Point of the Mountain Viewpoint

For as long as people have lived along the Wasatch Front, Point of the Mountain has been the doorway between its northern and southern halves. The Traverse Mountains run east to west here, cutting across the corridor, and the narrow gap at their foot is the natural way through. The Ute and Northwestern Shoshone traveled this country for generations, and later the pioneer road, the railroad, and finally the interstate all funneled through the same pinch point.

Today the ridge marks a busy seam in Utah's growth. Draper and the tech offices of the Silicon Slopes corridor have filled in the valley on the north side, while Lehi and Utah Valley spread out to the south. Standing on the overlook you can take in both at once, two fast-growing valleys separated only by this thin band of hills, with the high Wasatch as a backdrop to the east.

The magic of Point of the Mountain is a quirk of geography. Air sitting over the broad valleys drifts toward the low gap, speeds up as it squeezes through, and lifts as it climbs the face of the ridge. That rising air is what pilots call ridge lift, and here it is unusually steady and predictable, which is exactly what a paraglider needs to stay aloft.

The ridge has two faces for two moods of weather. When the wind comes from the north, pilots launch from the north-side flight park; when it swings around to the south, they move to the south side. Because one side or the other is usually workable, flyers can find good air here across much of the year, and the site draws students and instructors from all over to learn the sport in gentle, forgiving conditions.

Point of the Mountain is where a great many Utah pilots first left the ground. The slope is smooth and grassy, the lift is mellow, and the landing areas are open, which makes it an ideal training hill. On a busy afternoon you might see beginners doing short hops just above the grass while more experienced flyers climb high and thread the ridge for an hour at a stretch.

You do not need to be a pilot to enjoy the place. Plenty of people simply come to sit on the hillside and watch the parade of colorful wings against the mountains, an easy outing with kids or anyone who likes to watch the sky. If the flying bug does bite, the thing to do is book time with a certified instructor rather than improvising, since wind that looks playful can turn strong in a hurry.

Spring and fall tend to bring the cleanest, most comfortable flying weather, with mild air and dependable wind, and the ridge is at its greenest after the spring rains. Summer afternoons can build strong, gusty conditions that pilots read carefully, and the exposed ridge holds little shade, so a hat and water are worth carrying.

The overlook earns its keep at the edges of the day. Morning light rakes across the valleys from the east, and evening sends long shadows over Draper and Lehi as the sun drops behind the Oquirrh Mountains to the west. Winter brings snow and cold wind off the peaks, and quieter skies, though the view of the white Wasatch above the valleys is worth the chill.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.