Brighton, Silver Lake, and Stewart Falls

Playing a little bit of catch up! Shane and I had a full weekend off a few weeks ago, so we decided to spend it exploring the outdoors. We have been trying to enjoy as much as possible before everything freezes over.

Our first stop was Brighton. We had originally planned to hike out to several of the nearby lakes, but when we arrived we discovered there was a bike race happening that day. The road was scheduled to close at 1:00 pm and we arrived around 11:00 am, so we decided to keep things simple and take a relaxing walk around Silver Lake.

In the end, it was probably the right choice. The drive back later was already chaotic with bikers and traffic, so trying to squeeze in a longer hike would have been stressful.

Silver Lake is the perfect easy stroll. There is a well maintained trail that circles the entire lake. Half of the path is a wooden boardwalk over the water and wetlands, and the other half winds through the forest.

The wetlands area was especially beautiful. This trail really has a little bit of everything. We saw wildlife, wildflowers, and amazing mountain scenery all along the walk.

We spotted a little duck family enjoying the water.

At one point we saw a mama deer standing just off the trail. She actually had a baby hidden right underneath her, though I could not quite get the little one in the photo.

We also saw another deer along the trail and even watched a bird hunting for food in the wetlands.

And of course, the star of the area is Silver Lake itself, which is absolutely beautiful.

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After our walk around the lake, I decided to take Shane to Stewart Falls. I had hiked it a few weeks earlier with my friend Erin, but Shane needed to see it for himself.

The hike was just as beautiful the second time around, and Shane was definitely impressed once we reached the waterfall. It is one of those spots that makes the hike completely worth it.

The water was freezing, but of course I still had to test it.

On the way back down the trail we stopped for our usual “feet photo”, which has become a bit of a tradition for us.

On our way home we also made a quick stop at Sundance. By that point we were pretty worn out, so we just walked around for a bit before heading back to Orem.

Overall it was a great day outside and another reminder of how many beautiful places there are to explore here in Utah.

Scenic Drive: The Nebo Loop Byway

Well, we actually took this drive along the Nebo Loop Scenic Byway over a month ago. I have several trips I still need to post about, so I’m hoping to catch up and add a few over the weekend. After seeing how beautiful this drive was, I definitely want to go back soon! Especially now that the leaves are starting to change colors.

Before we started, I found a helpful map on HowStuffWorks.com and saved a screenshot of it on my phone. I’m really glad I did because I lost all cell reception during most of the drive. If you’re planning on doing the Nebo Loop, I would definitely recommend saving a map beforehand. It came in very handy!

We started our drive in Payson and followed the loop south toward Nephi. Be prepared for narrow mountain roads and plenty of sharp turns, but the views along the way make it completely worth it.

The entire drive was full of incredible scenery and endless photo opportunities. At times it honestly felt like we were driving through something straight out of The Sound of Music.

One of the things I loved most about the Nebo Loop was how many pull-off areas there were along the road. It made it easy to stop, stretch your legs, and take in the views whenever something caught your eye.

At one point we could even see Utah Lake way off in the distance and somewhere down there is where we now call home.

The moon decided to join us for part of the drive as well, hanging in the sky over the mountains and making the views even more dramatic.

Of course, we also had to stop and admire the rock formations along the way. We tend to look at rocks everywhere we go, but when you see formations like these it’s easy to understand why.

One thing that surprised me was how much the landscape changed throughout the drive. Some areas almost reminded me of southern Utah, even though we were much farther north.

And of course, it wouldn’t be a Utah road trip without a few cows… and even a cowboy or two along the way.

Overall, the Nebo Loop Scenic Byway is an amazing drive and something I would absolutely recommend if you’re in the area. Next time, we’ll definitely be coming back in the fall when the mountains are covered in color.

Exploring Timpanogos Cave National Monument

Today we met up with our friend Erin to take on Timpanogos Cave! The cave is part of Timpanogos Cave National Monument, located just off State Highway 92 along the Alpine Loop.

One thing to know before going: you need to make reservations for the cave tour in advance, especially during the summer. Tours fill up quickly. The cave tour costs $8 per person, and the entire experience took us about four hours from start to finish.

The adventure actually begins with the hike up to the cave entrance. The trail climbs 1,100 feet straight up the mountain- and yes, it’s pretty much all uphill. We saw plenty of families with young kids and even a few grandparents making the trek, but it definitely kicked our butts! Be prepared for a long hike with a steady incline the entire way.

You’re allowed to hike up at your own pace, which was nice. They send groups up the trail about an hour and a half before the cave tour begins, and it took us about an hour to reach the top. We were definitely happy to have some time to relax before the tour started. Luckily, there are benches along the trail and near the cave entrance where you can catch your breath.

And the view from the top definitely makes the climb worth it.

Shane and I have done a few cave tours before, and each one is unique in its own way. One thing that makes this cave especially interesting is that it sits right on a fault line. In some areas you actually walk through narrow cracks in the rock where the earth shifted long ago.

Another fun part was that you really have to duck, squeeze, and twist your way through some of the tunnels, which made the whole experience feel like a real adventure. I swear I turn into a little kid every time I step inside a cave.

Inside the cave, the temperature stays around 45°F year-round. I wore shorts and a light jacket and felt pretty comfortable the whole time.

Our tour guide was fantastic and shared both the history of the cave and some of the folklore surrounding it as we explored.

One of the coolest formations we saw were the Aragonite Crystals. They have a green color because they contain the mineral nickel.

Of course there were also plenty of stalactites and stalagmites, along with some really unique formations like twisted calcite helictites that seem to grow in every direction.

It was almost impossible to watch where you were stepping because there was so much to look at all around us.

After the tour ended, we stepped back outside and looked down the canyon. Way down below we could see the tiny road we had started from earlier that day. Seeing it from that perspective really made us realize just how far we had climbed!

Thankfully, the hike back down was much easier. It was a little tough on the knees, but far more enjoyable than the uphill trek.

Overall, it was such a fun adventure and definitely worth the climb.