Lehi brings together a range of themes for an exploration: trails in the Traverse Mountain trail system, gardens with numerous themed areas, and museums focused on nature and Earth’s history. The city also has ties to pioneer times and the Old West. When choosing a hotel in Lehi, you might first consider whether trails, exhibits, or the city’s history will be the main focus of your trip.
Trails with different connections
The Hidden Canyon Trailhead provides easy access to the Traverse Mountain trail system. From this starting point, cyclists and hikers can explore more than 28 miles of scenic trails. The Mayors' Trail is another clearly defined option: This multi-use trail is 2.2 miles long and connects users to the Draper Trails System. The two trails are described in different ways: the Hidden Canyon Trailhead provides access to a trail system and the trails that can be explored there, while the Mayors' Trail is a specific route with a defined connection.
Gardens and exhibits
The Ashton Gardens cover 50 acres and include 17 themed areas. Among them is the largest man-made waterfall in America. The numbers give an idea of how many landscaped areas come together under the name Ashton Gardens; the waterfall, meanwhile, is a clearly identifiable highlight.
The Museum of Natural Curiosity features more than 400 interactive exhibits. The Mountain America Museum of Ancient Life focuses on dinosaurs: It displays 60 complete dinosaur skeletons and offers more than 50 interactive exhibits. These include the Erosion Table and the Quarry Dig. At the Paleo Studio, visitors can also excavate an Eocene fossil using paleontological tools. Those looking to compare exhibits will find both a wide selection of interactive displays and a particular focus on dinosaurs and fossils.
Nature and agriculture
The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Butterfly Conservatory is home to more than a thousand live butterflies from around the world. The Butterfly Biosphere is Utah’s only butterfly conservatory and its only insectarium. Curiosity Farms offers a different focus: This working farm uses hydroponic growing containers and provides hands-on animal experiences with goats, pigs, and cows. These include feeding goats and pigs, as well as milking cows. Butterflies, insects, and agricultural activities thus offer distinct nature-related themes.
Lehi’s city history
Lehi is Utah’s sixth-oldest city and has a pioneer and Old West heritage. During its most active period, the Overland Stagecoach Route passed through or near Lehi. The Main Street Historic District includes buildings in the original business center along Main Street, between Center Street and 200 West Street. Snow Springs also combines a walking trail with a historical marker dedicated to Lehi’s pioneers. These places and themes offer a different way to explore the city than its trails, gardens, and exhibits: Here, the focus is on its heritage and the development of its business center.
When planning your trip, you can group the themes by type: trails and connections, interactive exhibits and collections, nature and agriculture, or city history. This can make it easier to decide what matters most when searching for a hotel in Lehi and planning your stay.
Discover more destinations: Provo, American Fork, Springville, Orem, Mapleton, Spanish Fork, Woodland Hills.
Return to the regional travel overview: Utah County.
