Big Springs

So this one is a little out of order and a little past due. Maybe more than a little... but I didn't have photos for the trail until recently. This is a short ride up Provo Canyon. I first discovered it on a camping trip with my wife (actually our first camping trip we ever took together). It can be reached by heading up Provo Canyon past Bridal Veil Falls, turning into Vivian Park and continuing up the road from that park a couple miles. You'll see the Big Springs Park on your right (you'll go through Vivian and then pass another park on your right before you reach it).

This trail is nice for the first mile and a half or so - real pretty, well bermed, nothing difficult. But if you continue to the right up to Cascade Saddle it turns into one ugly trail. The trail to Cascade Saddle is steep, rocky, and not much fun (I'm sure there is a good view at the end, but it sure wasn't worth it to me to keep going to find out).

Provo River Parkway - Married Life

After we got married we spent the first year living in Orem, and again had easy access to the Provo River Parkway. Because the trail is paved it is pretty easy to get out and ride even in the winter time, as evidenced from this ride.

It also provides evidence that I married the best girl in the world - she is patient, lets me go on rides all the time, loves the outdoors, likes to go have adventures with me and is always a willing participant, and she is gorgeous to top it off!

Provo River Parkway - Engaged Life

Shortly after Mallorie and I got engaged she moved down to Provo, which ended up being a very fun time for us to not have to travel just to see each other. Shortly after she moved down we went forward and obtained a bike for her and the trail that I introduced her to would be the Provo River Parkway.

This trail stretches from up Provo Canyon, just a little ways past Bridal Veil Falls at Vivian Park, all the way to Utah Lake, covering about 14 miles. It is a paved trail, relatively flat, and highly populated for most of the year.

It made for fun dates for Mallorie and I to do while we were engaged, and where it was so close, it didn't require that we had huge amounts of time to have to go grab a few minutes of riding.

Rock Canyon - The Spring Edition

For most of my time in Provo this was really the only trail I really knew how to get to, so naturally when the weather got better I went back up this canyon.

I also did a few times the ride along the shoreline starting from this canyon as well, but the start of it has some rolling hills that aren't extremely pleasant, and it isn't as picturesque as this ride, so all of my pics come from the canyon.


As pretty as this ride was in the fall, I almost think it was better in the spring. I love the bright green colors and the great mountain views. The ride is fairly stiff on the uphill, and for a few sections has some loose rock, but it gives a great workout and is a blast going down.

Rock Canyon

I discovered this ride directly above the Provo Temple. As you're heading up the canyon from the temple when the road turns to the right continue straight and you'll find the trail. There are several routes you can take, including the shoreline trail, but this one leads straight up the canyon.


Its a fairly steep climb most of the way, with a lot of loose rocks, but the views sure make up for it. The ride down is a blast as well. Its a fairly popular hiking and climbing trail as well, as I always found a lot of traffic on all of my rides here.

On this particular morning I tackled the trail on a Saturday morning, about a month after I started back into school and working as a teacher at the MTC (greatest job!). It was cool, but not too chilly for most of the ride. The fall leaves were just changing colors and it was beautiful!

The return trip got interesting as it started to rain when I reached the campground toward the top of the trail, and by the time I turned around it was starting to get pretty wet. I slipped my way down through the mud, sprayed off my bike back at the apartment, threw the now brown clothes in the laundry, and took a nice hot shower! I've unfortunately lost all of my pictures from the return trip since.