A Quick Trip to Utah
We had no idea northern Utah was so... deciduous.
Hello everyone! This past weekend, we attended a wedding in Huntsville, Utah (at Snowbasin Resort). Instead of flying—because flights were ridiculously expensive—we decided to take a road trip and turn it into a long weekend. The only other times I’ve been to Utah were in 2018 when my sister and I visited Zion National Park, and again when we drove through the state while moving to Portland (but I don’t really count that time). So this was my second time in Utah! I had no idea Utah had such gorgeous fall foliage, and we were blown away by the palette of reds, oranges, yellows, purples, and greens across the landscape. I’m still kicking myself for forgetting my camera.
Early Thursday morning, we left Seattle at 4:30 a.m. (yikes) and arrived in Utah by late afternoon. Our Airbnb was perfectly nestled just off the Pineview Reservoir, offering stunning views. Michael had the rehearsal dinner to attend so I spent the afternoon hiking around the reservoir because there was a trailhead conveniently located at the end of our block. After dinner, exhaustion set in, and I opted for an early night—especially with the wedding just around the corner the next day.
Snowbasin Resort
The wedding took place at Snowbasin Resort, just a quick 15-minute drive from our Airbnb. Once again, the fall foliage was absolutely stunning. The ceremony was held at the top of the mountain and guests rode a gondola to reach the lodge. The sweeping views of the valley below were breathtaking and it was a really beautiful ceremony. Afterward, we headed back down to the base area for the reception where fire pits lined the patio to warm guests up as the sun was setting. Our friends that were getting married have been together for 13 years and there’s something so special about celebrating people who are already so deeply in love and perfect for each other!!
Fly fishing the Provo River, Utah
Saturday morning, we woke up bright and early, eager to hit the Provo River for a day of fly fishing. The Provo River is a blue-ribbon fishery renowned for its world-class fishing and boasts 4,000 fish per mile. After grabbing a quick breakfast and swinging by the Fish Food Fly Shop, we made our way to the river and began casting around 10:30 a.m. By then, the temperature had already hit 80 degrees.
I’d seen the forecast warning of a blistering 91-degree day and came prepared, packing a lunchbox full of snacks and plenty of water. But in my excitement to fish, I left all my essentials for survival in the car. Fast forward to 2:30pm, when the temperature hit 91 degrees and I’d been fishing for four straight hours without a sip of water or a bite to eat…
You see, I don’t ease into exhaustion – I go from 100 to zero in an instant. One moment I was casting toward a fat fish, and the next, I was laying in the shade wailing that we had to leave immediately or I would die. My tongue felt like sandpaper, my body was screaming for snacks, and it was scorching. I’m not built for the heat, and the sweltering sun was unforgiving. Bless my husband, with his endless patience (but after 11 years, he knows the drill), who calmly led me back to the car to get me fed and hydrated.
Overall it was a successful day of fishing with lots of brown trout caught! I ended my day around 4pm at which point I passed out in the shade — my mental breakdown from earlier had exhausted me — and Michael ended his day around 6pm. We packed everything up and headed to Salt Lake City to meet up with friends for dinner.
Thousand Springs State Park, Idaho
Originally, we had planned to stay in Utah and/or Idaho through Monday, but with friends visiting next weekend I figured it made more sense to work Monday and take Friday off instead. On our way home, we made a small detour to Thousand Springs State Park. The park actually has several different sections, but we only stopped at Box Canyon. The water is crystal clear, bright blue, and absolutely stunning. The water originates from the Craters of the Moon area (north of the parks), where it flows through porous lava stone underground which acts as a natural filter. The water can remain underground for over 200 years before emerging at one of the many egress points in Thousand Springs State Park. Fun fact: the springs are home to a fish found nowhere else on Earth, the Shoshone sculpin. Another fun fact: the porous lava stone is responsible for creating some of the region's stunning crystal-clear rivers, waterfalls and lakes in the PNW (like Sahalie Falls in Oregon) by thoroughly filtering the water.
That’s it for this past weekend! I would love to do another roadtrip to Utah to check out the countless other areas that we didn’t get to explore, but who knows when that will happen…. there’s simply too much to do in this corner of the country. Next weekend we have friends visiting and we’re planning some fun day trips and a hike to find some larches. I’m thinking of doing a little post on my favorite day trips from Seattle!
Until then, I hope everyone is enjoying their fall!
Looks like a great weekend save for the heat! We’ve done the trip to Utah before back when we lived in CA and visited all of the national parks. We went in the winter when temps were a lot more manageable and would recommend it if you have some time.