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Utah Travel Headlines

Friday, July 29, 2011

Timpanogos Cave Will Be Closed 4 Days A Week For Construction

Timpanogos Cave National Monument is a popular attraction in American Fork Canyon, just NE of Provo. People interested in touring the cave need to be aware that it will now be closed four days a week as crews work to upgrade facilities.

The Provo Herald has this article about the construction, and its impact on cave tours. Below are excerpts.

Timpanogos Cave will now be closed Mondays through Thursdays for the rest of the summer.

Crews are using that time to construct a new cave exit shelter. The good news is that the cave will remain open for tours every weekend, Friday through Sunday, until Oct. 16.

Even though the cave will be closed four days a week, the visitor center and concessions are open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday for visitors to enjoy the interactive exhibits, films, book sales, advance ticket purchases and for food and beverage service in American Fork Canyon. The visitor center and concessions will be open from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday until Oct. 16.

The park will also offer free evening programs through Labor Day every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday evenings from 7 to 8 p.m. Contact the visitor center at (801) 756-5238 for locations.

The cave usually closes for the season in mid-October, when snow starts to fall on the trail.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Park City Kimball Arts Festival Runs August 5-7

The 42nd annual Kimball Arts Festival will be held August 5-7, 2011, in Park City. It draws artists from around the country, and attracted some 49,500 people last year. Officials expect attendance to rise by a few thousand this year.

“We’re showcasing the most talented artists in their respective fields to bring to our annual Arts Festival and raised the bar on programs like Taste of Art and Festival After Dark. As the largest three-day event in Park City during the summer, we work year-round to come up with innovative ways to create a multi-sensory experience for all of our patrons,” said Robin Marrouche, Kimball Art Center, Executive Director.

The Park City Kimball Arts Festival serves as the primary fundraiser for the Kimball Art Center each year. Proceeds from the Festival enable the Kimball Art Center to provide, free of charge, year around art exhibitions, gallery tours, monthly “Art Talks” and to offer art education outreach to teachers, students and the greater community.

See the festival website for details.

The Deseret News has this article about the festival. Below are Excerpts.

After a successful inaugural year for some new programs and the largest turnout in its history last year, the Park City Kimball Arts Festival will kick off its 42nd year on Aug. 5 with even greater expectations.

The “Relevant” artist-in-residence and “Taste of Art” programs are both returning for their second years after success last year.

Other activities of note are the “Festival After Dark” programs that include performances in partnership with the Deer Valley Resort Concert Series, and KSL will set up a booth activity to give kids a glimpse into the world of broadcasting. The top 10 Best of Show festival winners from last year will also be featured in an exhibit to remind festival goers of last year’s offerings.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Public Bus Service Will Soon Run Between Park City and Salt Lake City

The Utah Transit Authority has announced plans to begin public bus service between Park City and Salt Lake City. The service is scheduled to launch on Oct 2.

Utah's ski resorts have long been considered some of the most accessible in the US. The new service will make the three Park City area resorts even easier to reach. It will now be possible for skiers and others to get from Salt Lake International Airport to Park City via public transportation.

People who commute between the two cities are also expected to use the service, along with others who want to visit Park City for shopping, dining and other activities. The service will be particularly valuable during the Sundance Film Festival, when it is virtually impossible to find parking close to downtown Park City.

The Salt Lake Tribune has this article about the anticipated service. Below are details.

The Utah Transit Authority board adopted on Wednesday an interlocal agreement for the service, and the Summit County Council was expected to do so later. Park City previously approved it.

Plans call for charging a one-way fare of $5.50, or monthly passes for $242, for travel on coach-style express buses operated by UTA...

Plans call for 16 buses a day during the peak months of December to April, and 12 a day from May to November.

Stops will include: the Salt Lake Central Station; State Street at 200 South; University Hospital; a park-and-ride near the mouth of Parley’s Canyon; Jeremy Ranch; Kimball Junction; the Canyons resort; Park City Mountain Resort; Old Town Transit Center in Park City; and Deer Valley.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Utah Hotels Ranked Among Best In The World By Travel + Leisure Magazine

The August issue of Travel + Leisure Magazine has this article listing the best hotels in the world, as ranked by its readers. Four Utah properties make the list. The Salt Lake Tribune has this report about the rankings. Below are excerpts.

