Must-do Utah Fall Hikes Looking for a trail to take in the beauty of fall in northern Utah? The Wasatch Front offers unmatched outdoor play year-round, but the enchanting, vibrant hues of fall leaves make September through November one of the best times of year to lace up your hiking boots. These Utah fall hikes get you away from the crowds clamoring for orange, red, and yellow leaves, and onto new terrain where you just might find some solitude to take it all in. Smuggler’s Gap City Creek Canyon City Creek Canyon is no secret, but there’s a gem of…
Author: Heather Hamblin
Heather Hamblin
Heather was born and raised in northern Utah, and considers the mountains to be her home. She received a bachelor’s degree in English literature and Italian language from the University of Utah, and works for UofU Health. When she has free time, you can find her traveling, cooking, practicing yoga, rock climbing, or exploring the hiking trails and ski runs in her native state.
Sand, Slot Canyons, Arches, and Oases: Exploring Along Southern Utah’s Hole in the Rock Road Southern Utah’s Hole in the Rock Road is a remote byway that runs through both Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Though it’s out of the way, it’s well worth the effort to explore its slot canyons, arches, and desert oases. Though Coyote Gulch is well known, many adventurers haven’t made their way to this epic canyon due to its remote location, and even fewer have explored the other features along this unpaved road. But it’s replete with opportunities for superb outdoor…
Training Goes Virtual: Running and Cycling Meet Virtual Reality with Zwift Thanks to the coronavirus outbreak, we’re all looking for ways to keep training while social distancing. Whether your upcoming race got canceled and you’re looking for an alternative, or you just miss running and riding with others, you can bring the experience of group running and training indoors with Zwift. This app incorporates virtual reality in your day-to-day fitness experience and event training. Unfortunately, you’ll still have to do the cardio work yourself, but Zwift lets you inject a virtual element into your training, bringing you new scenery, data…
10 Things to Do When the Temperature Drops When winter weather hits Utah, you may be tempted to cozy up inside, but there’s fun to be had outdoors when our state turns into a winter wonderland. And you don’t have to be a serious skier or snowboarder to enjoy winter in Utah. We’ve curated a list of 10 activities to get you outside during snow season. 1. Santa Skis Free at Snowbird | December 22 Of course, skiing or snowboarding is a no-brainer for winter activities, but have you ever hit the slopes in a Santa costume? Dress like Santa,…
The Roadless Rule: Protecting Utah’s Backcountry The state of Utah is currently working to roll back protections on millions of acres of public land covered by the Roadless Rule, which puts this land at risk for logging, mining, and other commercial interests. Utahns care about their public lands, and talks of reducing protection of our precious outdoor spaces are troublesome. The deregulation of roadless areas is one of the most important debate topics in Utah right now, as its outcomes have far-reaching effects on the future of our environment, and the fragile plant and animal life that call our state…
Lizard Skins Grows Up By Heather C. Hamblin Like many fledgeling companies, Lizard Skins started out modestly—on a six-foot folding table in a spare bedroom—with one simple product: a sleeve to keep a bike’s chain from scratching the frame. In its first month, Lizard Skins made a whopping $350. Fast forward 27 years and the company has left its spare bedroom space for a large facility in Utah County and expanded to hundreds of products for mountain biking, road cycling, baseball, hockey, and beyond. And for three years in a row (2015–2017), Lizard Skins was included on MountainWest Capital Network’s…
7 Unexpected Places to Visit this Summer Paddleboarding is booming, and with its ease of entry and accessibility, it’s no wonder why. While landlocked Utah may not seem like a paddleboarding mecca, it’s the perfect place to learn or improve your stroke. Whether you’re a newbie or experienced paddleboarder, uncrowded lakes or reservoir are ideal places to enjoy the sport without being rocked by wakes from other boats. We’ve curated a list of Utah favorites you may not be familiar with, offering calmer waters and beautiful surroundings. Highland Glen Park, Highland Just 15 minutes east off I-15 in Utah County…
Trail Dames: Two Women of the Wasatch on Running Ultras “There is an intense but simple thrill in setting off in the morning on a mountain trail, knowing everything you need is on your back.” -Paul Theroux An ultra is defined as any race longer than a marathon, and these distances can vary greatly, from 50K to 50 miles, 100K to 100 miles, or even further. A finish at any time is an accomplishment, and the amount of grit that goes into completing these races is impressive. In Utah, this sport has a tight-knit following that’s growing rapidly, with more…
Watch Athletes Become Champions—For Free—at the FIS World Championships The snow is here, winter is in full swing, and the biggest wintersports event in the Beehive State since the 2002 Winter Olympics is about to begin–and you can attend for free. Athletes from 36 nations around the world will convene in Utah February 1–10 to compete in the 2019 FIS Snowboard, Freestyle, and Freeski World Championships. These aren’t your neighborhood park rats; the very best in the world will be front and center on Utah’s stage, competing for the most coveted title in their sport: World Champion. It’s an incredible…
A Backcountry Yurting Adventure Up Millcreek Canyon When I look at the forecast and see that a substantial amount of snow is expected in the next 24 hours, my heart skips a beat. Northern Utah’s snowfall has been abnormally low in recent years—and the prospect of a storm is thrilling. We saw very little precipitation from November to January last year, making ski resorts scramble and winter snowsports across the state bleak. In mid-February, as I was prepping for an overnight hike with some friends, the storm looked promising, and our Nordic skis were begging for some fresh powder. We…