Wednesday · The Great Outdoors
Issue #19 · June 17, 2026
Battle Creek Falls on alternate access, the PRCA rodeo opens tonight, and a lakefront walk in Vineyard
Plus Rock Canyon for a shaded canyon climb, the Provo River Parkway's coolest afternoon stretch, and a snowmelt safety note before you head up any canyon.
Good morning, Happy Valley.
The main Battle Creek Falls trailhead is still under construction, but the falls are running hard and there is alternate access. The Strawberry Days PRCA rodeo opens tonight in Pleasant Grove. Utah Lake's new Vineyard shoreline is worth a slow evening walk.
Here are the outdoor moves for the week. Lace up and read on.
📍 30 seconds in the valley⏱️ 4 min read
- 💧Battle Creek Falls, Pleasant Grove, alternate access open
- 🚴Provo River Parkway canyon segment, shaded all afternoon
- 🤠Strawberry Days PRCA rodeo opens tonight in Pleasant Grove
- 🌊Utah Lake Shoreline Trail at Vineyard, new waterfront destination
- ⚠️Snowmelt safety: the water is fast and cold right now
🥾 The Hike Worth Doing This Week
Worth it Battle Creek Falls, Pleasant Grove
A short 1.2-mile round-trip hike up Battle Creek Canyon to a 60-foot waterfall running strong with June snowmelt. The main trailhead parking lot is under construction and set to reopen by end of June, but alternate parking is available just below the water towers.
Our take
Short, shaded on the lower stretch, and the waterfall is worth every foot of the steep finish. Snowmelt has it running loud. A fast hour out of the house.
⚠️ Heads up: Main parking lot is closed for construction, scheduled to reopen end of June. Confirm alternate parking and trail conditions at pgcityutah.gov before you drive up.
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Details → 🚴 Get Out There
Afternoon Shade
Worth it 🚴 Provo River Parkway, canyon segment
The paved 15-mile Provo River Parkway follows the river from Utah Lake State Park up into the canyon to Vivian Park. The canyon stretch from Nunns Park to Vivian Park runs under cottonwood canopy and stays 10-plus degrees cooler than the bench on a hot afternoon.
Our take
The shaded canyon segment is a different trail from the flat city stretch. Cool air, cottonwoods, and the river running full. Pick the stretch that matches how far you want to go.
⚠️ Heads up: River sections can flood or close during peak June runoff. Check for posted detours before a long ride. Trail is shared with walkers and strollers.
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Details → Tonight's Pick
Worth it 🤠 Strawberry Days PRCA Rodeo opens tonight, Pleasant Grove
The 2026 Strawberry Days PRCA rodeo, the longest continuously running rodeo in Utah since 1921, opens its four-night run tonight. Bull riding, barrel racing, team roping, and a full evening at the Pleasant Grove rodeo grounds.
Our take
A real four-night PRCA rodeo with 105 years behind it. Not a county-fair sideshow. A genuine outdoor summer evening worth the drive.
⚠️ Heads up: Ticket prices and start times are at strawberrydays.org. Confirm before you drive south.
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Details → 🌊 Pick of the Week: Vineyard Waterfront
Pick of the week Utah Lake Shoreline Trail at Utah City, Vineyard
The Utah Lake Shoreline Trail runs along the Vineyard waterfront, now nearly complete through the city's boundaries. Connected to the Berliner Park Greenline, the trail gives you a flat lakeside walk with Timp reflected off the water and the new Utah City development taking shape on the shore.
Our take
Vineyard's lakefront went from construction mud to a genuine destination faster than most expected. A flat, paved evening walk with big water views. No altitude required.
⚠️ Heads up: The shoreline trail is still completing its final sections. Check which segments are open at vineyardut.gov or utahcity.com before a long walk.
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Details → 📌 Heads Up, Happy Valley
Safety note Snowmelt is still running hard, respect the water
June runoff has every creek and waterfall in the Wasatch canyons running high, fast, and cold. Battle Creek, the Provo River, and every canyon stream are all swollen with snowmelt.
Our take
The water is the draw and the danger this month. Cold, fast melt will knock an adult off their feet. Look from the shore, photograph from a safe distance, and confirm trail access before every canyon trip.
⚠️ Heads up: Trail, lot, and road closures change week to week during runoff and rockfall season. Confirm access with the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest at fs.usda.gov before you drive up.
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Details → 💙 Good Neighbor
Nominate the Valley's quiet MVPs
Every issue we spotlight one neighbor, teacher, coach, or cause quietly making the Valley better, plus an easy way to pitch in. Know someone who deserves it? Send them our way.
Nominate a neighbor → That's the outdoor week. Get to Battle Creek on the alternate access before the main lot reopens, ride the canyon segment of the Parkway in the afternoon heat, and catch the rodeo tonight or tomorrow before the Saturday crowd shows up.
Tell us your go-to trail. Reply with the hikes, swimming holes, and canyon stops your corner of the Valley swears by, and we will feature the best ones.
Forward this to the friend who keeps saying they want to get outside more. This is their week.
— The Provo FOMO crew
