Tintic Train Tunnel: Elberta, Utah

Tintic Train Tunnel: Elberta, Utah

by | Apr 9, 2021 | Desert, Utah

Tintic Train Tunnel: Elberta, Utah

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Explore an abandoned train tunnel with your kids in Elberta, Utah! The Tintic Train Tunnel also called the Elberta Slant Railroad Tunnel is an old passage created for the Tintic Range Railway to carry silver from the surrounding mines in south western Utah County. Although the Tintic railway no longer exists, the enormous abandoned tunnel and mine shaft near-by provide a fun place for families to explore.

KID RATINGS

Fun: ⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
Difficulty:     Very Easy    EASY   Moderate    Hard    Very Hard

KEY FEATURES

Distance: 0.1 to 1 miles, depending on where you park
Elevation Gain: Flat to the Tintic Train Tunnel. Small uphill to mine shaft
Terrain: Dirt and rocks
Time Needed: 30 minutes to 1 hour
When to Go: Anytime of the year without snow or rain

COST

Free

AMENITIES

  • Nearest gas station in Goshen, 8 miles away from train tunnel
  • Other amenities in Santaquin 15 minutes away with restaurants and more gas stations 

THINGS TO BRING

  • Snacks
  • Water
  • Good walking shoes
  • Vehicle that is good on dirt roads, 4×4 not required
  • Dogs allowed

DETAILS of TINTIC TRAIN TUNNEL

The Tintic Train Tunnel is a fun place for families to explore. If you are in a vehicle with high clearance you will be able to drive right up to the tunnel. If you are in a lower clearance vehicle like we were in, I recommend parking about 0.4 miles from the tunnel and walking the rest of the way, due to rougher dirt road conditions.

See the directions and maps section below for details. You can make this a loop by following the trail through the tunnel or around the tunnel, or you can just walk-back the way you came. We ended up walking just over a mile total, there and back.

We enjoyed a flat walk/hike from our vehicle to the tunnel. There are beautiful views of the surrounding valley and Utah Lake. Watch out for ATVs as you will be walking on frequently used ATV trails. At one point, we had to move are kids as a Jeep was coming down a hillside above the dirt road that we were walking on.

The Tin Tic Tunnel is hard to miss. It is a large gaping hole in the side of the hill. It’s about 100 yards long and obviously tall enough for a train to fit through.

Tintic Train Tunnel
Enough light enters the tunnel that you do not need a flashlight during daylight hours. We had fun walking through and imagining old trains carrying cargo.

How to Find the Old Mine Shaft

A short walk from the tunnel, we also found an old mine shaft. It is located north-west of the north end of the tunnel along a hillside. The entrance is somewhat hidden from view behind a large boulder. We did take a light into this mine because it is very dark near the end. This is not a long mine shaft, probably only about 20 feet.

The Tin Tic Train Tunnel was worth a quick visit for us. It gave us a way to do some exploring away from people and be outside during the beginnings of the COVID pandemic.

PROS & CONS

PROS

  • Easy for kids of all ages
  • Fun area to explore
  • Nearby old mine

CONS

  • Possibility of ATV traffic in the tunnel
  • No bathrooms or amenities close by

DIRECTIONS TO TINTIC TRAIN TUNNEL

The Tin Tic Train Tunnel is located just west of the town of Elberta, Utah. Turn west off of highway 68 on to Elberta Slant Road. You can use google maps and search Tintic Railroad Tunnel or Elberta Slant Road Tunnel. The main dirt road is easy to maneuver.

Off the main dirt road you need to continue along a smaller dirt road either by foot or by vehicle to the north for about 0.4 miles. This smaller road is more rugged, so we chose to park and walk the remaining amount. We were driving a minivan. An SUV or truck would make it the full-way to the tunnel without a problem.

MAPS

 

MORE INFO

Utawesome

OTHER NEARBY ADVENTURES

Eureka, an old mining town (15 minutes)
Paul Bunyan’s Woodpile hike (40 minutes)
Old Sinclair Station, corner of highway 6 and highway 68 (10 minutes)

ABOUT

Hi, I’m Corrine! I’m an outdoor enthusiast and mother of four.

