You know you are in Bluffdale when you see old Porter Rockwell waiving “hello.” This guy has been greeting Bluffdale visitors since 1934, when a statue along 146th South was commemorated in his honor. During his life, he was an infamous lawman and bodyguard whose rowdy tales are now part of local lore. That was back when the west was wild and the land around Bluffdale was a long way from anywhere. Today, Bluffdale sits in the heart of the Wasatch Front and is one of Salt Lake’s fastest growing neighborhoods. Gone are the old pioneer outposts and homesteads, and in their place are small-town friendly neighbors and charming planned communities with access to parks, trails and open space. With a convenient commute to nearby Silicon Slopes, Draper, canyons and Salt Lake’s downtown, it is a favorite among techies and millennials looking for the best in work-life balance.
Whether you are passing through or are fortunate enough to call Bluffdale home, there is something to explore for ALL. Here are our recommendations for what to do in Bluffdale and how to spend your day like a local.
Snap a Pic with Porter
You haven’t experienced Bluffdale until you’ve given old Porter Rockwell a hug. Stop by and get your pic at this infamous selfie spot here. Then wander over to Bluffdale City Park and stroll through old-town Bluffdale with its wild-west trading post and other vintage shops. Mark your calendar for Bluffdale Old West Days the last week of July.
Photo credit Salt Lake County
Party at Wardle Fields
Wardle Fields Regional Park has a massive splash pad, pickle ball courts, basketball courts and open fields for baseball, soccer, football and any kind of outdoor event you can imagine. This is truly an epic park and tons of fun for kids of all ages.
Play at Kidstopia
The biggest indoor playground in all of Utah is located at Kidstopia in Bluffdale. A great place to watch the kids have the time of their life in the simmering heat of summer or freezing cold of winter. Leave the sunscreen and snow boots at home!
Ride or Run the Jordan River Parkway
Access 40 miles of trail running between Utah Lake in Utah County and the Great Salt Lake in Davis County. Running, biking, or skating along this shared path is the perfect way to start or end any day. Look for separate equestrian paths near the southern Bluffdale portion of the Jordan River Parkway trail.
Enjoy Parks, Fields and More Parks
Bluffdale City provides nearly 60 acres of public parkland and recreational facilities. City Park, Parry Farms, Independence at the Park are just one of nine parks and a number of open-space parcels. Most parks have the latest playgrounds, splash pads and horse lovers will be delighted with the several Equestrian routes in the area as well. For a good ball game, you can always catch a high school or rec game on one of the many local fields.
Photo Credit Thanksgiving Point
Spend a Day (or Week) at Thanksgiving Point
Discover world-class gardens, museums, farms, dining and more at Lehi’s Thanksgiving Point. Only 10 minutes away from Bluffdale, this mecca of learning and entertainment sees about 2.8 million guests walk through its gates every year. Join with the millions of others to explore the Ashton Gardens, Butterly Biosphere, Farm Country, Museum of Ancient Life, and Museum of Natural Curiosity. Seasonal events are the highlight of the year and include the spring Tulip Festival, Cornbelly’s fall corn maze, Thanksgiving Run, and Luminary holiday lights.
Photo Credit Living Planet Aquarium
Discover Salt Lake’s Inland Ocean at the Living Planet Aquarium
While the ocean is hundreds of miles away, Bluffdale locals can still is it over 2,400 sea creatures and animals at the nearby Loveland Living Planet Aquarium in Draper. The shark tunnel, penguin, and Amazon exhibits are sure to delight visitors of all ages. Explore, discover and learn about earth’s many diverse land and ocean ecosystems.
Delicious Eating and World-Class Shopping Within Minutes of Home
Bluffdale, Utah is the near center of the Wasatch Front metropolis. And being the very southernmost city in Salt Lake County, residents have access to the best that Salt Lake and Utah County has to offer. In less than 10-minutes, you are in Lehi or Draper enjoying the best local and national-chain restaurants. Another 20 minutes in either direction, and you’ll find yourself in the heart of Salt Lake City’s or Provo’s dining scene. Looking for ideas on where to grab a bite? We recommend the Female Foodie’s Salt Lake City bucket list.
As for shopping, Lehi’s Traverse Mountain Outlets, and Draper Peaks and Draper Crossing are a hop, skip and a jump away. A little further down the road is the Shops at South Town, or keep going to Downtown Salt Lake City for all the big national names and small-urban boutiques you could ask for.
Try Paragliding???
Look to the east at sunrise or sunset, and you will undoubtedly see paragliders near the Point of the Mountain. Favorable wind patterns make this site one of the best gliding locations in the world. The Utah Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association offers lessons and tandem flights. When in Bluffdale, right?!
More Biking and Hiking Trails Just a Neighborhood Away
Bluffdale sits just a few miles west of Salt Lake’s Draper County. Draper touts more trails and open spaces than any other city along the Wasatch Front. Discover over 117 miles of scenic trails and 4,077 acres of open space. Bluffdale residents can be in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains with spectacular views of mountain ridges and city skylines in minutes.
THINKING OF MOVING TO BLUFFDALE?
Take our Bluffdale Photo Tour —See the best Bluffdale has to offer and get a better sense of the neighborhood.
Look at Current Listings —Find property information and current listing on our Bluffdale neighborhood page.
Talk to Mele Brown—Mele is our resident Bluffdale realtor and neighborhood expert. She would love to talk to you anytime about her experience building in Bluffdale and moving to this affordable, convenient and friendly Salt Lake suburb.
Niche Homes is a boutique real estate agency specializing in Salt Lake neighborhoods and enclaves. Contact us if you are interested in buying or selling a home or moving to Utah.