The highest reader accolades went to Deer Valley’s Stein Eriksen Lodge, which was rated the second-best resort property in the two countries (US and Canada) in the magazine’s 16th annual reader survey, according to the August issue of the magazine.

Two other Utah lodging establishments joined Stein Eriksen in the rankings.

The St. Regis at Deer Valley came in 10th, while Sundance Resort off of Provo Canyon tied for 18th. In a global ranking of resorts, the magazine put Stein Eriksen in 28th place, St. Regis 71st and Sundance 99th.

Travel + Leisure’s survey also ranked Salt Lake City’s Grand America Hotel as the 32nd best large hotel (100 or more rooms) in a U.S. or Canadian city.

Below are excerpts from the original Travel + Leisure report.

Honing in on the World’s Best Hotels is no easy feat. Each year, T+L readers vote on thousands of hotels based on rooms, location, service, food, and value. The top-ranked properties had impressively high scores. The entire Top 100 received scores above 92.00—a T+L record that’s a testament to how properties around the globe are raising the bar.

Stein Eriksen Lodge: A Norwegian-style chalet halfway up a peak at Deer Valley ski resort. When you drive up, valets will unload your skis from your car. Free guides will show you around the mountain. Ski magazine's readers have consistently voted it the best ski resort in America. The comfy-luxe hotel evokes holidays from a century ago. Sip mulled wine by the fire in a lobby decorated with Norwegian sleds, skis, ice skates, dolls, and elves. If you order a tree for your room, it'll be trimmed while you're on the slopes.

St. Regis: The hotel features a Jean Georges restaurant, a sprawling spa, stone pillars, and a fleet of bellhops referred to as "butlers."

Sundance Resort: Robert Redford's rustic-luxe retreat, on 6,000 acres 45 minutes from Park City; a wilderness mecca with superior outdoor activities.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Springville World Folkfest Runs July 25-30

The 25th annual Springville World Folkfest will be held July 25-30, in the community of Springville (located just south of Provo).

Here below is information from the festival website. Visit the website for performance schedules and other information.

Folk dancers and musicians travel from countries around the world to attend the Springville Folkfest, which has grown to become one of the largest festivals of folk dance and music in the United States. Five outdoor evening performances are scheduled during the 2011 Folkfest on the outdoor stage at the Spring Acres Arts Park, located just north of Springville High School at 620 South 1350 East. The stage was designed specifically to accommodate Folkfest performances.

The Springville World Folkfest annually features approximately 250 performers dressed in the brilliantly colored costumes of their native lands. Each dance group brings a select group of musicians to provide live music for the dancing. The dances, music and even the instruments played offer audiences a taste of many different cultures.

The Salt Lake Tribune has this article about the folkfest. Below are excerpts.

If the Springville World Folkfest is one of Utah’s best-kept summer festival secrets, there’s no denying plenty of dancers the world over know it well by now.

For 24 years straight, this big international dance festival in a small Utah town has gathered dance groups from Romania, China, Nepal, Spain and other countries. This year marks the 25th installment, with dancers from Belgium, Bulgaria, Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, Armenia and Israel.

Based on last year’s attendance numbers, Wulfenstein estimates a total of 14,000 people attending the festival. It all kicks off Monday with a free street dance. The one iron-clad rule for interested performers is no “canned” music. Every international troupe brings its own musicians for a live performance.

It’s also a festival that, behind the scenes, reinforces its own message of cultural exchange. Rather than putting up more than 230 visiting dancers in hotel rooms, the festival relies on volunteer families to take them in. “It’s like travel in reverse,” said Trudy Peck, of Payson, who has served as the festival’s housing chairwoman for five years. “You stay home, and the world comes to you.”

Friday, July 22, 2011

Days Of '47 Events, Road Closures

Many special events will be held in Salt Lake City on Saturday and Monday, as Utah celebrates the Pioneer Day holiday. Salt Lake City calls its celebration the Days of '47, referring to the year Mormon pioneers first settled the valley. See this schedule of events for the celebration.

A big parade will take place in Salt Lake City on Monday, and it will affect travel in the downtown area. Roads along the parade route will be closed beginning at 5 am, and will not open until about noon. The route begins at South Temple and State Street and ends at the north entrance to Liberty Park (900 South 600 East).

The Salt Lake Tribune has this article about the road closures. It includes a map.

There will also be a Native American Celebration on Monday in Liberty Park, 1100 S 600 E, Salt Lake City. It will include a PowWow with dancing, food and fireworks. It is held as a community celebration and the public is invited. See details.

