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Valley Guide
Issue #6 · May 13, 2026
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5 waterfall hikes near Provo the whole family can do

From a stroller-friendly stop at Bridal Veil to the 200-foot payoff at Stewart Falls. The Valley's best water, with distance and hike times.

Good morning, Happy Valley.

A Provo FOMO guide — the kind of thing we'd text a friend who just moved to the Valley and asked what's actually good.

Addresses, hours, and the insider tips, all in one place. Bookmark it, then go.

📍 30 seconds in the valley⏱️ 5 min read

🏔️ Chase the Water

Worth it

Bridal Veil Falls, Provo Canyon

A 600-foot double cascade right off the highway with a short, paved, stroller-friendly walk.
🕐Hours: Open daylight hours · day-use · free
📍Address: Bridal Veil Falls Park, US-189, Provo Canyon (Provo, UT 84604) · ~15 min from downtown
🥾Trail: ~0.5 mi round-trip · ~15 min · paved, minimal gain (stroller-friendly)
💵Cost: Free
Our take
The easiest win in the canyon. Almost no effort, big reward — the perfect first waterfall with little kids.
Free stroller-friendlytoddlerseasy
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Worth it

Battle Creek Falls, Pleasant Grove

A short canyon hike to a 60-foot waterfall that runs year-round — practically an urban trail.
🕐Hours: Open daylight hours · free
📍Address: Battle Creek Trailhead, E end of 200 S (Battle Creek Rd), Pleasant Grove, UT 84062 · ~18 min from downtown
🥾Trail: 1.5 mi round-trip · ~1 hr · 450 ft gain · easy (steep last 100 ft)
💵Cost: Free
Our take
Practically an urban hike — it starts just up the hill from Pleasant Grove High. Their three-year-old walked the whole thing.
💡 Insider
Stop at the little pond halfway to throw rocks, and look for the tiny rock 'cave' just past the bridge — both are the kid checkpoints that keep momentum. Do the short climb to the top of the falls first so all the climbing's done at once.
⚠️ Heads up: Through end of June 2026 the lot is under construction — a temporary trailhead below the water towers adds uphill distance. The last ~100 ft is steep, slick shale; hold little hands.
"We do this hike at least twice a year and it is always a winner."— Utah's Adventure Family
Free familieswaterfallfree
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Worth it

Grotto Falls, Payson Canyon

A short Nebo Loop hike to a waterfall pouring over a rock overhang you can stand behind.
🕐Hours: Daylight hours · Nebo Loop opens ~Memorial Day (closed in winter)
📍Address: Grotto Falls Trailhead, Nebo Loop Scenic Byway (~7 mi up from Payson), Payson, UT 84651 · ~35 min from downtown
🥾Trail: 0.6 mi round-trip · ~40 min · 180 ft gain · easy
💵Cost: Free
Our take
Short, shady, and the stand-behind-it grotto is a kid magnet. About 20 minutes of walking for a real payoff.
💡 Insider
The trail crosses the stream on ~7 little board bridges that kids love to balance across solo — but if anyone's shaky on footing, know that going in. Kids stick their hats under the falls to cool off.
⚠️ Heads up: It only opens when the Nebo Loop does — usually around Memorial Day. Don't plan on it before then.
Free kidsshortshade
Details →
Worth it

Stewart Falls, Sundance

A moderate hike off the Alpine Loop to a 200-foot falls, on a shaded, fern-lined trail.
🕐Hours: Daylight hours · Alpine Loop opens late spring (closed in winter)
📍Address: Aspen Grove Trailhead, Alpine Loop Rd (past the Sundance fee station), Provo, UT 84604 · ~30 min from downtown
🥾Trail: ~3.5–4 mi round-trip · ~2–3 hrs · moderate, climbs ~1 mi out
💵Cost: $ · $6 Alpine Loop fee
Our take
The best payoff-per-mile in the Valley once the snow clears — kids said it felt like hiking through a rainforest. Moderate, not hard.
💡 Insider
Watch for the big shale slide near the end — it's the landmark that means you're almost there. The overlook is about 80 feet straight above the valley floor, so keep kids back from the edge, then take the path down to feel the spray at the base.
⚠️ Heads up: Same trailhead as the Timpanogos summit — stay LEFT for Stewart Falls. The Alpine Loop road is closed by snow into late spring; confirm it's open.
"This towering waterfall is definitely worth the effort. On a weekend, there are more people on this trail than at Walmart."— Utah's Adventure Family
$ big kidspayoff
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Worth it

Upper Falls, Provo Canyon

A short-but-steep trail to a quieter waterfall just past Bridal Veil — a hidden-gem alternative.
🕐Hours: Open daylight hours · free
📍Address: Upper Falls Trailhead, Nunns Park area, US-189, Provo Canyon (Provo, UT 84604) · ~15 min from downtown
🥾Trail: ~1 mi round-trip · ~30–45 min · short but steep
💵Cost: Free
Our take
When Bridal Veil is packed, this is the locals' move. Steep but quick, and you'll often have it to yourself.
⚠️ Heads up: This is a separate trail — do NOT scramble up the rock above Bridal Veil Falls, which is dangerous and has caused rescues.
Free quietershort
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That's the guide. Save it for the next time someone asks what to do this weekend.

How we built this: addresses and hours were checked against each venue's own site or city page; insider detail and quotes come from first-person local reviews at Utah's Adventure Family and Utah Fun Activities, credited. Hours shift by season — call ahead before you load the car. Know a spot we missed? Reply and tell us.

— The Provo FOMO crew
Got a tip, a new opening, or an event? Just reply — we read everything.
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