9 Best Things to Do in Heber City, UT

By VI Staff on March 27, 2020

After its founding in the 1850s as a ranching and dairy farming specialist city, Heber City became a popular tourist destination. It offers excellent snowboarding, snowmobiling and skiing facilities in winter, especially on its cross country and downhill slopes. In the summer months, the city offers a number of activities including hunting, fishing, golfing, off-roading, and many other outdoor-based activities. The city is connected by both Route 40 and Route 189, and can be accessed from Highway 40 or Interstate 15.

1.Heber Valley Railroad

A heritage railroad which closed as a commercial unit in 1967, this excursion-only train line sees over 110,000 visitors and passengers annually. A trip along its 16.16 miles of tracks take about three hours to enjoy to the fullest, which gives ample time for guests to lay eyes upon the magnificent wildlife and monuments that are found on the way. The breathtaking Mount Timpanogos and Cascade Mountain are followed by the Provo River and then the Sundance Ski Resort. Eagle-eyed travelers can look out for the elusive deer, moose, eagles, foxes, turkeys, hawks, beavers and even the occasional mountain lion that call lands around the railroad their home.

Heber Valley Historic Railroad, 450 South 600 West, Heber City, UT 84032, Phone: 435-654-5601

2.Uinta National Forest

With over 3 million visitors to the forest every year, Uinta National Forest offers breathtaking geography and views that have people returning time and time again. The forest itself was nearly depleted by early Eastern settlers who, with a lesser understanding of ecology and ecosystems than we now have, tried to use it for timber and its other resources. It was then that, after a request was made by the local communities and people of Utah, the grounds were allowed to recover and it was used for leisure instead of commercial purposes. With mountain biking opportunities for all levels, skiing, snowshoeing, beautiful forest trails, motorized sports, and numerous campgrounds for those wanting to stay longer, there is something for everyone.

2460 S Highway 40, Heber City, UT 84032-3651, Phone: 801-342-5100

3.Deer Creek State Park

Deer Creek State Park was initially only intended for use by the public for fishing activities but it was later opened as a state park in 1971. It is most well-known for its wide range of exciting, water-based activities thanks to its beautiful and scenic manmade reservoir, which is fed by the Pravo, Weber and Duchesne rivers. The reservoir covers an immense expanse of 2,965 acres and has an average depth of just over 60 feet, making its calm waters the perfect place to experience all sorts of water-based activities. People can partake in and enjoy a spot of skiing, boating, sailing, windsurfing, fishing, and swimming at the state park.

S US Highway 189, 84082 Wallsburg, Utah, Phone: 435-654-0171

4.CAF Utah Wing Museum

The CAF Utah Wing Museum exists to collect and repair historically significant aircraft so that they are once again of an airworthy standard. The Museum then showcases the restored aircraft to the public to help instill a passion for the history of these incredible machines, whilst also honoring the armed forces’ history. They do so by flying the planes and telling stories of each aircraft’s time in service. As part of the non-profit corporation, the Commemorative Air Force (CAF), the Utah Wing Museum serves as part of an ongoing aim to save at least one of every model of aircraft which served during the Second World War.

Russ McDonald Air Field, 1980 Airport Rd, Hanger 38-D, Heber City, Utah 84032, Phone: 385-230-5994

5.Snake Creek Grill

The Snake Creek Grill offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere in their rustic and homely style restaurant, designed to offer a laid-back approach to dining. Built at the turn of the century in the heart of some of Utah’s most charming farmland, the restaurant offers all of those small features that make you feel like you’re at home, from the odd squeaky floorboard to the hodgepodge collection of trinkets, collectibles, and antique items. The chef and owner, Dean Hottle, makes a point of visiting the diners after dinner to ensure that everyone is completely satisfied with their experience of the restaurant, giving a further personal and friendly touch.

Snake Creek Grill, Heber Old Town, 650 West 100 South, Heber City, Utah 84032, Phone: 435-654-2133

6.Back 40

The ranch house grill, Back 40, is owned and run by husband-and-wife team, Gary and Jessica Wolfforth. As a pair, they have a combined experience in the service industry of over half a century. They are determined in regards to promoting and encouraging healthy lifestyles and healthy, nutritious yet still delicious food. Their aim for Back 40 is to promote their family-friendly approach to the food industry whilst also serving dishes made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients. They also offer counter seating which comes complete with an elevated, wall-mounted TV so that guests can watch the game in this homely environment.

1223 N. Highway 40, Heber City, UT 84032, Phone: 435-654-3070

7.Dairy Keen

The Mawhinney family has been running the Dairy Keen restaurant since just after the end of the Second World War, in 1946. At the time, they owned the land and property on which an old Dairy Queen was built, and with funds being tight, they decided to use the old sign for their new business and just change ‘Queen’ to ‘Keen’. Hence, Dairy Keen was born. They focus on creating a family friendly environment where guests can enjoy top quality, homemade food in amongst their incredible, custom-made collection of model trains which run over the dining area and around the restaurant itself.

Dairy Keen, 199 S Main St, Heber City, UT 84032-2043, Phone: 435-654-5336

8.Spin Cafe

At the Spin Cafe, they strive to create an environment in which their customers can enjoy hearty, fresh, home-cooked food with a fun and trendy outlook. It is run by Vincent and Joline Esposito, who met in college and found a connection over their shared passion for top quality, historically adored, hearty food. As the head chef, Vincent learned how to cook from the age of four by his food-mad Italian family, who installed into him an appreciation of fresh and responsibly created meals. It is this passion and enthusiasm that he runs his restaurant with and as such, every dish is created with the same level of care that he was always taught as a child.

220 N Main St, 84032 Heber City, Utah, Phone: 435-654-0251

9.Kneaders Bakery and Cafe

Traditional European bread, the foundation of many civilizations’ diets over the years, is made with little more than three simple ingredients: flour, water, and salt. Simplicity at its finest, at Kneaders Bakery and Cafe, they’ve spent years mastering the old recipes for bread making and have spent countless hours developing their own unique blends of flours and recipes in their quest to create the ultimate artisan bread in Utah. They bake their bread the ‘proper’ way in an authentic Italian hearthstone oven, after creating every loaf from scratch and by hand, and they both sell and use these wholesome, warm, fresh creations in their bakery and cafe.

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe Home Office, 871 South Auto Mall Drive, American Fork, Utah 84003, Phone: 801-221-7064