It was a beautiful day for a walk (overcast and cool) so after returning from Cedar Hills where I stopped to get pictures of all of the beautiful lilacs that line Canyon Road, I headed out to the Jordan River parkway. I started at Willow Park in Lehi and headed north about two miles.
There are many things I love about this trail. First, it is tranquil. You can hear the sound of frogs, birds, cows, sheep, turkey, roosters. I think this area is a bird sanctuary because there was no shortage of birds…..including a pelican that I have seen multiple times while visiting this trail. He stays in the same area and it is just something to see him flying overhead. Today he was swimming down the river near the ducks. Second, if you go during the day, there is no one on the trail. This is a big bonus. If you go on the weekends or in the evenings you are much more likely to encounter bike and other pedestrian traffic. Third, the trail is relatively flat and stretches for a long distance as it hugs the river. 7.5 miles from Utah Lake to the Jordan Narrows. You pass swampy areas that they are in the process of restoring, rural fields with the above-mentioned animals in them. And if you are lucky, you won’t see the skunk who likes to hang out at the ¾ marker. So far, we’ve only caught whiffs of him. (For more on the parkway http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/trails/jordrivr.htm )
Jordan River view
Tranquil and quiet, with snowcapped mountains peeking out from the spring trees.
A perfect day for cloud watching!
Green hued river view.
Swollen but calm river.
Signs of Spring
Moo Moos! We counted 50 calves in this herd and wondered where the happy bull was.
We found him, the black one on the front right. He wasn’t very photogenic and didn’t have a smile on his face. I expected him too. Really.
Sprawling winding Jordan River
The sky is different in nearly every picture I took. We were rained on several times during this walk.
Calm Jordan River under the rainclouds
Same spot as the previous picture, with the clouds lifted.
We were walking with the dog, and both the lambs and the calves were very interested in him.
Duck and pelican ?! floating serenely down the river. Yes, this is Utah.
More river views
Stormclouds over the snowcaps
Some day I will invest in a camera with a good zoom lens. This giant bird was perched in this very big poplar tree and you can tell by it’s a heavy bird by the way the branch is sagging.
Gorgeous, photogenic river. Now if I could just cut out all the power lines………..
Beautiful! Though on the flip side, I’m glad I don’t like with the Rockies anymore.
I love lilacs and miss them so much. I must plant one….
But where are the leaves on your trees? Ours have been out for over a month now…
It depends on the trees. Some are completely out. The more shrubby ones like the wild russian olives are not quite all branched out yet. Maybe if we could stop having snowstorms the trees would figure out it is spring-come-summer!
Love the pictures Chris.
[…] art is perhaps a bit less explicit (but impressive nonetheless). And have a look at Froggie’s beautiful photos from the Jordan/Provo River Parkway. In other arts, listen to this poignant song about a sweet […]