Tibble Fork Reservoir

One of our favorite family adventures is going on a picnic. Packing a lunch with treats and snacks to eat in the great outdoors is a true adventure for our boys. Sometimes, we get Subway sandwiches and go to the park, but our favorite picnic is a drive up American Fork Canyon.

The road up AF Canyon is now a fee area. You pay $6 to access the canyon, but we usually buy a yearly pass for $45. This is a little expensive, but the canyon offers hiking, fishing, camping, and picnicking, as well as Timpanogos Cave. We generally use the canyon 10-15 times between Spring and Fall. In a way, we appreciate the fee, because the canyon has much less traffic and the sites are less used (it keeps out the riff-raff!)

To find our favorite picnic area, go up the canyon to the Tibble Fork Reservoir turn off. Go left, and you'll pass several picnic grounds on the right side of the road. There are plenty of spots to choose as you head up to the reservoir. Each picnic spot has tables, paved trails, bathrooms, and parking. You can also access the river, which is swift at certain times of the year, so keep an eye on little ones.

The boys hunting for rocks to throw into the river.

Mom with her boys enjoying the fall leaves

After your picnic, be sure to continue up to the reservoir. Our kids love to toss rocks in the lake and watch for wildlife. Though we've seen moose here a few times, the most common sighting is the Uintah Ground squirrel, which emerge from the holes that honeycomb the hillside as you walk down to the lake. This lake is also great for fishing and rafting for the kids. Mark even caught his first fish here as detailed in the Salt Lake Tribune.

His first fish--this picture was in the Salt Lake Tribune.

Playing in the reservoir.

Trying to see a Uintah ground squirrel.

There's a squirrel peeking at you!