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08 Jul 23
Expert Hub
Discover Utah’s Bryce Canyon to Share Fun and AdventureOne of Utah’s Mighty Five, Bryce Canyon National Park is a a must when ...Read more -
19 Apr 23
TRAINING | COMPETITION
Utah Office of Tourism Launches Utah Specialist AcademyThe Utah Office of Tourism has launched a new Utah Specialist Academy for travel ...Read more -
11 Oct 21
Partner News
One Utah’s best-kept hiking secrets, the Tushar MountainsOne of Utah’s best-kept hiking secrets, the Tushar Mountains deliver sun-dappled trails, wildflower-sprinkled meadows, shaggy ...Read moreOne of Utah’s best-kept hiking secrets, the Tushar Mountains deliver sun-dappled trails, wildflower-sprinkled meadows, shaggy mountain goats and forever views from rocky summits. Check out these six choice Tushar trails and make plans to discover Utah’s third-highest mountain range.
It’s easy to escape the frantic pace of everyday life by heading to southwestern Utah where unknown lands still beckon you to explore scenic treasures and discover the pleasures of solitude. The Tushar Mountains, the state’s third-highest range, is such a place. The snowcapped Tushars, glimpsed from Interstate 15 to the west, offer trails that scramble to dazzling mountaintop views, twist across flower-strewn alpine meadows and climb sun-drenched canyons filled with golden aspen, waterfalls and wildlife. (Read: “Central Utah Byway: Beaver Canyon and the Sevier River Valley”)
Here are six of the best Tushar trails to get lost and find yourself.
1. Birch Lake Trail
The Tushar Lakeside Recreation Area is a perfect family getaway on the western slope of the Tushar Mountains. Pitch a tent by Lower Kents Lake, toss a line for trout, roast s’mores over a campfire and take an easy hike on Birch Lake Trail (#3625).
Begin from the campground or a nearby trailhead and hike 0.9 miles through shady woods to Birch Lake, a picturesque pond tucked against an open ridge. Watch deer drink from the lake and return to the campground for a 1.8-mile hike. For extra credit, scramble up the ridge south of the lake to a spacious viewpoint on its 9,221-foot summit.
2. Skyline National Recreation Trail
The 23-mile Skyline Trail (Read: "How to Day Hike Three Different Sections of the Scenic 23-Mile Skyline Trail"), a stunning 8.3-mile section of which is designated a National Recreation Trail, is one of Utah’s unheralded footpaths. The trail, easily broken into three day-hike sections, edges along the western crest of the Tushar Mountains, passing beneath its highest peaks including Delano Peak and Mount Holly. Closed to ATVs, the trail sections are done as out-and-back hikes or point to point with a car shuttle.
The best hike is the southern 8.3-mile section (the Skyline National Recreation Trail) with breathtaking scenery, skyscraping peaks, flower-sprinkled meadows, herds of shaggy mountain goats and forever views across the western deserts. Start the trek at Big Flat Trailhead and end at Big John Flat. The seven-mile middle trail section also boasts dramatic scenery, passing through high grasslands and spruce and fir forest to Mud Lake. The third segment, running eight miles from Mud Lake to Blue Lake and then up to Bullion Pasture Trailhead, has more elevation gain than the other sections but the scenery is equally spectacular, and you’ll be alone all day.
3. Delano Peak Trail
The iconic summit hike in the Tushar Mountains is the Delano Peak Trail, which climbs 1,700 feet in 1.5 miles to the 12,169-foot rooftop of the range (Read: "How to Summit Three 12,000-footers in the Tushar Mountains"). The trail, beginning near Big John Flat, is surprisingly easy with gentle grades up Delano’s wide West Ridge as it ascends through tundra meadows studded with tiny alpine flowers that normally grow in northern Alaska. Bring binoculars to spot Utah’s largest herd of mountain goats lying on snowbanks or frolicking among boulders.
After catching your breath on the rounded summit, sign into the mailbox register and enjoy the views from Capitol Reef to the east to hazy Nevada ranges on the western horizon. Return to the trailhead on FR #123 or head south along the range crest for 1.5 miles to 11,985-foot Mount Holly. Descend its west slope to the Skyline Trail and walk northwest back to Big John Flat and its superb campsites.
Hikers making their way along the scenic Tushar Skyline Trail.
A broad view of the Tushar Range.
4. South Fork of North Creek
Trail #062, following the South Fork of North Creek, offers a backcountry adventure through the western flank of the Tushars. Start five miles northeast of Beaver at the South Fork of North Creek Trailhead and hike 12 miles alongside the tumbling creek to turquoise-colored Blue Lake, a sparkling gem tucked beneath looming Mount Belknap and Mount Baldy. The trail, fording the creek over 60 times, threads through aspen groves and scented pine forests in the deep canyon.
Watch for black bear, deer, elk and other wildlife.
For a shorter hike, trek two or three miles up the canyon until you want to turn around. Alternatively, descend the Skyline Trail from FR #123 and follow the trail downhill to the lower trailhead.
