This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
On a sunny February afternoon, with the temperature hovering around 40 degrees, Kylie and Joni Quinn of Cottonwood Heights walked their two dogs around Salt Lake City's Liberty Park. It's a classic place to get some exercise as it offers two sidewalks, a wood-chip path and a pond, where flocks of ducks and geese provide entertainment.
"The dogs love the birds," said Kylie Quinn. "And I like to get in a couple of good laps around the park."
As the Quinns have discovered, walking is the easiest, cheapest and, according to some experts, the best exercise around.
So if gyms, yoga studios and TRX classes just aren't your style, here are 10 great places to take a walk in northern Utah.
1. Jordan River Parkway • This 40-mile trail that stretches between Utah and Davis counties — and winds its way through the heart of Salt Lake County— might be northern Utah's premier path for runners, walkers, bikers and those on inline skates. Because of its low elevation, snow melts fast, making it a good option for winter walking. There are numerous trailheads, parks and restrooms, mostly at major intersections and roads running east and west. The river supplies shade trees, wetlands and wildlife. Be aware that there are still a few gaps in the trail, mainly in South Jordan and in Salt Lake City.
2. Parleys Creek • This trail will eventually stretch from the mouth of Parleys Canyon and the Bonneville Shoreline Trail west to the Jordan River Parkway. For now, the first 1.5 miles is paved. Access is from the Bonneville Shoreline Trail at the mouth of Parleys Canyon or at Tanner Park, 2520 S. Heritage Way (2520 South). When it's not too muddy, the nearby Parleys Gulch area is also a nice place to walk.
3. Decker Lake • The 1.2-mile paved trail around Decker Lake offers nice scenery. It can be accessed at 2300 W. Parkway Blvd. (2800 South). On many days, a variety of birds can be observed.
4. Great Salt Lake Nature Center at Farmington Bay • This facility at 1700 W. Glover Lane in Farmington features a 1.5-mile wheelchair-accessible trail. The area includes blinds to help bird viewing, trees where bald eagles can often be seen in the winter, a creek frequented by mule deer and a bird refuge.
5. Liberty Park • This classic Salt Lake City park flanked by 500 and 700 East and 900 and 1300 South offers walkers a 1.5-mile wood-chip running path, a 1.3-mile sidewalk path and a 1.4-mile skating path. A small cafe, restrooms and lots of grassy area make this a popular central-city exercise spot.
6. Sugar House Park • This iconic Salt Lake City park near 1500 E. 2100 South offers great views of the Wasatch Mountains and is a popular year-round destination for walkers, joggers and bicyclists. The park road is 1 3⁄8 miles long and has a 16-foot inside lane for walkers, cyclists and runners.
7. Legacy Parkway • This 14-mile paved trail cuts through mostly agricultural and wetlands areas in south Davis County. It runs from the FrontRunner station in Farmington, south to 1-215 and 2100 North in North Salt Lake. Trailheads are also along the trail at 250 S. 450 West in Farmington; 900 W. 2400 South (Birnam Woods); Pages Lane at 1600 West; 1200 N. 1525 West in West Bountiful; and 2425 South in Woods Cross.
8. Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve • This Nature Conservancy facility is in Layton on 3200 West, south of Gentile Road. There is a one-mile boardwalk that goes over Great Salt Lake wetlands. Other facilities include restrooms, a 30-foot-high observation tower and an open-air visitor center.
9. Millennium Trail Park City • This trail stretches about five miles along State Route 224 between Park City and Kimball Junction. There are several trailheads along the way. It is not plowed in the winter and is often snowpacked, though that doesn't prevent walkers as well as snowbikers from using it.
10. Provo River Trail • This trail follows the Provo River 14 miles from Utah Lake east to Vivian Park in Provo Canyon. The relatively flat paved trail is shaded much of the way.
Twitter: @tribtomwharton —
Tell us where you walk
Do you have a favorite walking route near your home that offers a safe, easy way to exercise? Share it with your fellow Tribune readers. Email information to features@sltrib.com. Put "favorite walking routes" in the subject line.