Home to 75.8 percent of the state’s population and anchored by the metropolis of Salt Lake City, the Wasatch Front is the undisputed seat of Utah's economy, culture and outdoor activity. It's the latter that presents the most compelling draw: "The Front" boasts more than 2 million acres of geologically and ecologically-diverse landscapes and wilderness areas, as well as a population that's passionate about exploring and experiencing them in a huge variety of ways. A word of warning, however: You might not catch your flight home. Many proud Wasatch Front citizens came for the weekend and never left.
Utah state license plates have been emblazoned with an outrageously confident claim -- "The Greatest Snow On Earth" -- since 1985. If you've never visited the state's world-class ski slopes, you may not believe the hype; however, a weekend sailing over Utah powder on sticks just might change your mind. The Wasatch Front's ski-and-snow resorts are also legendarily convenient, as a dozen of them are within an easy one-hour drive from Salt Lake International Airport.
For an entirely unique perspective on the Wasatch Front, Skydive the Wasatch welcomes adventurous travelers to abandon its "perfectly good airplane" for a bird's-eye view of the spectacular snowcaps of the Mount Nebo Wilderness. The operation, based in the mid-state town of Nephi, takes both tandem passengers and experienced skydivers 10,500 feet over the soaring mountaintops in a plane modified for speed and comfort.
The middle of the Utah mountains may seem like an odd destination for scuba diving. However, Homestead Crater -- a hidden-away geothermal spring on the outskirts of Midway -- has the unexpected distinction of being the only warm-water diving destination in the continental United States. The deep, crystal-clear pool of mineral water stays between 90 and 96 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. Inside the dramatic curves of the crater, custom-built decks lead to a soaking area and a swimming section. Keen visitors can take a paddleboard yoga class, snorkel or -- of course -- earn their scuba certification on-site.
The routes that snake up the walls of the Wasatch Mountains present a lifetime's worth of projects for even the most experienced rock climber. Athletes can find anything from world-famous alpine multi-pitch routes to short, intense bouldering projects within minutes of greater Salt Lake City, at ratings from "absolute beginner" to "superhero." Half a dozen climbing gyms in the area keep climbers fit in the off season and busy weekdays. Try Momentum Indoor Climbing in the Salt Lake suburb of Sandy, which presents more than 20,000 square feet of indoor climbing, a large bouldering area, a yoga studio and a weights-and-cardio zone that overlooks the climbing hall.
The 1,600-mile-long Great Western Trail officially starts well north of the Wasatch, but the part of it that passes through the Wasatch Front presents a multi-day journey with magnificent views for fit visitors with a long weekend to spare. The trail picks up near Kaysville, loops through the Brighton Ski Resort, summits grand Mount Timpanogos and rises eye-to-eye with paragliders along lofty Skyline Drive. Rent backpacking gear for the journey at one of the Front's two REI outfitters, located in Salt Lake City and Sandy.
The Mueller Park Trail sends intermediate-level mountain bikers on a 13-mile, out-and-back journey on a well maintained single-track trail. Pick up the trail in the foothills of Bountiful, just north of Salt Lake City, and follow it along the ancient waterline left behind from the "original" Great Salt Lake, which once rose halfway up the valley's soaring mountains. The modern Great Salt Lake spreads out far beneath the trail's high vantage point, as do the valley's patchwork of cities and agrarian districts. If you don't have your own handy, you can rent a dual-suspension steed at Wild Rose Sports in downtown Salt Lake City.