See this Salt Lake Tribune article for information about other weekend events.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Arches Returns To Normal After Flood Traps Visitors

In Arches National Park, 73 people were stranded for a few hours after Salt Wash flooded and cut off an access road. Nobody was injured and the road has reopened.

The flood hit about 5:30 pm Wednesday. At that time, 23 cars were on the far side of the wash, on the backroad that leads to Delicate Arch viewpoint. The water was so deep, cars could not drive through it. They were not in serious danger because they could quite easily walk over a foot bridge to get across the flooded wash.

The Park Service sent a bus to take people to Moab, to wait out the high water, but most choose to stay with their vehicles. The road was reopened at about 2:30 am Thursday.

Salt Creek drains a large area. In this case, rain fell upstream and caused the flood, even through the area around the trapped cars did not receive heavy precipitation.

For a couple weeks, Utah was in a "monsoon" weather pattern, with afternoon thunderstorms causing flooding randomly around the state. That weather pattern has now ended and we are in a drier flow. The monsoon pattern could return and so people need to pay attention to weather reports.

The Salt Lake Tribune has this article about the flood. They also provided the photo above, which was credited to the National Park Service.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Davis County Attractions Are Becoming More Popular

Davis County, located just north of Salt Lake City, is seeing a dramatic increase in visitors. Officials attribute the growth to the improving national economy, along with development within the county.

Popular attractions like Antelope Island and Lagoon are located in the county. The Davis Clipper newspaper has this article about the growth. Below are excerpts.

Interest in county sites is also continuing to grow, including Antelope Island State Park, she (Davis Area Convention & Visitor Bureau CEO Barbara Riddle) said. “There has been a 28 percent increase (in revenue) since 2004.”

And Lagoon is celebrating its 125th year, including a birthday celebration set for Friday, July 15 at 5 p.m.

The Davis High School Marching Band will perform and birthday cake will be served, while supplies last.

Meanwhile, the upcoming Labor Day weekend Antelope Island Buffalo Stampede continues to grow, featuring fireworks both Friday and Saturday night as well as expanded balloon and kite offerings, Riddle said.

Added to that positive picture is a report received last week from the Davis Conference Center indicating “it was a boom year. It will get better,” based on all indications, (County Clerk/Auditor Steve) Rawlings said.

“Phenomenal” is how Conference Center General Manager Scott Lunt characterized March-June activity, there.

“We are almost at pre-recession numbers. We are very, very busy,” he said.

“I do think some of the groups that have held up a little in the past are loosening on budgets, having meetings again. We are getting some groups we’ve never had before,” Lunt said.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Utah Best of State Awards

The annual Best of State awards are out and they provide insight into Utah companies offering great products, services and performances.

Winners are chosen in several categories. You can see all winners on the Best of State website. Below we mention some that are of particular interest to people traveling to Utah.

Fine Dining Winners Include:
American Artisan: TREE ROOM AT SUNDANCE
American Contemporary: LOG HAVEN
American Traditional: CHEF’S TABLE
Buffet Brunch: GARDEN CAFÉ AT GRAND AMERICA
Buffets: SCHNEITTER’S AT ZERMATT

Casual Dinning Winners Include:
American: THE GARDEN RESTAURANT
American Continental: ZOOM IN PARK CITY
American Pub: HOPPER’S BREW PUB
Asian/Pacific: RUMBI ISLAND GRILL
Baked Goods: KNEADERS BAKERY AND CAFE
Barbeque: HUNTSVILLE BARBECUE COMPANY
Buffets: LITTLE AMERICA DINING ROOM

Hospitality & Travel
Adventure Travel: WESTERN RIVER EXPEDITIONS/MOAB ADVENTURE CENTER
Bed & Breakfast: BLUE BOAR INN & RESTAURANT
Bridal/Wedding Services: LAYERS
Caterers: CULINARY CRAFTS
Convention and Meeting Facilities: THE GRAND AMERICA HOTEL
Day Spas: THE SPA AT STEIN ERIKSEN LODGE
Destination Management: GEP DESTINATION MANAGEMENT
Destination Spas: RED MOUNTAIN RESORT
Event Planner: UTAH EVENTS BY DESIGN
Event/Performance Venue: ZERMATT RESORT - BERNESE EVENT CENTER
Fairs, Festivals, and Events: AMERICA'S FREEDOM FESTIVAL AT PROVO
Fishing/River Outfitters: WESTERN RIVER EXPEDITIONS/MOAB ADVENTURE CENTER
Golf Courses: RED LEDGES
Hospitality Services: NEIL WILKINSON, TEMPLE SQUARE HOSPITALITY
Hotels: THE GRAND AMERICA HOTEL
Inns: BLUE BOAR INN & RESTAURANT
Museums and Attractions: SALT LAKE ART CENTER
Transportation Services: OVERLAND WEST, INC.
Travel Agencies: CHRISTOPHERSON BUSINESS TRAVEL
Vacation Resorts: SUNDANCE RESORT

