Sometimes, falls are a good thing...

I had once lived in Utah County for almost 10 years and never heard of the Alpine Sliding Rock. But over the last 6 months (now living over 100 miles away, of course!), I had read about it and seen pictures and even video of people sliding down it. And due to a friend’s birthday party in Provo, I was able to finally see it for myself. What a beautiful little treasure hidden up a nondescript canyon east of Alpine UT.

My friend Beth shared her 40^th birthday with her husband and friends and I was not going to miss any party where I was actually given an invitation! (I usually hear about events after the fact, though I’m almost positive I am just accidentally left off the invitee lists) So a Friday trip from Smithfield to Orem was in order for the birthday party. I figured I might as well find something fun to do the next day so I contacted Benet, and adventurer who always had good ideas. Out of this discussion came the idea to go to the sliding rock and Saturday afternoon found Benet, Saint (an adventuring friend I had not met before) and me walking past the “No Trespassing” sign that indicated the start of the trail… Friends who break laws together have the most fun!! For the sake of clarity, I had previously read that the sign is posted to keep people on the road/trail and as long as visitors are respectful and stay on the correct path, they will continue to be welcome to visit the sliding rock. We’ll have to be civilly disobedient another time…

After a short walk up a paved trail and then about 100 feet up a dirt trail, the falls came into sight. This is a beautiful section of stream with several cascading waterfalls visible and surrounded by smooth granite carved by centuries of spring runoff inviting playful feet to splash around. This is a popular place with groups of families and friends coming and going regularly the whole time we were there. Though there were lots of places to play in the water and explore upstream, the crown jewel was the waterfall with the natural water slide that was framed by the surprising beauty of this lush hidden canyon. 

After watching a few sliders go speedily into the pool at the bottom of the falls, I knew I had to get up there and take my turn. I scrambled up the trail that led to the top and as I was preparing to go down the last steep gravel trail section leading to the stream, a small child offered to help me down by pointing out the places to step… I told him I was a capable grown-up and I could make it down all by myself! He said he was a scout and he was supposed to help old people. I’d had enough and proved to him that I was capable by sliding down the dirt trail on my behind, right past the little tyke! I looked back up and told him I beat him down which makes me better!! He just stood there slowly shaking his head back and forth. Kids!

So, there I was at the top of the falls. There was quite a good sized place to sit and scoot toward the gentle slope that marked the beginning of the death-defying drop into the water far below. OK, so it was only 15 feet or so, but in dog feet, that’s over 100!! A little girl behind me sweetly asked if I was scared. I told her I was definitely NOT scared. She started to tell me she was a girl scout and was supposed to help old… I pushed off and plunged down the slope…  Woohoo!! I bounced from one smooth rock to another and felt totally out of control as I finally plunged into the pool of water at the bottom… COLD!!! There was an electric shock as I was engulfed in the cold water and I jumped up as fast as I could! Though after only about 3 seconds, the cool wetness felt great in the heat of the sun. What a rush! That was the best waterslide I have been on, and definitely the longest natural slide.  

I made my way past mostly happy and smiling people (there were a couple who were complaining that my splash was too big – I say, if you see a big guy coming at you, get outta the way!) and made my way back up the access trail… Over the course of the next 90 minutes, my partners and I took turns sliding down the waterfall and we all did some exploring up the stream and we saw lots of people put aside any hesitations and just go for it! I expected to have a fun time, but this turned out to be a pretty special little place and I had a really great time. Just a step off the beaten path and an open door to a new vista of adventure, close enough for a quick afternoon trip. This is a highly recommended play spot for kids of ALL ages!

Oh, and please teach your kids to differentiate Huffyman from old people by noticing the gray hair on old people’s heads… Hmmm, forget that. OK, they can recognize old people by the wrinkles on their faces…Hmmm, that won’t work either. Forget it; just keep teaching your children to be nice to old people!