Came here early in the morning for a bird watching walk. It was a gorgeous place to be able to see…read morethe sunrise through the trees and the Mountain View while also having a very easy to walk path alongside water that was paved and wide. In terms of wildlife, they had a small pond at the parking area, which had tons of ducks and I'm pretty sure I also saw a pica which was a first for me. It looked like they also had bathrooms as well as a seating area. I was surprised at how clean everything was and maintained the paved trail was. I definitely recommend coming here for a walk or a run as I felt very safe even by myself at 6am For my birders: There's a pretty good number of species out there, including lesser gold, finches, black Chin, hummingbird, Rufous hummingbird, and others (see photos for an August visit)

At first I just thought this was a trailhead for the Jordan River Parkway Trail. And yes, that's…read moreprobably what a lot of the traffic is about. It's a good place to hop on, and you can go north or south as the trail will take you back under Winchester Street when you park on the north side. But actually, it's more than just a parking lot launching off point. They actually have a small park here, with a rentable pavilion, restrooms, a small playground, tables, BBQs, and as you're close to the Jordan River, you can launch a canoe here, too. There's not a ton of grass, but enough for the kids to run around. However, you should be aware that there's a small diversion of the river to a pond/flow sort of situation in the midst of the park so you won't want to let the kiddos wander too far from where you can keep an eye on them. Once you get too far from Winchester, the trees get a little more sparse, but there's good shade coverage here for those hot summer days. For me, though, it's most enjoyable in the shoulder months when the foliage is turning or in the spring when you just have to get out and take a long walk.

4.75 mile hike with incredible views. This hike was a steady incline on the way up and all downhill…read moreon the way back. It took about 2.5 hours and was just over 1200ft in elevation gain. Would recommend early in the morning before it gets too hot!

This has two trailheads, so please note that the pin drop here on Yelp (as of today) is on the…read moreMillcreek Canyon side. If you're looking to hike to Desolation Lake, you can make it there on this trailhead, but it's the loooooong way. For the most direct way to Desolation Lake, you'll want the Beartrap Fork Trail #057, located one canyon to the south in Big Cottonwood Canyon, here: https://www.yelp.com/biz/beartrap-fork-trail-057-salt-lake-city Now that's settled, let's talk about the Desolation Trail. As alluded to above, this is actually quite a long trail that straddles the hump between Millcreek and Big Cottonwood Canyons. Arguably, the most popular section of the hike is here at the Millcreek side, as it delivers hikers a nifty vista after a few miles. First, find the trailhead by going east up Millcreek Canyon. You'll pass the series of Cub Scout and Boy Scout camps on the south side, and come to the Church Fork Picnic area on the north (left) side. Once you pass that, the South Box Elder Picnic Area appears on the south (right) and this is where the trailhead begins. The trailhead hosts a small pit toilet building but there is no available electricity or water, so bring your own before you arrive. There are a few small picnic tables on a first come-first served basis, as well as the Edmund Ellsworth picnic area, which can be reserved ahead of time. Begin the ascent behind the restrooms and you'll see a few signs to begin: first, note that the beginning of the hike is on private property. The Boy Scouts allow the public trail to cross the property, so be nice, and stay on trail. The other sign you see is a mileage indicator which reads: Salt Lake Valley Overlook 2 Thaynes Canyon 3 Porter Fk. Trail 8.5 Mill B North Fk. 9 Bowman Fk. 10.5 Dog Lake 16.5 Desolation Lake 18 Far and away, the most popular hike here is the Salt Lake Valley Overlook. Though marked at 2, it's arguably more like 2.2, making a nice but challenging 4.4 mile round trip activity. This is infinitely doable as an after-work hike in the long days of summer, and even in less illuminated conditions the trail is well worn and can be accomplished on days when you sneak out of the office early. Expect to see lots of traffic those first few miles. Also note that Millcreek Canyon is a popular spot for dog owners, and dogs are allowed on trails and offleash on odd-numbered days of the month. If pups ain't your thing, stick to even-numbered leash days, or skip to the south for the dog-prohibited Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons. The Salt Lake Valley Overlook is as far as I've taken the trail from Millcreek. On the other side, I've run around BCC, Dog Lake, and Desolation Lake as a younger fellow and trail is remarkably similar. Expect to find shorter but thick foliage in sunnier, lower elevations. As you rise or find shady sides of the canyon, you can find stands of pine and other evergreens. The flowers light up from early spring and take turns all season; scarlet gilia, lupine, the occasional mountain aster, Indian paintbrush, and many others. The trailhead sits at about 5750ft in elevation. Salt Lake Valley Overlook takes you to just over 7000ft. It's never technical, the trail is almost exclusively dirt (read: dusty in the summer) but it's a constant climb and can get the best of less-than-seasoned hikers. Still, it's a good choice if you have a healthy group. The full Desolation Trail (which, as far as I can tell, ends at Desolation Lake) maps out on paper to be 16 miles, but is listed at 18. The lake itself sits at just over 9200 ft, so you shouldn't be surprised that the Desolation Trail is a constant climb for over 6 miles before calming down and dropping to around 8800ft over the next 7 or so miles, reaching Dog Lake, dropping to around 8300, and then lifting back up over the 9K mark to reach the waters of Desolation. Here again, you're looking at high elevation forest, although never terribly thick, and a lot of shrub and deciduous groves. Pack plenty of water, even if you're just headed to the overlook. Some of it is exposed, and it's a pretty dry hike. Sunblock is a must, because no matter what time of day or season, you're going to pass stretches that are exposed. We're spoiled to have something like this, and all the other great trails, so close to us in SLC. the Salt Lake Valley Overlook is quite the sight, and that's just about 2 miles away. The whole journey -- one I've not completed in a continuous slog, to be clear -- is on my conquer list and a real treat for anyone looking to head for the hills on a summer day.

