One of the enjoyable experiences of walking the ridges and exploring the draws of Little Cottonwood Canyon are the small things. For your correspondent that includes the mysteries of those that grow in unlikely corners or those that are easily overlooked. Two of his favorites are variations of fungi that are eye catching but not always readily observable. To find them you have to slow down, look around, and peer at the ground. The first is the tiny fungus caloscypha fulgens but more popularly known by the friendlier snowbank orange peel fungus moniker. It’s clear where the nickname comes from as they often appear as miniature abandoned orange peels. This makes them relatively easy to spot. The best locations are under conifers and so it’s more likely you’ll discover them in the shadows. Canyon blog’s other favorite is a white mycelium that covers various ground detritus, usually fallen tree branches but sometimes exposed roots. Unlike many fungi it extends roots to grow and bring in nutrients. This can give it an unworldly appearance like something from a bad, or even good, sci-fi film. As you can see from this photo of a “captured” pinecone, the ability reach out and connect to a relatively distant food source can be spooky, in a Invasion of the body snatchers sort of way. What’s exceptionally cool, but little studied, about these types of fungi is their ability to transmit an electrical charge. Whether this is a means of communication or information transmission remains an enigma. Previously your blogger shared the fun of hunting porcini mushrooms to add to your culinary adventures (see October 5 th , 2021 Shroomin’ with ACE blog). Today’s blog is certainly not about consumption as neither one of these fungi are for humans or pets. No matter, the joy is in the discovery and observation. The natural world is an amazing place and there is no better spot from which to consider its mysteries than Little Cottonwood. But then, Canyon Blog admits to a biased perspective…

Little Cottonwood Canyon Lodging Archives - Page 2 of 3

Exploring the Most Scenic Drives in Northern Utah
Exploring the Most Scenic Drives in Northern Utah

Exploring the Most Scenic Drives in Northern Utah

With 28 scenic byways throughout Utah, there are endless sightseeing possibilities near your Canyon Services vacation rental. Skip the interstate and discover several scenic drives in Utah, easily accessible from the Salt Lake City area. Whether you are flying into Salt Lake City and are looking for routes off the beaten path or are just looking for a unique afternoon outing from our Alta Snowbird condos, we have you covered. Hop on these scenic byways and discover recreational adventures, cultural attractions, and varied landscapes along the way! Little Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway Length: 8 miles Book your Canyon Services vacation [...]

webservices2024-07-31T18:52:33+00:00Outdoors|

Fun Fungi
Fun Fungi

Fun Fungi

One of the enjoyable experiences of walking the ridges and exploring the draws of Little Cottonwood Canyon are the small things. For your correspondent that includes the mysteries of those that grow in unlikely corners or those that are easily overlooked. Two of his favorites are variations of fungi that are eye catching but not always readily observable. To find them you have to slow down, look around, and peer at the ground. The first is the tiny fungus caloscypha fulgens but more popularly known by the friendlier snowbank orange peel fungus moniker. It’s clear where the nickname comes from [...]

CanyonBlog2024-07-21T17:14:42+00:00Local Flavor, Outdoors|

Rock Climbing in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon
Rock Climbing in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon

Rock Climbing in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon

Take your rock climbing adventures to new heights in Little Cottonwood Canyon, just outside Salt Lake City. Book your stay with Canyon Services and access fantastic rock climbing in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon. Climb on your own, or enlist the help of a local guide at Utah Mountain Adventures. With climbs ranging from beginner to expert, there is a route for every skill level in the canyon: Climbing in Little Cottonwood Canyon Little Cottonwood Canyon offers fine-grained white granite for traditional climbing, sport climbing, and bouldering. Find recommendations on Where to Climb near Salt Lake City on the Visit Utah [...]

webservices2024-06-28T18:26:51+00:00Outdoors, Summer|

Things to Do in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon During Summer
Things to Do in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon During Summer

Things to Do in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon During Summer

Nestled in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon, Canyon Services offers the perfect basecamp for summer adventures in the great outdoors. Hop on State Route 210 from your Alta Snowbird vacation rental and access all the recreational activities in the canyon this summer, like hiking, fishing, and rock climbing. Before heading out, please check UDOT for road status and traffic information. Read on to learn more about the summer activities in Little Cottonwood Canyon: Hiking Explore eight scenic hiking trails winding through Little Cottonwood Canyon. One of the most popular routes is the Cecret Lake Trail, a two-mile loop showcasing the region’s [...]

