Property at a Glance: Rivers Edge at Deer Park

Rivers Edge at Deer Park lies just south of Heber Valley amid stunning mountain scenery and several natural wonders, including Timpanogos Cave National Monument and Provo Canyon. The property’s gorgeous surroundings make for unforgettable hiking and mountain biking in the Wasatch Range, as well as world-class fly-fishing in the Provo River, located just across the street. There you can fish at one of the country’s top blue ribbon trout fisheries—some parts of the river contain more than 3,000 trout per mile.

• Nifty in-room amenities: Rustic Park Avenue Cabins include a full kitchen and two bedrooms, one of which has an adjacent private deck.
• Take a Hike: You can spot moose, sandhill cranes, and other wildlife along the resort’s trail system, which runs through a wetland nature preserve.
• Nearby State Park: The resort is right on the edge of Jordanelle State Park, home to the Jordanelle Reservoir, a popular spot for boating, fishing, and other water activities.
• Hot Tip: The resort doesn’t provide cooking supplies and eating utensils, although a basic kitchen set-up is available for rent. Be sure to bring your own if you plan on eating at home.

Heber Valley, Utah: Lush Alpine Scenery Close to World-Class Skiing

Since Salt Lake City hosted the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, the neighboring Heber Valley—another top-notch outdoor-recreation spot—is sometimes overlooked. But this alpine area, located less than 20 miles from Park City, across the Wasatch Range, has bragging rights of its own. Here, you’ll find a wealth of hillside hiking trails, rolling golf courses, and mountain streams teeming with rainbow trout. In the winter, Heber Valley’s towns are noted for their laid-back atmosphere and proximity to four world-class ski resorts. Among them is Deer Valley Resort, named one of the Best Ski Resorts in North America by Outside magazine for its upscale amenities, including heated sidewalks. At Deer Valley, more than 100 runs spread out across several peaks and cater to a variety of skill levels; hardcore skiers will find plenty of steep trails near the peaks.

One of the main towns of Heber Valley is Midway, whose Soldier Hollow Resort hosted the 2002 Winter Olympic cross-country skiing events. The city’s other claim to fame is the Homestead caldera, a natural hot spring and one of the only warm-water scuba-diving spots in the continental United States. Surrounded by a 10,000-year-old limestone dome, the swimming hole—known locally as “The Crater”—remains a balmy 90 to 96 degrees year-round.

Heber City, the valley’s other major community, has been called “Switzerland of America” thanks to its pastoral farms surrounded by towering mountains. Don’t miss the Heber Valley Railroad, which takes passengers along a historic three-hour route into alpine Provo Canyon via 100-year-old restored steam and diesel trains.