Eight of Utah's 13 ski resorts offer uphill rides to hikers and bikers. They are Brian Head, Deer Valley, Sundance, Snowbird, Solitude, The Canyons, Park City and Snowbasin.

There are also an unlimited number of trails and backcountry roads open to biking and hiking within the state's national forests. Those planning to take motorized vehicles on the trails need to check with the individual forest districts to learn about restrictions.

There are a number of out of the way places within easy driving distance of the most populated areas. For example:

• The Bear River Wildlife Education Center opened this year. There is a 29,000-square-foot center offering unique wildlife experiences, ranging from the U-shaped observation deck with an overhanging parabola, which enhances the sounds of the marshes, to the pathway leading through the marshes to the indoor exhibit area. All this is intended to tell visitors why this area is so important to birds, why birds come here, how birds feed and reproduce, and why wetlands are a very valuable asset to the American public.

• The eight Utah ski resorts offering lift service to hikers and bikers also offer a full range of summer activities including disc golf (Solitude, Brian Head and Snowbasin) to thrill rides on a zipline and alpine slide (Park City Mountain Resort, Snowbird and Utah Olympic Park).

Enjoying a lunch at one of the resort's restaurants or pack a picnic lunch for a nice afternoon getaway.

• There are 26 scenic drives available, some requiring a minimal amount of driving, such as the Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon Byway, Provo Canyon Byway, Ogden River Byway and Logan Canyon Byway.

• For those looking for a rougher ride, there are 58 backways. They include the Trapper Loop Road, Alpine Scenic Loop, Willard Peak Road, Middle Canyon Road near Cedar Fort and Boardhead Meadow Road off the Mirror Lake Highway.

Utah's list of scenic byways and backways is available through the Utah Travel Council.

• Within Salt Lake City area there's Tracy Aviary, Hogle Zoo and This Is the Place Heritage Park. In Ogden, Fort Buenaventura makes for an interesting adventure into the area's past.

The marshes west of Logan offer a number of activities. Canoeing is one. The maze of waterways offers a feeling of remoteness and exploration. If you prefer moving water to still water, nearby are the Bear and Logan rivers.

Many of Utah's townships feature museums, ranging from the Utah Museum of Natural History on the University of Utah campus to smaller town museums in places like Fairview and Helper. A list of museums can be found on the Internet at www.utah.com/museums.

There is certainly no shortage of things to do, whether it's for a single day or an extended weekend.

---

E-mail: grass@desnews.com