Not too far from the Utah Cultural Center, you'll find the Pioneer Crossing Regional Park-a modest…read morepark with a playground, restrooms and walking trail. I'll admit, it's not the most beautiful park in the valley, but as I do, I found some good in it regardless. The playground is located right next to the parking lot and there are a few trees that surround it. Depending on the time of day, you might find yourself in a bit of shade. The restrooms are right there, too, although they were locked when I visited around 5pm on a Monday afternoon. The Jordan River Trail walkway goes through this park, so there are marked paths for walking, jogging or biking. Some parts are shaded, but most of the path is not. There also appears to have been a fire at some point (controlled? I'm unsure) and there's a lot of charred vegetation that remains. There's a wobbly suspension bridge that takes you over the river. It's not too big, but if you're nervous about rickety bridges over water, maybe pick a different path.

I was out for a walk recently. A very long walk along the Jordan River, and came upon Walden Park…read more It's right along that trail, and as we walked by, I was able to see what this spot is all about. It's not a huge park, but it does offer a variety of amenities for everyone--you can walk or bike along the path, there's a small playground for the kids, and a small pavilion to picnic or just hang out. I'm not sure when the official park begins. I just noticed on the map that it's drawn to be long and skinny along the parkway trail. It's just the trail on the southern part, and the action is more on the north side by 5300 S. The trail in most of this section is more wide open, with some larger trees here and there. In the summer, there will be a lot of sunshine and the pavilion will be your shade refuge.

We just wanted to find a quick playground for the kids to play at one day when they had a little…read moretoo much energy. There's some good open field space (suitable for soccer/football/frisbee) around the play equipment, and it's along the Jordan River Parkway trail, so it's well maintained. There is a covered area for events, and some BBQs for cooking which can be booked on a first come first served basis. Nothing extravagant, but great for stretching yours (and your little ones) legs.

Yesterday we were 11 ladies, who booked an afternoon river run. Most of us are in our 60s with a…read morefew 70 +and some were nervous about the rapids. Our guides Rob and Jeremy knew to be very safe with us and we had a wonderful time. It was one ladies first time, she said didn't realize how relaxing it would be between the class ii Rapids. The Weber is surprisingly beautiful despite the fact that it follows the highway. You don't even know the highway is there!

Did a private guided hike with Tyler and had a great experience! Pick up and drop off…read moretransportation was provided along with boot covers, snowshoes, poles and a bottle of water as part of the package. Tyler gave a great background of the area and was knowledgeable about many aspects of the nature around us. We had a great chat in general that kept for a nice rythem during the 4 mi hike! River rafting next!

