Solitude, Utah Is A Summertime Paradise: Get Out There!

The Solitude resort area is a skiing destination located just 30 minutes from the Salt Lake City airport. Yes, it's beautiful in the winter time, but Solitude is a veritable paradise in the summer. Here are some ideas for activities to do during your summer get away to Solitude.

-- Get out there and hike! You will be in the Rocky Mountains after all, and the great outdoors is best seen up close and on foot.

If you have the good fortune to be visiting the Beehive State in July, you can enjoy the glorious display of wildflowers at their peak. If you are not part mountain goat, you needn't worry about hiking being too hard: Big Cottonwood Canyon offers a wide range in hiking trail difficulty, from the very easy (Silver Lake boardwalk) to the more strenuous (Lake Blanche: 6 miles round trip with steady vertical ascent). This is a desert, so remember to bring plenty of water.

-- Get out there and bike! Mountain biking is one of the most popular sports in Utah and many trails near Solitude accommodate bikers as well as hikers. Again, the degree of difficulty varies and visitors can choose how much they can handle. If you prefer street biking, cycling up the canyon is a challenge for any experience biker who likes to push himself, and the mountain scenery will leave you breathless along with the exercise!

-- Get out there and take a drive! If you are more of a couch potato than a road warrior, the scenery can be enjoyed by car too.

Guardsman's Pass, located just above Solitude, is a true mountain pass that connects Big Cottonwood Canyon to either the Deer Valley resort near park City or to Heber City, depending on which way you care to go. From the top of the pass you can see for miles across mountain peaks and lush valleys. You may even spot an elk or mule deer. It's a great place for a picnic lunch, and Guardsman's Pass is a jumping off point for several hikes as well.

-- Get out there and fish! Utah's streams and reservoirs are havens for rainbow trout and other popular sporting fish. There are many local outfitters to choose from who can help you experience the best that Western fishing has to offer: whether you prefer a rod or want to try your hand at fly fishing, there is something for everyone.

-- Get out there and relax! Vacationing at Solitude doesn't always mean go, go, go of course. Sometimes it's just best to find a shady spot by the stream and read a book or take a nap. The nearly constant summer sunshine nearly always guarantees a beautiful day in the mountains.