My goal is to inspire you to get outside and create your own amazing memories as a family. Life is precious and there are too many adventures to be had to spend life on the couch or in front of a screen.

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Hike the Y with Kids: Provo, Utah

Hike the Y with Kids: Provo, Utah

by | Apr 8, 2021 | Mountains, Mountains, Utah

Hike the Y with Kids: Provo, Utah

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The Y hike in Provo, Utah is a Utah County classic hike that traverses the steep hillside to the iconic Y on the mountain. Hike the Y with kids, for is short and steep adventure with beautiful views of Utah County and Utah Lake. This family friendly hike can be a fun for kids and parents alike. 

KID RATINGS

Fun: ⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
Difficulty:     Very Easy    Easy    Moderate    HARD    Very Hard

KEY FEATURES

Hiking Distance: 2.2 miles round trip
Hiking Elevation Gain: 1100 ft
Terrain: Dirt, rocks, switchbacks, steep, exposed trail
Time Needed: 1.5 to 2 hours
When to Go: Spring, Summer (morning or evening), Fall. 

COST

Free

AMENITIES

  • Bathrooms at trailhead next to parking lot
  • Gas stations and grocery stores just a few miles away in Provo

THINGS TO BRING

  • Sunscreen, trail exposed
  • Water
  • Snacks
  • Hiking shoes with good traction
  • Dogs allowed

DETAILS

The Y on the mountain was originally built by Brigham Young University High School in 1907 and is made of rock, sand and cement. It is an iconic college symbol that is 380 ft tall and 130 ft wide which makes it bigger than the Hollywood letters in Los Angeles

When a BYU athletic team wins a competition, the perimeter of the Y is lite up. We were lucky enough to hike the Y during a winning night.

The Hike the Y Trailhead begins on the mountainside east of Brigham Young University (BYU). There are three separate asphalt parking lots at the base of the hike. We hiked this in November just before sunset and there were plenty of parking spots. This is a popular hike so I imagine the parking is crowded during summer and early fall months when the leaves are changing.

This hike gains just over 1000 feet in 1.1 miles! Steep! This is why I rated this hike as hard for kids. It took us just over an hour and a half to complete with a few stops to rest and a snack break at the top.

The majority of the hike is a series of switchbacks on a wide well marked trail with a total of 11 turns. There is a sign at each turn identifying which turn you are on in case you lose track.

There are also signs with fun facts about the local wildlife and habitat. My kids loved all the nature facts. We did find a live tarantula along the way.

There are also binoculars to look down at the valley.
You will first arrive to the lower portion of Y. Continue upward to get to the top. There are benches at the top to sit on for snack and break time. There are trails that continue into the mountain beyond the Y if you want a longer hike.

 The kids did great on this hike. They loved running down the steep switchbacks on the way down. I think it helped a lot to have friends with us. The hike was steep but short so it was very doable. We had a beautiful sunset to watch as we hiked down.

Despite the steepness the hike was still enjoyable. It has gorgeous views and the kids loved getting close to the huge Y on the mountain side. If you want to hike the Y with kids, I suggest doing a few other smaller hikes first.

PROS & CONS

PROS

  • Beautiful views
  • Fun destination
  • Possibility for wildlife viewing

CONS

  • Hot in the summer months and trail is exposed
  • Steep!
  • Can become crowded

DIRECTIONS

The Y hike trailhead is located on the east bench of the mountains behind Brigham Young University. The address is Slide Canyon Trail 062, Provo, UT 84604 or you can search Y trailhead on your GPS device.

MAPS

 

MORE INFO

All Trails Hike the Y

History of Y Mountain

OTHER NEARBY ADVENTURES

Bridal Veil Falls (20 minutes)

Upper Falls (25 minutes)

Float the Provo River (20 minutes)

Stewart Falls (30 minutes)

Battlecreek Falls (30 minutes)

Utah Lake State Park (20 minutes)

ABOUT

Hi, I’m Corrine! I’m an outdoor enthusiast and mother of four.

