Visit to Cascade Springs

Today I decided to drive up to Cascade Springs. It's a pretty area a few miles off the Alpine Loop, above Aspen Grove. I drove up through Provo Canyon past Aspen Grove and then on over to Cascade Springs. I then came back by driving on over the Alpine loop and down through American Fork Canyon. Since I've been told I can't do any strenuous hiking, this was a nice drive and then a leisurely walk on improved trails and boardwalks.

Cascade Springs is an area of a few acres where the water just "bubbles up" out of the ground.

It then forms into a beautiful, clear stream that flows down the mountain side. It flows year round at a constant rate of about 15 cubic feet/second ( 8 million gallons a day) and a constant temperature of 48 degrees F.

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Then it flows out onto limestone shelves and forms a marshy area with lots of small waterfalls and pools (which are filled with brown trout - no fishing allowed). It finally flows into a stream that eventually joins up in Deer Creek, just below the Deer Creek Reservoir.

About 3 years ago the forest service started a "controlled burn" some distance from here which got "out of control" and burned over the whole area, but as you can see, fortunately nature is beginning to restore the area to its natural beauty.

I thought that the Alpine Loop might be filled with fall colors, but as you can see they are just starting. Nevertheless, it's starting to look pretty good.

I love the mountains and streams. It's good for my soul!!



Posted by Dad (See Emily, with your original coaching I can do a blog!