Hike the Y with Kids: Provo, Utah

by Outdoor Fam Fun | Apr 8, 2021 | Mountains, Mountains, Utah

Hike the Y with Kids: Provo, Utah

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.