The drive from Lava Hot Springs to Wasatch Mountain State Park perfectly fit our plan, skirting Salt Lake City and delivering us to the park 200.9 miles later. This time of year, there were only a handful of campers in the park. The weather was perfect, and we ended up spending four nights.
Exploring The Beautiful Surroundings
Wasatch Mountain State Park is beautiful, with wonderful hiking trails and biking available on peaceful winding country roads.
Campsite in Wasatch Mountains State Park
Hiking in the Wasatch Mountains
Biking in Wasatch Mountains State Park
The park is located on the outskirts of the little town of Midway, south of Park City. Midway is a farming and ranching community, with a lingering Swiss influence imparted by the original European settlers. The streets are wide, the homes and businesses are festooned with gingerbread and adorned with murals, and the sign at Midway City Hall reminds residents that neither pets nor livestock are permitted on the lawn.
Mural on the Midway Post Office
Heber Dairy, with delicious raw milk cheeses
A new friend in Midway
Upscale Park City
Twenty miles up the road is Park City, obviously hip and wealthy. There’s a distinctly Western flair and the streets are lined with high-end shops and restaurants. I overheard someone remark, “There are two ways to be cool in Park City—you’re either a world-class athlete or filthy rich.”
We’re obviously neither, but we still enjoyed wandering the downtown area, stocking up on groceries at Whole Foods, and lunching at the High West Distillery, which is one of the best eateries in town.
Downtown Park City
The distillery is the first in Utah to be legalized since prohibition ended. But considering the tight liquor control laws in Utah, I’m not so sure the state has completely embraced prohibition’s demise.
High West Distillery and Saloon
Lunch was delicious (bourbon-coffee glazed black cod, smoked tri-tip, roasted Brussels sprouts, and sautéed kale). Of course, we enjoyed a shot of their smoky Campfire whiskey with our meal. I’m not a whiskey drinker, but it was delicious. I wish we had bought a bottle. For medicinal purposes only, of course.
Autumn colors in the Wasatch Mountains
You know I used to live in that area for about 4 years!
I lived on top of main st. in a tiny little old house. I loved Park City at the time. My son Sam was born there. Also lived in Springville Ut. Those pics bring back memories,so beautiful.
Miss you
Wish you had been there with us! Thought of you and Joe while we were sipping that whiskey — made me think of evenings playing music together by the fireplace and passing the flask around. ;-)
Your photos are dazzling. Never seen colors like those on scrub-covered hillsides. What are the plants and how come we can’t have them on Grizzly? Sounds like you are hitting stride and finding great new places. Miss you.
Yes, the colors were spectacular! And we were told it was a bad year for color. The primary deciduous trees are bigtooth maple (AKA Wasatch maple), aspen, and Gambel oak.