5. The Pocket Trail
The Pocket Trail (#216), one of Utah’s great unknown hikes, ends at its namesake, a stunning alpine cirque nestled below Delano Peak. Start the six-mile, round-trip hike at Bullion Pasture Trailhead off FR #123 and descend through verdant meadows to Pine Creek. After crossing the stream, the trail passes through an old-growth spruce forest to a high ridge, then contours into The Pocket. Perhaps the most gorgeous place in the Tushars, The Pocket is ringed by rugged cliffs and a large moraine left by a retreating glacier. Expect sparkling creeks, summer wildflowers and plenty of solitude.
6. Bullion Canyon Trail
While the Bullion Canyon Trail (#074) climbs 5.5 miles up Pine Creek west of Marysville, you can take an easy hike on the first mile of the trail to Bullion Falls. This spectacular waterfall, fed by snowmelt from the crest of the Tushars, plunges 75 feet off a quartzite cliff, breaking to foam and mist on tumbled rocks below. Return to the trailhead for a two-mile, round-trip hike. If you’re energetic, continue up the canyon past well-preserved miners’ cabins from the 1800s and aspen groves to Bullion Pasture and the upper trailhead off FR #123.
Regardless of which hike you choose, you’ll find solitude and beauty in the Tushars. This mountain range is the perfect Utah getaway to pitch a tent at Big John Flat, lace up your boots and hit the trail.
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11 Oct 21
Partner News
A Table for All: Feeding Utah’s CultureWatch this three-part series about how cultures, flavors and textures can mingle and co-exist in ...Read moreWatch this three-part series about how cultures, flavors and textures can mingle and co-exist in positive ways.
Recently, many of us have been asking: “What really matters?” We’ve come to realize that some of the things we’ve held dear simply don’t matter. Collectively, we have begun experiencing life in a whole new way, and some of those eye- and heart-opening discoveries have been painful. However, some of those rediscoveries have been relieving, breathtaking (in good ways), affirming and maybe, most importantly, unifying. Interestingly enough, one of the ways we can come together, heal and grow is something we all have a daily need for: food.
Fortunately, the Utah food community is tight knit. From gardeners to farmers, foodies to restaurateurs and the legion of paid and volunteer workers who help foster an environment where food is a catalyst for change.
“Inclusive” and “diversity” have become popular catchwords. Those who think Utahns wouldn’t have much to say about multicultural diversity would be incorrect. In fact, the state is home to approximately 60,000 refugees, populations formally supported by two resettlement agencies: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Catholic Community Services (CCS). These agencies ensure that refugees are welcomed at the airport, arrange for their housing, furniture and basic household supplies; offer orientation classes; and prepare a resettlement plan, with referrals to social services and employment.
Chef Haymar of Wann Jale restaurant in Salt Lake City specializes in cuisine from Myanmar and Thailand.
Kafé Mamai food truck serves a fusion of African and Caribbean cuisine from Chef Abudu in Salt Lake City.
Inside the SPICE Kitchen Incubator, a project of the International Rescue Committee.
"Food is royalty when it comes to breaking barriers, because diners don’t need to speak the same language to communicate how good food tastes or how to prepare it. "
If we’ve learned anything from America’s tumultuous times, it’s that we still have a lot to learn. There’s much more work to do in bridging gaps, and Utah’s food community can be counted among those working for change.
This state — a naturally beautiful nook — is the home of some soul-soothing loveliness in our glorious landscape — but we also support a surprisingly vibrant food culture, beautifully infused by immigrants and recent transplants.
Yes, a food culture that is mouth-watering, drop-a-utensil, look-to-the-sky as your heart makes your lips say, “MMMmmmph, that’s good!” With slightly squinted eyes and a head shake, you notice someone else nearby having a similar experience. You smile at one another and continue eating, silently but so connected. By food. Food, that is, made well by people who have a deep passion for what and how they create it. Food, grown with the utmost reverence for land and its abundant capabilities. Food that’s a celebration of culture, one’s roots and life itself. Food as the pop-up art in a book, ready to dazzle and wow diners.
In this video series, we’ll consider how food affords us all an opportunity to slow down, savor, teach or learn something, celebrate people, moments and life. Food is royalty when it comes to breaking barriers, because diners don’t need to speak the same language to communicate how good food tastes or how to prepare it.
Food shows everyone that cultures, flavors, textures can mingle and co-exist in positive ways. Food lures diners into taking risks with our palates, to literally put our money where our mouths are. Even when a food is less desirable than we’d hope, often it’s another food that bails us out of a moment of displeasure.
In so many ways, to so many people, food is a metaphor for life. As Utah continues to evolve, it may just be food that grows us most. Whether you come here to live, visit or are simply passing through, we welcome everyone to join a delicious and vibrant global conversation centered around food, a well-rooted conversation that elevates all of our lives far beyond the plate.
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10 Oct 21
Webinar
Utah – the Ultimate Sustainable Destination…We Speak to the People in ChargeTravelMole's Graham McKenzie talks with Vicky Varela Managing Director Utah Tourism and Dr. Kelly Bricker ...Read more