Award Criteria
There are three basic judging criteria and each has a different weight. The Best of State judging process involves a 100-point system. The 100 points are allotted in the three following areas:

50 points are possible regarding the overall excellence, superiority and quality of a nominee's products, services or performance.

30 points are possible regarding the creativity which nominees display to differentiate themselves from their competition.

20 points are possible regarding the nominee's accomplishments to improve the quality of life in their community and state, and their efforts to make the world a better place.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Pioneer Day Holiday Events

Pioneer Day is an official Utah holiday and prompts events all around the state. The holiday usually falls on July 24. Since that date is a Sunday this year, many activities will be held on Saturday and Monday.

The official state holiday will be observed on Monday. Most government offices and banks, and some other businesses will be closed on that day.

Salt Lake City hosts an extravaganza to celebrate the holiday. Called "Days of '47," many events will be held this week and throughout the weekend. (Mormon pioneers arrived in Utah on July 24, 1847, hence the celebration's name.)

See the Days of '47 website for detailed info. The Salt Lake Tribune has this article describing free events.

Check the events section on our website to learn about activities in areas where you will be traveling.

Since the holiday falls during the middle of summer, many people have made it a tradition to celebrate by camping, hiking and fishing. Campgrounds and popular recreational spots will be crowded.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Fortune Lists Salt Lake Among Hot Spots For Business

Fortune magazine has come out with a list of 15 international cities that are becoming hot spots for business. Two US cities, Salt Lake and Austin, are on the list. International cities include Stockholm and Warsaw.

See the Fortune article. The article had this to say about Salt Lake:

"Move over, Stanford: The University of Utah claims to lead the nation's universities in creating successful startups - the Brookings Institution says the city's workforce is the nation's most productive. More reasons business like Salt Lake: Inexpensive utilities and state property taxes, and corporate taxes that are the ninth-lowest in the U.S."

Fox13Now.com has this report about the list. Below are excerpts.

Fortune says they looked at economic data, talked to business leaders about where they plan to open new offices and factories and talked to local business leaders. Utah Governor Gary Herbert was among those local leaders touting Salt Lake City as a great new location for business.

With top companies like eBay, Electronic Arts and Twitter opening up offices in Utah, the business world is recognizing Salt Lake City's emerging importance...

BYU graduate and Salt Lake City resident Josh James is listed as one of four CEOs on the frontiers of global business for Omniture, a company he started in the early 1990s and sold to Adobe for $1.8 billion cash.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Thunderstorms Wash Out SR 35 and Hells Backbone Road

State Road 35 is closed in eastern Utah because heavy rain has washed out a culvert, leaving a gaping hole. Crews estimate it will take about two weeks to make repairs.

The washout occurred last night. Two vehicles driving the highway during the rainstorm were not able to see the hole and crashed into it. A 15-year-old girl in one of the vehicles was killed upon impact. Her father, driving the vehicle, suffered significant injuries.

This news article describes the event.

SR 35 is know as the Wolf Creek Pass road. After crossing the pass, it drop east to Tabiona and then continues on to intersect with State Road 87 near Duchesne.

Utah's Department of Transportation issued this alert:

SR 35 is closed from SR 87 to SR 208 due to extensive road damage. It is anticipated the road will remain closed for two weeks. Motorists are advised to use US Highway 40 as an alternate route.

In southern Utah, heavy rain have also damaged forest roads near Panguitch and Escalante. A portion of the Hells Backbone Road has been wash out. The Deseret News has this article, providing these details:

(Terry Delay, Escalante district ranger,) said many roads and trails have been washed out and damaged. Areas on the east side of the forest near Panguitch and Escalante have been the hardest hit. Specifically, a culvert at Sand Creek on the Hell’s Backbone Road washed out. The road is closed and crews are working hard to get it open by the end of next week.