My goal is to inspire you to get outside and create your own amazing memories as a family. Life is precious and there are too many adventures to be had to spend life on the couch or in front of a screen.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

 

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Kodachrome Basin State Park with Kids

Kodachrome Basin State Park with Kids

by | Mar 29, 2021 | Desert, Southern Utah, Utah

Kodachrome Basin State Park with Kids

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Kodachrome Basin State Park in Utah features colorful desert scenery, sandstone formations and hikes that are worth the trip off the beaten path to explore with your kids. You can stay for a few days, utilizing the campgrounds or bunkhouses in the park, or make it a quick day-trip while visiting Bryce Canyon National Park and Grand Staircase Escalante Monument.  This guide will help you plan your adventure to Kodachrome Basin with kids.

KID RATINGS

Fun: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
Difficulty: Very Easy    Easy    Moderate    Hard    Very Hard
(Hikes range from very easy to hard depending on the hike)

KEY FEATURES

Terrain: Sand, dirt, sandstone, exposed trails, paved trails, dirt trails, paved roads
Time Needed: A few hours to a couple days
When to Go: Anytime of the year but best time is spring or fall for best temperatures

Hiking Distance: 0.5 miles to 6 miles, depending on the trail
Hiking Elevation Gain: Flat to 300 feet

 

COST

Day Use Fee $10 per vehicle

Camping:
Basin and Bryce View: no hookups $25
Basin: full hookups $35
Arch: water and power hookups $35

 

AMENITIES

  • Flush or vault toilets depending on where you are in the park
  • Water
  • Fire wood for sale
  • Warm Showers
  • Laundromat – awesome for long road trips
  • Dining: no dining options on site. Closest restaurants in Tropic about 20 minutes away.  
  • Lodging – camping or bunkhouse in the park. Motels/hotels in Cannonville or Tropic 15 to 20 minutes away. 

THINGS TO BRING

  • Food for camping of snacks for day use, no restaurants on site
  • Water containers and bottles
  • Camping gear
  • Sand toys
  • Good hiking shoes
  • Bikes if desired – a few of the trails are great for mountain biking
  • Dogs allowed
  • Sunscreen, exposed trails

DETAILS

Kodachrome State Park was named after a new brand of Kodiak film by National Geographic  in the 1940’s because of the color and beauty that was found there. There are sandstone spires and pipes and mountains with layers of orange, red and white.

Kodachrome Basin with kids has become one of my favorite Utah adventures. We stayed two nights camping in the park. There was plenty to do within the park and the surrounding area. It is a great base if you are adventuring in Bryce Canyon or Grand Staircase Escalante Monument. There is beautiful desert scenery on each hike and within the campgrounds. 

THINGS TO DO 

CAMPING

Kodachrome State Park has three main campgrounds: Basin, Bryce View and Arch. All three campgrounds have tent and RV options. There is also a large group site called Oasis. Each campsite has a fire ring and picnic table.

 

The Basin Campground is my favorite in the park. It is nestled in the actual basin area of the Park and has gorgeous views of the surrounding sandstone mountains. It offers well-kept bathrooms with flush toilets, warm water and showers.

The Oasis group site is nearby and offers the same facilities. Bryce View and Arch campground have outhouse style bathrooms with no showers.

We stayed in the site #3 of the Basin Campground and absolutely loved it. There was shade the entire day around the picnic table, fun sandstone for the kids to climb on and a small creek running through it at times. The kids loved playing in the sand and the water. We had plenty of room and privacy and even set up the hammocks in the trees.

Other sites that we liked as we drove by were 1, 5, and 10 because they also had a good amount of privacy and shade. Sites 17 and 22 were on the outer edge and were right up against the sandstone mountain creating a beautiful camping backdrop; however a deeper ditch ran through these sites and might not be best with toddlers. 

