Tibble Fork Reservoir: Family-Friendly Lake for Paddleboarding & Kayaking

Tibble Fork Reservoir used to be somewhat of a hidden gem a few years ago but the secret is out now! This beautiful mountain lake has become a popular destination because it’s incredibly scenic but also because it doesn’t allow motorized boats, making it a great family-friendly spot for paddleboarding and kayaking.

After getting your inflatable paddleboard rentals from us here at JJ’s Paddleboards, it’s a short 20-minute drive up American Fork Canyon. On your way there, you’ll pass several restaurants and soda shops if you want to fuel up for the day. Once you arrive, you’ll marvel at the views of majestic Mt. Timpanogos, perfectly framed by the V-shaped canyon road right above the dam.

There are also a number of nearby hikes, like the Tibble Fork Loop trail or the easy 0.6 mile Canyon Nature Trail. But a couple that are on our Utah Bucket List that we plan to do this summer are the Timpanogos Cave Trail and Stewart Falls.

Timpanogos Cave is a National Monument and is on the way to Tibble Fork, so you could easily do this 3.1 mile hike in the morning, then head to the lake afterwards to cool off.

Stewart Falls is located a little farther up the canyon near Sundance Resort. It’s a 3.4 mile hike that’s rated as moderate with the payoff of a 200-foot tall waterfall. It’s considered one of the most picturesque waterfalls in Utah.

But the granddaddy of all the hikes on our bucket list is to summit Mt. Timpanogos - it's like hiking a half marathon but with an elevation gain of 4,500 feet. If you do this, you'll want to make sure you have the proper gear so check out this helpful guide for the best hiking shoes. Most people leave in the dark around 1:00 or 2:00am so they can make it to the summit for sunrise. Jumping in the lake after an intense hike like that probably feels great. Then just take a nap on the beach!

So, whether you just want to head up to the lake for some paddleboarding or make a day trip adventure out of it, you really can’t go wrong with a visit to Tibble Fork Reservoir!

For more ideas of family-friendly adventures check out our free Utah Bucket List.