clouds

Excuse me while I kiss the sky.

-Jimi Hendrix

cascade springs & alpine loop

Have you driven through the mountains lately? They are so colorful! We decided to go drive the Alpine Loop in American Fork Canyon on Saturday. It was beautiful. We stopped at a few lookouts before making it to our destination...
The boys were eyeing the "Christmas trees" behind them, asking if we could come and cut one for our tree at Christmas.
The weather is so perfect right now, so the only way to drive through the canyon is with your windows down and the sunroof open!

We packed a little picnic to eat at Cascade Springs, but then we saw this sign:

So we walked up the hill from our car and made ourselves a picnic across the road.
I haven't been to Cascade Springs for a few years. It's pretty cool- fresh, clear water coming out in little puddles, pools and waterfalls. It's almost like a maze of little paths. It can take 20 minutes or a couple of hours depending on how much you linger.
It has some really cool vegetation (especially in autumn)...
lots of boardwalk paths... (Why are these so fun to walk on? I don't know, but I think I love it as much as the kids.)

rocky stairways...

rushing streams...

and it even has a couple of drinking fountains and benches to keep you hydrated and rested.

Is this path cool or what? I love the boardwalk, the trees, and the leaves- so magical!
I love how the springs just meander through the grass.






The drive back down was just as gorgeous. We went back through A.F. but you could also go down through Provo Canyon.

Elliott's leaf collection is below. He's already framed them.

And thanks to the nice lady who offered to snap the pic and let us all be in it for once!

If you go:

CASCADE SPRINGS & ALPINE LOOP

From Salt Lake or Provo, get on the Alpine Loop Road via the American Fork or Provo canyons and just drive up the mountain to the summit. The Alpine Loop Road is clearly signed, as is the Cascade turnoff.

doughnut falls hike

I can't believe how lucky we are to be in Utah, with all of it's great outdoors! And I love that my boys are getting older and can start to appreciate hiking and the like. There is nothing like being out in the fresh mountain air, with so much beauty everywhere, with my family! It makes me so, so happy- it's impossible to put into words. Plus it's nice that hiking is free most of the time. So we decided to try Doughnut Falls in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Even though it looks nice, it was pretty chilly up there! I'm glad I threw in long sleeves at the last minute and we always carry jackets in the car- we used both.
Little Linc is a mover so we weren't sure how he would do in the pack- but he loved it!
One of our little furry friends who also snacked with us at the waterfall.

Discovering along the way.

Linc had lots to say and to look at.

I LOVE this shot. (Is it weird to frame a pic with only the backs of heads showing?)

Handsome Elliott

Ollie in action.

Us at the waterfall. This has changed since I hiked it a few years back (make that over 10 years ago!) The water at the top goes through a doughnut shaped hole (you can see it near the top) and you used to see the water come through. I remember snowshoeing on this trail once and a guy was using his ice-climbing gear to get up the frozen falls. But it looks like a rockslide has ruined the bottom part, so now it just trickles down the rocks. It's a beautiful hike, just not as grand of a waterfall as I remembered. I still loved it though.

Hiking with kids equals lots and lots of snacks. We didn't pack a lunch, but probably should have.

Feeding grapes and granola bars to the chipmunks.

The climber.

It warmed up a little and Ollie wanted both shirts off. Silly guy.

It wore little Linc right out.

And Adam. :)

*DOUGHNUT FALLS

Distance: 1.4 miles out and back

To get there:

Drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon on Hwy 190 for 9.0 miles.

The road branches to the right (south).

Drive for one mile on this road past the Jordan Pines picnic area and some private property.

The trailhead is at the south end of the parking lot, past the bathroom.

*(Info from Best Easy Day Hikes SLC by Brinkerhoff and Witt)