Visitors to the area are urged to call or stop by the Powell Ranger District in Panguitch at 435-676-9300 or the Escalante Ranger District at 435-826-5400 to get up-to-date road and trail information. Officials are also warning visitors to stay on main roads and not travel to unfamiliar areas without first checking on conditions.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Canyoneering Cold Water

The canyoneering season has been slow starting this year in many Utah locations. Some of our more popular routes involve wading and so far water has been high, cold and swift.

I enjoyed a great hike today through Kanara Creek Canyon, on the edge of Zion Park near Cedar City. As canyoneering goes, Kanara is fairly mild. We had kids with us and they really enjoyed the hike.

Usually by now the water has warmed up considerably but today it was surprisingly cold.

We've also been having afternoon thunderstorms in many areas and they are bane for canyoneers. We watched the sky and conditions looked good in the morning so we entered the slot. By afternoon, dark clouds were building on the mountain above us. As we reached the canyon mouth at the end of our hike, raindrops were starting to fall.

Our timing was perfect and we had a great hike. That pattern is repeated on many summer days. Usually we get "monsoon" afternoon thunderstorms in August, but the weather has been crazy this year and one area or another has been getting hard rain almost every afternoon. Capitol Reef washes flashed a couple days ago, so it is definitely important to watch the weather.

Kanara Creek is mild, but we saw several groups taking risks that make me nervous. As we reached the mouth of the canyon and raindrops were falling, some hikers were just starting into the canyon. Kanara has some very beautiful, tight slots but they are not particularly long and so the danger was moderate. Still, I would not have entered the canyon with rain falling. I've seen a flash flood or two and I choose to avoid them.

Two waterfalls are key attractions in Kanara Creek. They are only about 10 feet high, but you've got to climb up them to proceed up the canyon. Most kids under about age 12 will need considerable help getting up and down these waterfalls.

Near the waterfalls we caught up with what looked like three young mothers leading groups of kids down the canyon. There were probably 15 kids ranging in age from 4 to 8. Some of those kids were freaking out as they faced the climb down the lower waterfall. I stopped and helped some of them, and they did need serious help.

An adult can reasonably help a child or two as they navigate the canyon. But five kids per adult, that was too many in my humble opinion. They were having a hard time.

Still, we enjoyed a great hike.

In Zion Park, The Narrows are finally open for top-down hikes. The water is still high and so the hike is more difficult than usual, but groups are making the trek successfully.

Other canyon routes in the park are also finally open.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Volunteers Needed To Prepare Soldier Hollow For USGA

During the cold months, Soldier Hollow is a popular winter sports center, famous because it was an important venue for several sports during the 2002 Olympics.

During summer, golf courses at Soldier Hollow are been very popular with Utah residents and visitors. Soon the area will be on display again, this time while Utah hosts its first USGA championship tournament.

The Salt Lake Tribune has this article about the coming tournament. Below are excerpts.

The 2012 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship might be a year away, but improvements and changes to the Soldier Hollow Golf Course have already begun in preparation for Utah’s first USGA Championship.

And the call for the more than 350 volunteers has begun.

Between 5,000 and 7,000 public golfers from the United States and abhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifroad will attempt to qualify for a place in the championship field of 156.

The Utah State Amateur Championship was recently held on the Gold Course. Eventually, the par 71 course will measure at more than 7,500 yards. New championship tee boxes have been built for six holes and a new scoreboard is already in place. Rough and bunker renovation has also begun.

Volunteer registration begins Aug. 15.

Read the complete article.

Monday, July 11, 2011

New Off-Road Racing Track At Miller Motorsports Park

Miller Motorsports Park operates very successful facilities for automobile and motorcycle racing. Now, it has added a new 22-acre off-road racing track that is proving to be popular with visitors. The park is located about 30 minutes west of Salt Lake City, just south of the Great Salt Lake.

The Salt Lake Tribune has this article about the new track. Below are excerpts.

This weekend will be one of the busiest racing days of the season. The off-road track will be in use again, as the American Rock Sports Challenge makes it debut at the park. This unique race combines short track racing with the technical aspects of rock climbing.

MMP overhauled its off-road facility with $250,000 in upgrades. Improvements included a redesigned track, stadium seating and more shade for spectators.

“It creates the ability for the fan to be close to the action. It’s actually close enough to flip mud on your clothes,” said Bryan Miller, assistant general manager.

