Big Mountain Summit — Attraction in Bountiful

I love this drive, it's picturesque and full of trees and beautiful mountain and reservoir scenery. The tight turns make it ideal for motorcycles and convertibles (do NOT speed, you don't need to, the turns are sharp enough) plus there are often cyclists or deer on the road, so be alert.

The drive up to the summit is beautiful but a lesser known gem is the road past the summit that winds it's way through forest and hills all the way to the reservoir itself.

I highly recommend it as a good drive to listen to music to and soak in the beautiful nature all around. Once more, don't speed. You shouldn't need to and there's a good chance you will encounter wildlife or people. (See photos).

I've driven this many times when stressed about life and always find it to be a clarifying, relaxing escape from the city that is easy to get...

The Hastings Cutoff was presented to pioneers headed to California in 1846 as a shorter route to save time and miles. That might have been true for a pack-train of horsemen but not for a wagon-train of pioneers.

Having to deal with the trail-blazing necessary to move the ill-fated Donner Party wagon-train thru the stretch from today's Henefer, Utah to the Salt Lake Valley required time and effort to traverse the stretch.

The extra time expended in this trail segment contributed to the Donner Party's later travel up the Sierra Nevada range, where an early snow storm resulted in the eventual loss of life.

The Big Mountain was where the party's initial vista included the Great Salt Lake and valley. If you travel westward from Henefer, you can experience the view as the Donner Party...

As a cyclist, I can highly recommend the ride up to Big Mountain Summit from downtown Salt Lake City. After passing the Reservoir, the road starts to get steeper with a few switchbacks that really test your endurance. Despite the challenge, the climb is definitely manageable for a rider with a moderate to above-average level of fitness. The traffic can be a little busy, but all motorists I encountered were respectful of the many cyclists trying to get to the top. The effort is absolutely worth it. The views from the summit are fantastic, offering a stunning panorama of the Wasatch Front and the valleys below. It's the perfect reward for the climb. If you're a cyclist looking for a beautiful and rewarding ride, this...