssive parking lot (trailers, snowmobiles, you really have to see it in winter) and being near this brook is absolute loveliness. It drowns out the sounds as you leave the highway, and has enough pools and ponds that you can stop and wander. We crossed once for curiosity's sake and then went back to the trail and on our way. It's pretty easy, so kiddos could pick their way along the trickier portions, and still probably make it to the end. Just watch them near the water. It never gets too too deep, but they'll want to run and jump in it. Dogs, too. There have been groups hiking there on both my visits, as it's a well-marked trailhead and fairly popular. I quite like these little hikes you can do in a quick evening, though driving from SLC it doesn't much make sense to just come here for this hike, as the drive will take twice as long as the actual hike.

    Great hike near a natural spring river. The dogs love splashing around in the summer. Fairly easy…read moreat only 1 mile. I've been on this hike maybe 15 times and enjoyed it each time. Even in the winter it is magical.

    Upper Provo River

    Upper Provo River

    5.0(2 reviews)
    8.3 mi

    Memory Of The Upper Provo…read more Perfect dark blue line, stretched transparently thin. Like taffy tumbling over and over as it bends and twists and turns, but never breaks. Each rivulet and riffle tells the story- connecting the dots between the headwaters of how it all began, and the tailwaters of how it all ends. How did it all begin? The same story plays out each year. A year ago today, then tomorrow, a little warmth, then warmer still. Mountain shoulders appear smiling in a beautiful green and white patterned dress. Warmer still, and the dress melts away to fiery red beneath-- melting slowly at first, then faster, then powerless to the call. Winter cedes to the universal order: Two forces become one-- Heat and Gravity join together each tendril of melted snow like interlocked fingers making sweet, soft noises as they tumble unknowingly, happily, gleefully, to where they belong. Raging rapids, calm flats, trout-filled pools, and riffles that whisper secrets from upriver and predictions of what's below. Snow and rain and hail have become River. Soapstone pools, happy hikes, jumping off of logs, sending wishes under a bridge. A river fulfills the promise of life together under the blue sky: Baking sun on garden shores. Each river is unique; a love story tied between how it all begins and how it all ends. How does it all end? Autumn slows the story, Spring runs rapid with confused and turgid channels, summer meets the full measure of happiness. But winter's cold and cruel isolation cannot stop current beneath the ice. The heart of the river beats always. A river never ends. The stretch between how it all began and how it all ends is infinite, ever-flowing, unceasing. Time, distance, dam, or diversion: The heart of the mountain only beats louder; its pulse never wavers, never ends.

    Ok Jeffrey, you can't have this river all to yourself. From the headwaters in places like three…read moredivide lakes to when it enters the Jordanelle reservoir, it's a treat. It provides the backdrop for so many campgrounds and picnic areas along the mirror lake road. I've loved driving along it, and enjoying the sites for many years.

    Photos
    Upper Provo River

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    Gloria Falls

    Gloria Falls

    4.9(7 reviews)
    38.9 mi

    I think I brought part of 7-Eleven with me after a quick pit stop there before the hike…read more This was one of the most interesting, fun, and confusing hikes I've done (early May). I didn't realize there'd still be so much snow, so I forgot long socks. It was sunny and in the high 70s, but I saw people hiking shirtless, in flip-flops with socks, shorts, snow gear, and even snowshoes. At that point, I gave up trying to figure out if I was doing it right and just went with it. Every step felt like a gamble. I had no clue what was under the snow or how deep it went. The trail is hard to follow with all the snow, so I recommend using the AllTrails app. My feet sank into snow that felt like a 7-Eleven slushy. I slipped on icy snow and even fell into a hole, but it was worth it, lol. Without snow, it's an easy hike. With snow, I'd consider it intermediate. It's -2 mi RT (3 hours with 1 hr break). You'll cross two small bridges (one with rails & one without). When you see the "Welcome to the Wasatch-Cache National Forest" sign, follow the water stream. It'll take you to Gloria Falls (~0.25 miles left). There's a parking lot and one restroom (separate stalls). parking was almost full when I got there late morning on a Thursday. I'd def come back when there's no snow to experience it differently.

    2.75 miles total to the falls and back! Had a little more incline than I was expecting but would…read moresay this is overall a "moderate" hike! Around 595 ft. elevation gain throughout the hike :) The falls were stunning! We went in the afternoon and there were a lot of families on the trail but not too overly crowded.

    Photos
    Gloria Falls - Restroom

    Restroom

    Gloria Falls - No dogs are allowed here.

    No dogs are allowed here.

    Gloria Falls - Gloria Falls (May 2025)

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    Gloria Falls (May 2025)

    Provo River Falls

    Provo River Falls

    5.0(3 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    Located along the Mirror Lake Highway, just between mile markers 23 and 24, is a small turnout to a…read morevery impressive waterfall. To call it a waterfall is a bit of a misnomer, or at least feels incomplete. IT's more of a series of falls, or probably more accurately, cascades. Whereas most waterfalls actually, uh... fall, this is more of a whitewater tumble. There's not much freefall in the water, but it does cascade down a series of terraced rocks and the effect is quite beautiful. The parking lot isn't too big, so if it's a weekend and peak season, expect to park on the highway and walk in. No sweat, it's not far. You can see the falls from the parking lot, so no worries on long treks. From here, it's a choose your own adventure. There are some paved-ish (it's been a long while since they were maintained) trails, but it's not exactly accessible. Head down the stairs to the first and main overlook, or just head down the trail to the bottom falls and work your way back up over the rocks. It's a very popular place, and you'll see loads of picnickers and families. In the summer when the water levels recede, you may very likely see someone swimming, or see people venturing out over the terraced rocks. But in the spring/early summer, there's a dangerous level of water coming down the Provo River, so you'll want to say out of the frigid river itself. All told, you can see the whole thing in 15 mins and it's a nice pit stop along the Highway. If you intend to park and stay, you'll have to display a pass on your vehicle, which are available at a few locations along the highway on a self-serve basis. A three-day pass is currently $6 (no one-day passes available) and you get to park at any of the sights along the way with that pass. If you missed the self-serve station at the entrance on the Kamas side, or the (I think??) pass station at the Soapstone Basin restrooms, you can drive a little farther up the road (mile marker 25? 26?) and there's a self-serve station there.

    Just beautiful there is the 1st set of falls and then walk down farther and see the additional…read morefalls. It was fuller than we expected for July. It is very cold and breathtaking.

    Photos
    Provo River Falls
    Provo River Falls
    Provo River Falls

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    Crystal Lake Trailhead - hiking - Updated May 2026

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