Utah Places: Wasatch Mountain State Park

You can make a free and beautiful traverse between Salt Lake Valley, Heber, the ski resorts, and Park City. All summer long. Not many use this road, and its a good thing. It summits over Guardsman’s pass, and there are trails connecting in every direction, including connections from American Fork Canyon, Heber Valley, Cascade Springs, and other locations along the Wasatch. The roads are only good enough for light traffic, but ideally suited for vehicles like the 4runner. A more spectacular vista of the skyline all around cannot be found anywhere. Be sure to wear cold weather gear -- its always cold and windy up here.

Good place for a Sunday afternoon drive to look at wildflowers. All the side canyons along the way compete for the best.

More info here.

Utah Places: Cascade Springs

Cannot find any photos that really do a bit of justice to the magnificence of this natural beauty. It has been loved by so many visitor through the decades, and enhanced by the addition of the walkway surrounding the quiet flowing springs and pools that spring right up from the rock.

Lush vegetation and abundant flowers through an extended growing season are th exceptional attraction, as well as many water-borne species not seen in such collections anywhere else.

If there was ever a natural setting for an afternoon walk more at peace with nature, more conducive for reflective thought, better for having the kids race each other around in circles to exhaustion, and fine fried chicken picnics, I cannot think of a place.

Links are plentiful, try here.