Discover Provo: Trails, Museums, and Culture

Provo offers a variety of reasons to visit when planning a trip: trails and cycling routes, ice skating, sports history, museums, art, and pioneer history. If you’re looking for a hotel in Provo, you can start by considering which of these themes you’d like to shape your time there. The routes and facilities vary in length, content, and visitor experience.

Trails, Routes, and Planning Your Time

The Provo River Parkway Trail extends 30 miles from Utah Lake into Provo Canyon. Two key access points in Provo are the Geneva Road Trailhead at the intersection of Geneva Road and 350 N, and the Lakeshore Trailhead near the intersection of Lakeshore Drive and 470 N. For a specific outing, it’s worth checking your preferred starting point and current access conditions.

The Rock Canyon Trail has clearly separated start and end points: from the Rock Canyon Trailhead to the Rock Canyon Campground on Squaw Peak Road, the trail is 6.2 miles long. The trailhead is at the end of North Temple Drive in Provo; there are numerous climbing areas along the trail. The Big Springs Trailhead is accessible via the parking lot at Big Springs Park. From there, a 5.8-mile section leads to the Rock Canyon/Dry Fork Trail. This route is estimated to take two to four hours; the duration depends on the travelers and conditions.

The Y Mountain Trail is rated difficult and is about 1.1 miles long from the Y Mountain Trailhead to the Y. Provo also has more than 100 different trails and cycling routes through the city, into the mountains, and along the river. Those deciding between hiking and cycling will find a range of options; when choosing a specific route, check the information for that trail rather than relying on the total number of routes alone.

Ice Skating and Sports History

Peaks Ice Arena offers public skating sessions year-round; no reservation is required. Since schedules may change, it’s a good idea to check the current skating schedule before your visit. The arena was also an official venue for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics—a distinctive connection to the city’s sports history.

Epic Sports Park is designed to host local and regional tournaments and leagues. The sports listed for these events include soccer, ultimate frisbee, lacrosse, American football, and rugby. This description refers to the park’s design for such events.

Museums and Art

The Daughters of Utah Pioneer Museum displays furniture, clothing, tools, weapons, toys, and home accessories, as well as dolls, quilts, art prints, and photographs of Utah pioneers from before 1900. The collections and how they are presented may change. The BYU Museum of Art offers a different perspective, with traveling exhibitions, works from its permanent collection, and exhibitions organized by museum curators. The Museum of Paleontology is home to one of the world’s largest dinosaur collections; admission is free.

The Museum of Peoples and Cultures houses archaeological and ethnographic collections from around the world. Admission is free, and tours can be arranged by appointment. Since opening hours and tour arrangements may change, check the current visitor information in advance. The Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum’s collections include more than three million animal specimens. The Covey Center for the Arts offers performances and visual art exhibitions; the Provo City Library features changing art exhibitions that are open to everyone.

The Gallery Stroll is another regular arts event: it takes place on the first Friday of every month. If you’re planning your trip around this event, check the current event dates in advance.

Pioneer History and Local Life

Sons of Utah Pioneers Village offers a glimpse of what life was like for pioneer settlers in early Provo. The village includes many original homes and structures, as well as artifacts and tools. Attractions include a blacksmith shop, a general store, wagons, a sound-box tour, a scavenger hunt, and pioneer games. Alongside its exhibits, the village features a varied program centered on pioneer history; offerings may change.

Provo Farmers Market gives farmers, local businesses, and craftspeople a place to showcase products, as well as buy and sell them. Agricultural products must meet an origin requirement: they must be produced within 250 miles of Provo City. This gives the market a clear regional focus, distinguishing its offerings from museum collections and exhibitions.

Discover more destinations: Spanish Fork, Springville, Orem, Lehi, Woodland Hills, American Fork, Mapleton.

For the broader travel overview: Utah County.