The off-road course is also open to the public, so amateur drivers can use their own vehicle and feel the same rush of adrenaline that the pros feel. The cost is $50, and vehicles must pass a rigorous safety check before getting on the track. On Sunday, 13-year-old Tucker Cornia took to the course.

“You can go as fast as you want,” he said. “It’s really cool, my brother and I just tore it up. We hit every jump as fast as we could — takes your breath away.”

Friday, July 08, 2011

Park City Music Festival Runs July 11 - August 1

The 27th Annual Summer Park City Music Festival will run July 11 - August 1. It features a number of Salon Concerts hosted in beautiful homes throughout Park City, Salt Lake City and Midway.

See the festival website for specific information, including a concert schedule.

The Park Record newspaper has this article about the festival. Below are excerpts.

The Park City International Music Festival turns 27 this year.
That makes the event, which is also known as the Park City & SLC Music Festival, the oldest chamber-music celebration in Utah.

"I had just moved here from New York in 1984 and decided to do it," Leslie Harlow said. "I called violinist Paul Rosenthal, whose number I got from a friend. I said, 'You don't know me, but would you like to come and play a music festival in Utah?'

Without hesitation, Rosenthal agreed.

That same day, Leslie called cellist Jeff Solow and violinists Bill Preucil and Glenn Dicterow, who is now the concertmaster for the New York Philharmonic.

"That's how it started, and it's been going on ever since," she said.

Still, there have been incidents when the musicians have disagreed with the way the Harlows run the festival.

"Anyone who comes to our festival and says, 'You can't do that' don't come back the next year," Leslie said. "First off, they don't want to come back. Secondly, we don't like to play conservatively."

Thursday, July 07, 2011

Utah.com Posts Videos To Youtube

Over the past few years, utah.com has produced many videos showcasing popular attractions around the state. Most of those vidoes can be seen on related pages on our website.

We've also created a youtube channel and we have been working to post videos there. During the past couple days we've added a bunch, making youtube a convenient spot to see some of our most popular videos.

Here are links to our most recent posts:

Edge of the Cedars
Temple Square Lights
Slickrock Bike Trail
Red Canyon State Park
Park City Utah
Kolob Arch Hike Photo Tour
Hovenweep National Monument
Fiery Furnace Arches National Park
Zion National Park Shuttle Video
Temple Square Salt Lake City
State Parks of Utah
Snowmobiling in Utah
Snow Canyon St George
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salomon Center Ogden Utah
The Needles Canyonlands National
Nebo Loop
Nauvoo Cafe Temple Square
Utah National Parks
Lion House Restaurant Temple
Kolob Canyon
Island in the Sky Canyonlands
The Garden Restaurant Salt Lake
Fly Fishing Provo River
Emerald Pools Zion National Park
Delicate Arch
Capitol Reef

Wednesday, July 06, 2011

Utah Trails Make Outside Magazine's Best List

Outside Magazine has compiled a list of "America's Best Trails 2011." The magazine names 33, and several are in Utah.

Here's the intro: "Presenting our first-ever roundup of the greatest hiking, biking, paddling, fishing, drinking, and underground (yes, underground) trails in the country."

BEST GRAND CANYON TRAIL - Kanab Canyon. "At the end of the (unnamed side) canyon, you’ll find the 100-foot Whispering Falls tumbling into a 15-foot-deep swimming hole.

BEST MOUNTAIN-BIKE TRAIL YOU HAVE HEARD OF - "Because of the twisty singletrack. Because of the 2,700-foot descent to the Colorado River. Because it put Moab on the map."

BEST THROUGH-HIKES YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF - "Traversing Utah’s Uinta Mountains, the aptly named Highline Trail stays above 10,000 feet for the better part of 100 miles."

BEST TRAIL IN CANYON COUNTRY - "Shenanigans Canyon, in the North Wash, an hour southeast of Hanksville, Utah, is a classic, with canyoneering challenges of increasing difficulty as one descends. With an experienced guide, it’s accessible to an average canyoneer." —Aron Ralston, 35, author of Between a Rock and a Hard Place, as told to Mattie Schuler [Editor’s note: Take Ralston’s advice about the guide—Shenanigans can be gnarly. And pack a good knife.]