HIKING

Each of the six hikes in Kodachrome State Park offer differing terrain and a range of scenery. I loved each hike for different reasons. Full reviews of each hike to come. Each hike can be done or modified if 

1. Eagles View Trail: An easy 1 mile trail offering views of the Kodachrome Basin.

2. Nature Trail: A very easy, 0.6 mile flat trail that offers education via signs of plant and geological features within the park. This trail is ADA accessible.

3. Grand Parade Trail: An easy 1.5 mile flat hike along the bottom of the basin floor that can be extended to 2 miles by exploring the two secluded box canyons adjacent to the trail.

4. Angel’s Palace Trail: A steeper hike, gaining 150 feet in .75 miles providing beautiful views of Kodachrome Basin and beyond. This hike has steep drop offs in some areas. I do not recommend for young children who run off.

Top of Angels Palace Trail

5. Panaroma Trail: A 3 to 6 mile hike with multiple points of interest along the way including the Hat Shop, Indian Cave, Ballerina Leg, Secret Passage, Cool Cave and Panorama Point.

6. Shakespeare Arch: Sentinel Trail: A 2 mile hike that once offered views of Shakespeare Arch. This arch fell in 2019 but the hike still offers beautiful views and scenery. This hike has some difficult terrain but well worth the views.

MOUNTAIN BIKING

I was so glad we brought my mountain bike. I wanted to check out each trail while we were there but we just ran out of time. I was able to bike the Grand Parade Trail which was a lot of fun. My husband biked a portion of the Panaroma Trail which is also an awesome trail to bike. Keep in mind that mountain bikes are not allowed on every trail.

 

STAR GAZING

My seven year old told me that the sky did not look real at night because there were so many stars to see. We were lucky our first night with a completely clear sky and no moon. We slept with the rain fly off. The kids had been asking to sleep under the stairs for a couple years and it finally worked out.

PLAYING IN THE SAND

Wish we would have brought beach toys and buckets for the kids to play with. There was so much sand for the kids to play in at our site. They were literally playing in it like we were at the beach.

GRASS GAMES

There is a grassy area next to the bathrooms in the Basin Campground with picnic tables. At the visitors center you can rent Bocce Ball, Frisbee Golf, Giant Jenga, Cornhole or Ladder Toss for the day for $5.

HORSEBACK RIDES

Horseback rides are available on the Panaroma Trail through Red Canyon Trail Rides. There weren’t any rides going at the time that we visited, due to Covid-19 concerns. They offer one hour rides for $40/person or two hour rides for $60/person. Horseback rides must be booked ahead of time.

VISITOR’S CENTER

The Visitor’s Center is very small but it did have a couple of wall exhibits that were engaging and informative. It also has a small gift shop and a freezer full of ice cream for purchase on a hot day.

Kodachrome Basin State Park Visitors Center Dispaly

PROS & CONS

PROS

  • Amazing hiking
  • Lots of things to do
  • Beautiful scenery
  • Low cost
  • Good for families of all ages
  • Variety of amenities: laundry, cabins, showers, 
  • Close to Grand Staircase Escalante and Bryce Canyon National Park

CONS

  • Hot in the Summer Months
  • No restaurants on site – Must drive to Tropic for food (20 minute drive)

DIRECTIONS

Kodachrome Basin State Park is located in Central Southern Utah near Bryce Canyon National Park and Escalante National Monument. It is about 15 minutes south of the town of Cannonville, Utah off of Highway 12. To get there, enter Kodachrome Basin State Park Visitors Center in your GPS device or click on my map link below.

MAPS

 

MORE INFO

Kodachrome State Park official site

 

OTHER NEARBY ADVENTURES

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (30 minutes to 2 hours), depending on where you go – the monument is over one million acres of land.
Willis Creek Slot Canyon (30 minutes)
Bryce Canyon National Park (30 minutes)
Red Canyon (40 minutes)
Peek-a-boo and Spooky Slot Canyons in Grand Staircase (1 hour 50 mins)

ABOUT

Hi, I’m Corrine! I’m an outdoor enthusiast and mother of four.

My goal is to inspire you to get outside and create your own amazing memories as a family. Life is precious and there are too many adventures to be had to spend life on the couch or in front of a screen.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

 

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