Stewart Falls - American Fork Canyon

Directions:Trailhead is up American Fork Canyon Alpine Loop road by the Mt. Timpanogos trail head. there are several trails so follow the signs
Duration: 1.5hr -2  hours
Distance: 4 miles out and back
Difficulty: Easy/Medium - June thru October
This is a fun and easy day hike and the falls is refreshing to sit by and very beautiful.
Makes a great picnic day hike.

link: http://www.utah.com/provo/hiking_trails.htm

Lake Blanche, Lily and Florence and Sundial Peak - Big Cottonwood Canyon

Directions: park at the S curve on the road up Big Cottonwood Canyon/trailhead is here (about 4.5 miles up the canyon)

Duration: 2.5 hours - or about 3 if hiking with smaller hikers - or if you are really sick thinking you have allergies and don't want to admit it that you are - really sick -  and  have to stop a lot.

Distance: about 2 3/4

Difficulty: Medium if you are in reasonably good shape.

It is mostly uphill with a little climbing over rocks toward the top. Lots of people had hiking sticks and it would be a good idea if you have knee issues as there is a lot of uphill on the way up and amazingly enough.. lots of downhill on the way down.

Tips: we took lots of water and drank it all. It was July and freakishly hot...even in the mountains (aorund 100 the day we did the hike) We took a water purifier and were really glad to have it. Take a nice picnic, its a beautiful place to lunch.
While going up I thought... I will never do this again. But after seeing how amazingly beautiful it was ...I probably will. Just not when I am sick!
Definitely want to bring your camera. Bug spray is a good idea since there are some mosquitoes just before the lake (don't remember being bugged by any while at the lake though. Lots of flies during the summer - which was a blessing (kept us moving) and a curse (annoying).
The extra distance to Lake Lilly and Florence just beyond was well woth it and even though you are probably going to be tired, take a breather and press on. Sundial peak is wonderfully beautiful, the other lakes are also amazing, peaceful and picturesque. there is a great waterfall between Blanche and Lilly and lots of places to relax and enjoy the day.
When I do it again I am going earlier in the day and spend a little more time up there.

Day Hike - Donut Falls - Big Cottonwood Canyon

This is a fun, fairly easy hike that many families do as a tradition. It doesn’t take too long and it’s pretty amazing without too much effort.

stinging nettles - don't touch! /yarrow - good for cuts / sticky geranium / wild carrot

Distance: ¾ mile

Duration: about 30 minutes

Difficulty: easy/medium – there were people with babies in packs, small children and lots of grandparents there with their grandkids. Some climbing involved in a couple of places and some elevation at the beginning of the trail, but otherwise fairly flat.

Climbing to the falls may be tricky as the rocks or dirt areas are often slippery and can also be unstable but most people climb up and go in to view the falls as it comes through the “donut”.

Directions: about 9 miles from the bottom of Big Cottonwood Canyon turn off at Jordan Pines and follow the road up past the private property signs to the parking lot trailhead

along the trail/ your feet will get wet... these were the perfect shoes!/ some pretty plants by the falls/ going straight up

on the bridge/good shoes-plan to get wet or go barefoot/the mouth of the falls cave/ inside

view from the top/the top of the falls/ looking down/ pretty but don't eat - black twinberry

Tips: A picnic is popular. There are some flies (deer flies and horse flies but while annoying they aren't too bad). The trail has lots of wildflowers but also stinging nettle (see above picture for identification if you don't know what it is- tall skinny plant with serrated knife shaped leaves and white tassel flowers) next to some parts of the trail so watch out for it and make sure your kids don’t touch it.

Here is a link to more info: http://www.utahoutdooractivities.com/doughnutfalls.html