Tuesday, July 05, 2011

Most Seasonal Roads Are Finally Open

Crews were able to get the Mirror Lake Highway cleared of snow and it was open for the Fourth of July weekend. Many campgrounds along the popular scenic route are still closed because of deep snow.

The highway normally opens just after Memorial Day, but heavy snow during late winter and spring caused it and many other Utah roads to be slow to open up.

Crews are now working to open the Gardsman Pass Road. It will probably be open sometime in lake July.

SR 153, Mount Holly Junction, is still closed by snow and officials are not predicting just when it will open up.

Utah's Department of Transportation provided the news release below.

SEASONAL STATE ROUTE CLOSURE LIST
Updated July 1, 2011

This list is limited to UDOT’s numbered State Routes, and does not include local county or forest
roads.

Note: This report does not include temporary incident road closures.
Check the “Emergency Alerts” and “Road Conditions Alerts” links on the CommuterLink home page for active temporary road closures.

SR 35 Wolf Creek Pass (Large sinkhole on north end of pass with ramps to make the road passable) - OPEN Francis to Hanna – Milepost 12 to 37

SR 39 Monte Cristo - OPEN East of Ogden – Milepost 37 to 55.5

SR 65 East Canyon - OPEN Northeast of Salt Lake City – Milepost 3 to 13.2

SR 92 American Fork Canyon / Alpine Loop - OPEN Milepost 14 to 22.5
Snow-rated tires are required from November through March from US-189 at Milepost 27 to Aspen Grove at Milepost 22.

SR 148 Cedar Breaks - OPEN East of Cedar City – Milepost 0.2 to 19

SR 150 Mirror Lake Highway - OPEN Kamas to Wyoming Border – Milepost 14.6 to 48 (Campgrounds still snow covered)

SR 153 Mount Holly Junction - Anticipated Opening after July 4th. East of Beaver – Milepost 23 to 35 CLOSED

SR 190 Guardsman Pass - Anticipated Opening late July Big Cottonwood Canyon (SR-190/Brighton) to Park City (Junction with SR 224) CLOSED

SR 224 Guardsman Pass Park City to Midway - OPEN

Lake Powell Ferry - OPEN
Use SR 95 as an alternate.

*These roads are generally closed between October and May each year. Some roads may remain closed until June.

Friday, July 01, 2011

Lake Powell: High Water And Holiday Fireworks

There will be a fireworks display and other festivities in Page, overlooking Lake Powell, on July 4th. The azdailysun.com provides this info: "The parade is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Lake Powell Boulevard, followed by a variety of park activities starting about 10:30 a.m. A professional pyrotechnic fireworks display starts at sunset, launched as usual from Lake Powell National Golf Course."

Highest Water In A Decade
Lake Powell's level is rising rapidly right now and the lake's surface elevation is expected to push up to levels not seen in a decade. Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas provided the news release below.

PAGE, Ariz., June 28, 2011 -- Summer visitors to Lake Powell will experience water levels last seen ten years ago, according to a new report by the Bureau of Reclamation. The report predicts water levels to be 3,665 feet above sea level by mid-August, a level not seen since 2001. In the last two months, the nation's second largest man-made lake has added 28 feet of water elevation with half of the snowpack still left to melt. This excess snowmelt is creating more areas to explore at Lake Powell, America's favorite houseboating destination.

"We are expecting the lake to rise a foot a day for the next two months as the rest of the snow melts and feeds Lake Powell," says David Sloma, vice president of operations for Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas. "The higher water levels are opening hundreds of Lake Powell's back canyons to boats, giving visitors access to areas that have not been accessible for ten years!"

Visitors to Lake Powell this year will find more places to explore and to beach houseboats. The lake's high levels will provide optimal boating conditions throughout the season. Popular fishing areas such as Farley and Cooper Canyons are also expected to be accessible.

Lake Powell's rising water level is a result of the long and wet winter this year. An above-average snowpack, with late snows and unseasonably cold weather has lead to a slower melt than usual. As of May, the snowpack that feeds Lake Powell was 30 percent higher than average, with only 50 percent of the accumulated snowpack melted.

It's not too late for those wanting to take advantage of the current conditions at Lake Powell to book hotel rooms, houseboats, campsites or water toys. Those interested in visiting the lake can learn more and book their Lake Powell vacation at www.lakepowell.com or by calling (888) 486-4665.

About Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas
Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas provides houseboat and powerboat rentals, lodging, scenic tours and slip services. Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas, managed by ARAMARK, is an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
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