webservices2024-05-30T20:54:39+00:00Summer|

Discover Utah Fishing near Alta Snowbird
Discover Utah Fishing near Alta Snowbird

Discover Utah Fishing near Alta Snowbird

With more than 1,000 fishable lakes and numerous fishing streams, there are endless places to enjoy Utah fishing. Stay with Canyon Services and enjoy an afternoon of fishing near your Alta Snowbird vacation rental. Pack your fishing gear, head into Little Cottonwood Canyon, and enjoy fishing at secluded alpine lakes. Or make your way to the blue-ribbon waters of the Provo River with a local guide and cast your line for brown, rainbow, and cutthroat trout. Read on to learn more about fishing during your Alta Snowbird vacation: What to Know Before You Go Fishing in Utah is available year-round, [...]

webservices2024-04-19T20:23:48+00:00Outdoors|

Wrestlemania Revisited
Wrestlemania Revisited

Wrestlemania Revisited

March 7th saw the return of the 6th annual Alta Women’s world championship arm wrestling competition. It was some time since your correspondent attended the event and there were a couple gaps with Covid, but this year’s competition saw the crowds and wrestlers return in force. Alta Community Enrichment, helmed by the ever energetic and capable Lil Sara, hosted the competition at Our Lady of the Snows as always. To ensure a compliant crowd Alta local chalet resident Coe (pronounced Co -E) prowled the ring armed with billy club and cuffs. Canyon Blog tracked down last year’s champion; Sandra D [...]

CanyonBlog2024-03-13T01:38:57+00:00Local Events, Local Flavor|

An Interview with Miner Dick Fleue
An Interview with Miner Dick Fleue

An Interview with Miner Dick Fleue

Canyon Blog sat down with a Little Cottonwood Canyon icon this month to learn a bit about the canyon’s history. Many don’t understand that for the first century of its occupation by the largely European stock who entered Utah in the 19th century LCC was primarily a mining endeavor. Dick Fleue is the last surviving miner to have actively worked in some legendary workings in the canyon including the Flagstaff, Columbus Rexall, Columbus Consolidated, and Wasatch Drain Tunnel. For a time in the late 1950s and early 60s as a teenager and twenty something he explored many others including some [...]

CanyonBlog2023-11-25T19:04:37+00:00Interviews, Local Flavor|

Your Annual Oktoberfest Update
Your Annual Oktoberfest Update

Your Annual Oktoberfest Update

Well, the snow’s made its appearance. Here and there and not enough, but then, when is it ever enough? Oh yeah, that’s right, last winter! So, with that thought in mind, allow your correspondent to start there, rather than with all thing beer, bretzel and brat. One of the great joys of staying in Little Cottonwood in one of our premier properties is the easy access to the world outside the festival. Saturday October 7th is a perfect example. To earn his caloric allowance Canyon Blog wandered up slope to take in the views and assess the early snowpack. And [...]

CanyonBlog2023-10-08T19:45:28+00:00Fall, Local Events, Local Flavor|

Operation Atwood Winze Mine
Operation Atwood Winze Mine

Operation Atwood Winze Mine

Canyon Blog spent the first half of August 2023 finalizing a plan three years in the making. Buried 2,000 feet deep within the Bay City Mine tunnel across from the Snowpine Lodge and 200 feet up a 1200 foot winze (non vertical mine shaft) lay an 1880 vintage wooden sided mine car left by the last miners to work that section of the mine. This particular portion of the mine was last actively worked in 1908. The car itself, an extremely rare wooden sided ore and waste rock transport, has the ability to swivel and dump its load in any [...]

CanyonBlog2023-08-27T16:32:41+00:00Local Flavor, News|

Snowbird Guides – They’re not just for winter
Snowbird Guides – They’re not just for winter

Snowbird Guides – They’re not just for winter

You’re probably unaware that Snowbird Guides exist. It’s an easy mistake since they’re relatively unknown. And yet, and yet, they hide in plain sight. If you’ve skied the Bird in the past decade you’ve no doubt walked right past their office, which would best be described as located in the most central real estate at Snowbird Center. To correct this oversight, Canyon Blog sat down with Eliza Allen, Snowbird’s Mountain Guides Director, to figure out just why it is that no one knows about the great services they provide. Turns out, it’s a bit mysterious for the ten-year veteran of [...]

CanyonBlog2023-07-13T03:00:54+00:00Local Events, Local Flavor, Outdoors, Summer|