Skiing

"The house is warm, super functional and everything you want for a ski trip. The three bathrooms came in very very handy. Kitchen is large and stocked with all the needed utensils. The living room is set up perfectly for gathering and hanging out. The back yard is beautiful! We came in winter and didn’t get to enjoy it as much (we were too tired after skiing to use the hot tub) but I bet it’s absolutely divine in the summer too."

-Mihaela

Sundance Mountain Resort

Sundance is 11 minutes from the Treehouse. It is the perfect resort for family skiing (everything is easy--lessons, rentals, parking). More on family skiing from SkiUtah here.

Expert skiers and snowboarders will love the steep-and-deep powder. You can definitely wear yourself out with plenty of double-black territory, plus a terrain park.

We highly recommend the nachos at Bearclaw Cabin at the top of the back mountain!

For more adventuresome groups, check out Park City. It is the largest ski resort in the US, with 330 trails, 14 bowls, and 18 terrain parks. You can definitely not get on every lift in one day, much less ski all the slopes, so best to pick a spot and learn it--or plan for multiple days.

Park City is a 41 minute drive from the Treehouse.

Park City Mountain Resort

Deer Valley

For luxury skiing, check out Deer Valley in Park City. Don't be fooled by its reputation as a high-end resort--Deer Valley has amazing skiing. We love the very long runs, and perfect moguls (no snowboards allowed).

The best way to access Deer Valley Ski Resort is via the Jordanelle Gondola. Its parking lot is only a 33 minute drive from the Treehouse.

SLC: Snowbird, Alta, Brighton, Solitude

Snowbird is known for long, steep slopes and limited beginner terrain. For many experts, Snowbird is the resort of choice.

For skiing purists (no snowboards), Alta is in the same canyon as Snowbird, with similar terrain. Come ready to bomb.

Brighton and Solitude are in Big Cottonwood Canyon. These two resorts are less expensive and have fewer amenities, but equally good skiing.

Plan on 90+ minutes to reach Big or Little Cottonwood canyons. You may also fight traffic at the beginning or end of a powder day!

Fishing

"We stayed here for a long weekend and couldn’t have picked a better place! This home is surrounded by a river to fish and mountains to explore. Exactly what we were looking for! We will definitely stay here again when visiting beautiful Vivian Park!

-Renea

Fly Fishing

Just steps from your door is the blue-ribbon-rated Lower Provo River, boasting one of Utah's healthiest populations of wild brown trout, with many fish in the 16-20 inch range. The Lower Provo's consistent water flows and abundant insect hatches, including famous PMD and Blue-Winged Olive emergences, create year-round fishing. The stretch near the cabin features a mix of riffles, runs, and deep pools, perfect for both dry fly and nymphing techniques. Easy wade access for both beginners and seasoned anglers. Plenty of room for back casts steps from the property.

For a reliable guide service, check out Utah Pro Fly Fishing.

Lake Fishing

Within 45 minutes of Vivian Park are several outstanding fishing lakes. Deer Creek Reservoir, 15 minutes away, offers excellent rainbow trout and smallmouth bass fishing, with additional opportunities for walleye and perch. Jordanelle Reservoir, 30 minutes north, is known for trophy-sized brown trout and smallmouth bass, while the stunning Strawberry Reservoir, 45 minutes east through Daniels Canyon, is famous for large Bonneville cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, and kokanee salmon. All three reservoirs feature well-maintained boat ramps and rental opportunities.

For guided lake fishing trips, check out Kokanee Krew.

Swimming

"My friends and I walked down to jumping rock and brought the drone, great trick shots from the air! The tubers were cheering us on the whole time!"

-Calvin

Jumping Rock

From Vivian Park, walk upstream along the railroad tracks approximately 800 meters. On your left you will see what's known as "Jumping Rock," including the remains of mounting hardware, suggesting a diving board was once installed.

You can jump, swim to the shore, and repeat, then walk home to warm up in the hot tub!

Note: signs posted at this bridge prohibit swimming.

Park in the parking lot linked here, and walk upstream alongside a small dam, until you get to the bridge pictured here. The water is approximately 7 feet deep at this part of the river, so keep your jumps shallow. Swimming to the shore and cycling back is easy to do for a good swimmer.

Bridge Jumping

Deer Creek State Park

Eight minutes up the road is Deer Creek State Park, which features picnic areas, a small-gravel swimming beach, and a floating obstacle course for swimmers.

The Lakehouse restaurant sits right on the water and is open year round.

Various watercraft rentals are also available--covered below in "Watersports."

Watersports

"Our family was able to rent a boat and go tubing in the nearby reservoir, which was a blast! The rate for the home was extremely reasonable given all the amenities offered including the perfectly working hot tub. In the words of a well known Utah man, this is the place for you! Do yourself a favor and stop searching because you will not be disappointed with this slice of heaven. I do not post reviews often and no one asked me to post this. I genuinely want other people to experience the beautiful home we were able to enjoy.."

-Brad

Tubing, Rafting, Kayaking and Paddleboarding

The main fork of the Provo River flows through Vivian Park, and on hot summer days it is a virtual thoroughfare of tubers and rafters.

The easiest way to enjoy this is to book with High Country Adventure, which offers rentals and transportation to float from upriver back to their base station, just below Vivian Park.

Tube, raft, and paddleboard rentals are also available in Provo at BYU's Outdoors Unlimited.

Watercraft Rentals

Deer Creek Island Resort (8 minutes drive) offers all types of watercraft rental, including wakesurfing boats, performance ski boats, pontoon boats, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards.

For performance boats, make reservations early (for kayaks and paddleboards you can usually just walk up).

Offroading

"My husband and I rented a side by side for 4 hours and had the best time! We saw breathtaking views, some the most beautiful sites we had ever seen."

-Daniele

Side by Sides and ATVs

On Main Street in Heber is Lofty Peaks Adventures, where you can rent side by sides and ATVs for both guided and unguided experiences. You do not need a trailer--you can depart right from the shop to some of the most beautiful views you've ever seen (see photo to the left). The staff will give you a map, and it is relatively easy to navigate for a few hours or a whole day up in the back country.

This is an adventure you will talk about for years to come.

Also available from Lofty Peaks Adventures (18 minutes away in Heber) are guided snowmobile tours (self-guided is also available, but for snowmobiling, we recommend a guided tour).

If you have never ridden a snowmobile, do yourself a favor--it may be the funnest thing you ever do. (And if you have, you know what we're talking about).

Snowmobiling

Book Your Stay

"We loved our stay here! It was a beautiful cabin setting and a terrific home base for our adventures in the canyon. Well furnished and comfortable for all three generations among us, we could spread out across the three floors and patio or gather all together in the family room. The kids loved the access to the nearby playground and we all loved the Provo River trail. We’ll be back!"

-Annie