AMERICAN FORK — I am very happy to live within five minutes of beautiful American Fork Canyon. We enjoy time in this canyon as a family throughout the year. If you have an hour, an evening or several days to spend in this canyon, you will not run out of activity options.

Here are a few activities to pick from while enjoying American Fork Canyon:

Plan a picnic and campfire

While there are many great spot for a picnic or roasting s'mores, here are some of our family favorites:

In the main canyon on the left is Swinging Bridge followed by the Grey Cliffs area. Grey Cliffs sites are nice for privacy and offer plenty of boulders for the kids to climb around. In the north fork of the canyon (take the left fork off the main road) are the Roadhouse, Martin and Mile Rock area picnic sites.

Don't forget the firewood, marshmallows and to extinguish your fire responsibly.

Give rock climbing a try

American Fork Canyon is widely recognized as the birthplace of steep sport climbing and once boasted some of the hardest climbing routes in the country. Not a professional rock climber? Don't worry, there are climbing routes that suit all skill levels.

Chase McMillan, an experienced local climber, was kind enough to share the following rock climbing tips:

For beginner routes, check out the Hard Rock and the newly developed Serenity areas. For intermediate and advanced climbers, Division Wall and The Membrane are some favorites. And for those experts out there, don't miss the The Billboard and the appropriately named Hell Cave.

You can find all of the above areas and more on Mountainprojects.com) or visit the knowledgeable staff at Mountainworks) climbing shop in Provo to get all the information and gear you need.

Explore Timpanogos Cave

You'll be amazed by the size and by the variety of geologic formations inside this cave. It is open to visitors May through September. Make sure to reserve a tour in advance as this place tends to be crowded. You may want to bring a jacket, the interior is just below 50 degrees.

See the Timp Cave Park site for more details.

Many nearby locals skip touring the cave and enjoy regular walks up the steep trail for exercise early in the morning.

Go canoeing or fishing on the lake

Tibble Fork is a popular spot for fishing and canoeing. Drive up the main canyon road and turn left at the north fork (watch for signs). This lake is surrounded by thick pines and stunning mountain peaks. It's worth the drive just for the view.

Silver Lake is smaller and less crowded and offers a stunning sight as well. The dirt road leading to this reservoir is fairly smooth, but can be dusty in the summer months. Drive past Tibble Fork's parking lot, continue up the road and take a right onto the dirt road just before the ranger station.

Spend the night camping in a tent or trailer

Favorite campgrounds: Timpooneke, located about three miles up the Alpine loop. This campground is thickly wooded with many sites that feel secluded from nearby camping neighbors.

Granite Flat is the closest campground to Tibble Fork reservoir. It offers good-sized campsites and lush forest surroundings.

Little Mill is another great campground. This place has less privacy, but is more conveniently located, just off the main canyon road on your right. Play around with the kids on sliding rock, a large smooth bolder that is fun for kids to scoot down (this may be tough on the jeans).

Enjoy an off-road adventure in a Jeep or with ATVs

Favorite off-road destination: Julie Andrews Meadow. Drive through the Timpooneke campground and the road turns into groomed dirt. At the fork in the road, stay right. Continue up the road for about a mile and the parking spot for the meadow is on the left. After a short hike through the woods, you will reach the breathtaking meadow.

Other fun routes include: The trail near Tibble Fork Reservoir. Leave from the parking lot to your left (facing the lake) and head north. This trail is fairly wide with often rocky terrain and will lead you up a pretty side canyon.

The drive along the graded road to Silver Lake is easy, with gorgeous views along the way.

Take a scenic drive along the Alpine Loop

You can enjoy this beautiful canyon without leaving your car. Drive up the main canyon road and stay to the right when it splits at North fork. Continue on a gorgeous drive up the increasingly narrow and winding road. Stopping at viewpoints for photos is definitely recommended.

Drive up to the mountain summit and take a right when the road splits to eventually end up near Aspen Grove and on to the Sundance Resort. If you take the left fork near the summit, you will end up at Cascade Springs. There are no wrong turns on the Alpine loop.

Take some time this summer to explore this stunning canyon, your family will thank you for the memories.

Amber is co-founder of the travel blog globecandy.com. She currently resides in Cedar Hills, Utah with her husband and three boys. Email: amber@sldestinations.com

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