What a gem! Take a walk, a jog, go fishing, have a picnic, feed the ducks, or relax on a bench and…read morejust enjoy the view. This is has become my favorite park and urban fishing spot. It's clean, spacious and the people are friendly. There are no mountains to the west so dusk hangs in there a little longer and the sunsets are beautiful every night. Fishing here has been good to us. We have caught the biggest rainbow we've ever hooked, at this pond. I was shocked! The bag limit is 2 per person, so it went quick. The 3 of us got our limit under and hour. The rest of the day was catch and release which is just as fun. The trout here are feisty! They are a blast to reel in. When I can't make it into the mountains, Jensen pond works for me. The ducks here are funny and crazy. Not crazy, like Clinton Pond ducks (those are just plain scary). I'm not a fan of giving ducks bread for their health and water quality reasons, but I'll loosen up a bit and let the little one give them some bread once in a while. She loves it, they love it. There's a melting pot of ducks and geese, all unique in their own way and each with a cute personality. If you'd like to take a little walk and get the bod moving, this is a good place. The sidewalk goes around the entire pond. I also noticed a ton of people walking around with their cell phones. So if you're into Pokemon, I think that's what they're doing. Jensen Nature Park is for everyone! Come check it out! Heads up: Be careful around the edges of the sidewalk. There are huge holes. I've rolled my ankles in them almost every time we came. I don't learn my lessons very easily.

It's a decent park to go for a walk or bike ride, but I wouldn't fish here. The lake is murky and…read morelittered with trash :( not a lot, but I still wouldn't trust eating the fish here... it's pretty though and right next to a bike trail

What a trip. I was…read morethoroughly impressed with our Desolation Canyon trip with Holiday River Expeditions. Going into it, I had very few expectations--I had never done anything like this before--and, if anything, I probably had more concerns than expectations. By the end of six days on the river, most of those concerns had become some of my favorite parts of the experience. First and foremost, our guides, Tristan and Annie, and the group we traveled with made the trip. Tristen and Annie were incredibly well prepared, knowledgeable, friendly, and just genuinely enjoyable people to spend six days with. Early on, they asked us to embrace and respect the river, and in return they showed us just how much the canyon had to offer. There was a great balance of adventure, history, knowledge, humor, and simply slowing down enough to appreciate where we were. I was concerned about being completely disconnected--there was no cell signal for the entire trip--but I quickly came to embrace it. Cutting the cord completely changed the rhythm of my day. No emails, no calls, no notifications. Just the river, the canyon and the people around you. I was concerned about sleeping on the ground. It never exactly became comfortable, but I got used to it enough that I spent several nights sleeping outside under the stars instead of in my tent. Speaking of the stars, I honestly didn't know that many existed. Maybe sleeping on the ground wasn't the reason I had trouble falling asleep--I may have spent too much time staring at the sky. I was concerned about the "Bano." Turns out I've never gone to the bathroom in more beautiful or serene surroundings. And, after all, everybody does it. I was concerned about the food. I shouldn't have been. It was fantastic, and I was continually impressed by what the guides were able to prepare for us in the middle of nowhere. I also spent several days paddling a ducky, which added another level of adventure and was an absolute blast. By the end, six days somehow didn't feel very long. You settle into the rhythm of the river, stop worrying about what time it is, get comfortable being a little dirty, and start appreciating how simple your world has become. What a trip. I would absolutely do it again. And as I've discovered since getting home, nobody warns you how hard it is to spend six days on the river and then go back to sitting behind a desk.

We had a wonderful experience with the Holiday team during our trip through The Gates of Lodore…read more Our guide team was led by Drake and included Brian, Annie and Jimmy. Each of them were incredibly kind, informative, and very fun to be around. Their coordination of the trip was beyond exceptional. Their knowledge and passion for the area was inspiring. We all learned so much about the history of the canyons. Thank you to our guide team for an unbelievable trip.

Park is still amazing as ever even a few months later! July is incredibly hot here but the humidity…read moreis low, therefore you won't sweat as much. Tennis courts and pickle ball courts are pristine.

Everywhere you look it's just gorgeous Mountain View's at this park. Also, it's a super cool park…read moreto see a view of the city from. It had a good walking track. It had a pretty big playground with a jungle gym swings. The biggest downside is that it doesn't have a bathroom. It had a port-a-potty, but it was very dirty. Other than that great place to hangout on the grass and sunbathe or get a walk in. The also had some courts for pickleball