Spanish Fork River Trail in the Fall

We really like the River Trail. We try to walk it as often as we can, like at least weekly. The trail runs along the north side of the Spanish Fork River, starting on the southeast end of the sports complex just west of Hwy 198 (old highway to Salem-Payson) and continuing along the river westward to near the freeway. Here are some shots which show bright fall colors along the trail and the river. The river is reflecting a recent rainstorm and is muddier than normal. Notice also the leaf patterns on the asphalt. The asphalt is not wet, but these are stains from chemicals in the leaves lying on the walk-way.

Currently, the paved trail is a couple of miles long. About half way, there is a huge old cottonwood that is our favorite–it must 4 feet in diameter with limbs that stretch out dozens of feet from the trunk to where they reach the ground and form a canopy over a strategically placed picnic table.

There is good news that the City has acquired all of the right-of-way to extend the Trail eastward several miles clear to the golf course. They appear to have the grading completed and the paving is already finished in the area of “Tree Road,” which goes across the bottoms just south of Emilie’s and Scott’s neighborhood. We have also heard that there are future plans to extend the trail northwestward along the river to Utah Lake and also to make a connection with Mapleton’s shoreline trail, which will also connect to the existing Hobble Creek trail.