A trip to Utah would not leave an outdoor enthusiast disappointed. There is a wide range of outdoor recreation activities available, including whitewater rafting, camping, fishing and hiking. Hikers are sure to enjoy the terrain of Utah, which includes vast canyons, wide-open deserts, splendid lakes and panoramic mountain views. Sportsmen enjoy Utah's East Canyon for water sports and to follow the trails taken by the Donner Party from Illinois and the first Mormon pioneers.
The Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail
United States history buffs will be enthralled by the chance to hike the Mormon Trail, the trail that Utah's first Mormon settlers traveled to get to Salt Lake Valley in 1846. Joseph Smith and other leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints led the expedition in pursuit of religious freedom. The trail begins in Illinois and is 1,300 miles long. Settlers faced many hardships along the rough trail, although the trail was much rougher when the first travelers, the Donner party, cut through the steep, jagged terrain. The Utah end of the trail flows through a narrow canyon with steep, rocky walls. Red rock formations and jagged terrain follow the course of the trail.
California National Historic Trail
The California National Historic Trail passes through Utah from Mississippi and ends in California. It is the same trail that gold-seekers and farmers traveled to reach California in the mid-1800s. The entire trail stretches over 5,500 miles and has been developed over the years to find the best route. This means that there are several alternate routes weaved throughout the main trail, so hikers are free to stray from the beaten path.
The Sheep Trail
The Sheep Trail is a popular trail in the Wasatch Mountain Range around the East Canyon Creek area. It is a moderate hike, with some steep points along the way. Along the trail, hikers will pass sites like the Alexander Spring, and Lambs Canyon. The climate around the Sheep Trail is usually dry, with April being the wettest month of the year. Summer temperatures are usually in the 90's during the day and fall into the 60's at night. In winter months, temperatures range in the 30's down to the 10's at night. If you feel like spending more than one day hiking the Sheep Trail, you can camp at the nearby Maple Grove Campground for the night.
Jacob's Ladder Trail
A hike to Lone Peak Summit is no easy task and may be best for experienced hikers who are in good shape. Lone Peak is the highest peak in the Lone Peak Mountains, which is part of the Wasatch Mountain Range. Lone Peak Summit has an 11,253-foot elevation and is accessible by a couple different trails. The shortest and fastest trail to the summit is the Jacob's Ladder Trail, a 5 1/2 mile hike. Be warned that although Jacob's Ladder is the quickest route, it requires a grueling, steep 1 1/2 hour hike from Lone Rock to the Junction.
The Draper Ridge Trail
The Draper Ridge Trail is an alternate route to Lone Peak Summit. It is not as steep as Jacob's Ladder and is more scenic. The Draper Ridge Trail is 6 miles and takes 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 hours to complete, depending on level of experience. The negative side to Draper Ridge is that it hasn't received any maintenance in years, making it more difficult to hike. Deep erosion has destroyed some parts of the trail, while grass and brush block the trail, slowing hikers down.
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