Take your workout to Utah’s great outdoors this summer
If you’re a nature lover, there are few better places to live than Salt Lake City. Take a look at a map and you’ll see a swath of green that divides Utah in two, comprising numerous parks from Salt Lake City to the Arizona border that offer outdoor adventures in countless breathtaking environments.
As a patient of a procedure like gastric bypass, lap band or sleeve gastrectomy, adhering to your dietary guidelines will be your primary aid in losing weight, but a solid exercise program is what will help you keep that weight off long term. Those who are just beginning to adopt an exercise routine after bariatric surgery may benefit most from low impact exercises like walking, which will help you burn calories without putting too much pressure on your joints and muscles.
Of course, daily strolls around the block may become boring before long, making it a good idea to start thinking about new and exciting places to take your weight loss walks. With so many tantalizing trails to traverse in our scenic state, there’s no reason to confine yourself to the mundane sidewalks.
Did you know that spending time outdoors can help you reduce your stress levels and recharge your brain’s limited attention? Research has proven that there are many different benefits to reconnecting with Mother Nature beyond just burning calories and building stamina, so check out these incredible parks to do your entire body some good.
Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest
I’ll bet you can’t say that name ten times fast, but I bet you’ll also have a tough time getting sick of this gorgeous slice of American wilderness. With over 1,700 miles of trails and an overall size of 2,169,596 acres, calling this forest expansive is an understatement. Its many opportunities for outdoor recreation (skiing, mountain biking, camping, fishing, boating, swimming, horseback riding and more) make it one of the most visited locations in the entire National Forest System.
The forest’s size makes it ideal for many different kinds of hiking, from day hikes to lengthy backpacking excursions. Stunning blue lakes, majestic mountains, and vast stretches of lush pine forest make the forest the perfect place to breathe some fresh air and drink in the sights and sounds of the great outdoors. Best of all, it stretches from Idaho to many miles south of Salt Lake City, making it easily accessible to area residents regardless of location.
Antelope Island State Park
Though incredibly close to the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache, this park feels like another part of the world entirely. Antelope Island is the largest of the nine islands on the Great Salt Lake at over 28,000 acres, and it affords visitors some of the best possible views of the Lake and its Great Basin. It may appear barren from the mainland, but the island is actually rich in both animal and plant life, with tons of trails to explore and exciting things to see.
True to its name, Antelope Island is an excellent place to spot hoofed animals and other wildlife. A herd of bison numbering nearly 600 roams freely, while visitors may also spot pronghorns, deer, bobcats, coyotes and numerous varieties of birds. The trails vary in length and difficulty, from less than a mile to over 11. Visitors are welcome to camp (with a fee and reservation) and may also enjoy hitting the island’s beaches for a dip in the Great Salt Lake, where extra salty waters makes swimmers exceptionally buoyant.
Hike Safe
As with all summertime wilderness adventures, hikers who visit these locales need to bring proper sun and insect protection and plenty of hydration. If you head out for a hike, make sure you have enough water, sunscreen and bug spray for your party. The State Parks service warns that gnats are hatching on Antelope Island this time of year and that insect repellant is mostly ineffective against these pests—they recommend bringing long sleeves, pants and heat protection to ward them off.
Keep in mind that these two locations don’t even scratch the surface of the outdoor excitement that the Salt Lake City area has to offer. With so many gems of the preserved American West so close to home, it’s time to start exploring!