Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter — Attraction in South Snyderville Basin

Very relaxing activity. We took our 5 kids here while passing through and it was a great, relaxing Sunday activity. It was a little windy, so perhaps consider it might feel cooler than what the weather app says it will be.

There is a visitor's center where you can get maps and a key to walk farther out in to the preserve. It has interactive activities for kids to help them connect with what they'll be seeing.

We did the little half mile walk right outside the center and it was a fun way to interact a little more with nature. We saw various birds, cranes, ground squirrels, deer, ducks and fish.

There are restrooms inside the visitor's center.

The staff was very friendly and engaging with the kids. They had pencils and stickers and a scavenger hunt for our walk. That makes a big difference if you're bringing kids that only want to be entertained by ipad.

You can buy things in the...

A wonderful place to observe and learn about nature. Their wetland ecosystem is home to many species of animals and birds, including deer, elk, and sandhill cranes. There is a nice observation deck with views across the Preserve. They also offer guided Preserve tours. Informative and interactive displays, especially great for kids. Regular community events and talks, many of them free. Summer youth camps.

From their website: The Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter is a 1,200 acre nature Preserve and a 10,000 square foot LEED Platinum building with interactive exhibits about the surrounding environment. We offer weekly nature tours, wildlife viewing opportunities, summer camps, environmental education for children and adults, evening lecture series, a gift shop with local and ecofriendly art. More info: swanerecocenter.org

COVID precautions - limiting # people, face masks required,...

Two visits to Swaner preserve, which is a conservation easy in the heart of Kimball Junction. A variety of options to look and learn about the local environment and the surrounding wetlands. You can rent snowshoes for $5 and explore the broader preserve (across the highway) or take an ecopreserve tour on Saturday for an additional $10. The center itself has a few permanent exhibits, an observatory tower where you can look across the fields, and a back deck with a beaver damn and views of the creek. All of this is free. This is a treasure amidst a lot of development. A great nature-oriented gift shop. Well worth the visit and a fantastic alternative or afternoon away...