Things to Do in Pleasant Grove, Utah (2026)

Abigail Giordano Senior Writer, Provo.com

Pleasant Grove is one of the older cities in Utah Valley and one of the least likely to be described as up-and-coming, which is meant here as a compliment. It's largely built out, tree-lined, and settled — its nickname is Utah's City of Trees — and its two biggest draws are a festival that has run for more than a century and a waterfall you can reach from a neighborhood street.

Here's what to do with a day here.

Strawberry Days

Strawberry Days is the reason most people outside the city know Pleasant Grove's name. Held every June since 1921, it's the longest-running community celebration in Utah — older than most of the institutions around it, and still run with the seriousness that implies.

The week's centerpiece is a PRCA rodeo, alongside a grand parade, a carnival, concerts, and the strawberries and cream that gave the festival its name and that people genuinely do line up for.

It's a community festival first and a tourist event second, which is exactly what makes it worth attending. Dates and the specific lineup shift each year — check the city's current schedule before planning around a particular night.

Battle Creek Falls

The best hike in town starts at the eastern edge of it. Battle Creek Falls is reached from the Kiwanis Park trailhead, and it's among the most accessible waterfall hikes in the valley — a fairly short out-and-back with moderate climbing, ending at a falls that pours over a rock shelf into a narrow canyon. There's no fee and no permit, unlike the Alpine Loop approach to Stewart Falls or a Timpanogos Cave tour.

That accessibility is also its main problem. The trail is popular with families and the parking area fills on summer evenings and weekends. Go early in the day, or go on a weekday. In shoulder seasons the trail can hold ice well after the valley has thawed, so check conditions and wear something with grip.

For more on this trail and how it compares to the rest of the valley's options, see our guide to the best hikes around Provo.

The G and the foothills

Above town, the large "G" on the mountainside is a Pleasant Grove landmark visible across the north end of the valley. Hiking up to it is a standard local outing — short, steep, and more of a workout than a stroll, with a wide payoff view over Utah Valley at the top.

The foothills above the city also connect into the broader Mount Timpanogos trail network. Timpanogos itself is a serious all-day summit hike and not something to attempt casually; the approaches most people use start elsewhere, but Pleasant Grove sits right against the mountain's western face and gets the best everyday view of it in the valley.

Downtown and the city's older core

Pleasant Grove's historic Main Street anchors an older downtown with local shops and restaurants. It's a small district rather than a destination, but it reflects the city's real character better than the newer commercial strips along the arterials do.

The city is also home to doTERRA, whose headquarters campus is one of the more visible corporate presences in north Utah County — not a visitor attraction, but a landmark and a large part of the local economy.

What's minutes away

Part of the case for Pleasant Grove is what surrounds it. Thanksgiving Point in Lehi — gardens, museums, and family attractions — is a short drive north, and there's more to Lehi than the complex: an outlet mall, the Murdock Canal Trail, and a PRCA rodeo that has run since 1937. American Fork sits directly north as well, with its own historic Main Street and the July Steel Days festival. American Fork Canyon, with Timpanogos Cave and Tibble Fork Reservoir, is close enough to fold into the same day. And the Alpine Loop over the top toward Sundance is one of the best fall drives in the state.

That central position is the practical argument for basing a day here rather than treating it as a single stop.

Make a day of it

The reliable plan: Battle Creek Falls early, before the trailhead fills, then breakfast or lunch downtown, then either the canyon to the north or an afternoon in the city's parks. It's a half-day of real hiking and a half-day of not much, which is a good ratio.

In June, build the whole thing around Strawberry Days and skip the rest. In October, hike in the morning and drive the Alpine Loop in the afternoon. In winter, the falls trail gets icy and the Alpine Loop closes — so the honest answer is that Pleasant Grove is a shorter stop in January than it is in June.

Thinking about living here?

Established, central, largely built out, and minutes from the Silicon Slopes corridor — Pleasant Grove is a common landing spot for people who want the north valley without the construction-zone feel of the newest cities. Our complete guide to living in Pleasant Grove covers housing, schools, the commute, and the upcoming school-district changes. For nearby comparisons, Lindon, American Fork, and Highland each sit a few minutes away with a different character.

A century-old festival and a waterfall at the end of a residential street is a strange combination on paper. In practice it's most of what makes the City of Trees worth a day.

Abigail Giordano

Senior Writer

Abigail Giordano is a senior writer at Provo.com covering student life, family resources, and community events across Utah Valley. Her writing focuses on making Provo more accessible and navigable for newcomers, students, and families — the practical guides that help people feel at home faster.