If you live in Utah Valley — anywhere in Utah Valley — then you’re never very far away from a trailhead that leads into a forest, or up the side of a mountain, or along the banks of a river. The license plate says that Utah has the greatest snow on Earth, but you can have a darned good time hitting the slopes, so to speak, long after the white stuff is gone.

Between majestic Mount Timpanogos to the north and the unmistakable block Y on Y Mountain to the east, some of the most heavily trodden trails in Utah are just minutes from your doorstep. There are dozens of places to hike nearby, but if you don’t get out much, Timpanogos looks intimidating, and you don’t know where else to begin, then have no fear.

The following list of five hikes will stretch your legs, fill your lungs and give you a taste of what’s out there. Each one has a destination, but there’s no rule that you have to get to the end of the hike before turning around.

Very young hikers can enjoy any of these trails, but you may find it easiest to coax children along either the short hike to the base of the waterfall in Battle Creek Canyon, or the hike to Stewart Falls.

1 Silver Lake: If you like the climb to this glittering alpine lake, then you’d love hiking just about anywhere in the Uinta Mountains north and east of Heber Valley. The short, steep trail passes through aspens and evergreens and offers spectacular views of the north face of Mount Timpanogos.

Distance: 4 miles round trip

Where to start: A winding, unpaved road that curves north from the parking area at Tibble Fork Reservoir in American Fork Canyon leads to the trailhead at the north end of Silver Lake Flats Reservoir.

Fees: There is a minimum $6 fee (for a three-day pass) to enter American Fork Canyon.

2 Stewart Falls: Hikers of all ages can visit this spectacular two-tiered waterfall on the lower slopes of Mount Timpanogos above Sundance Resort. The route begins with a short climb into tall timber, levels out for a while, and then descends to the falls.

Distance: 3.5 miles round trip

Where to start: The Stewart Falls trail begins at the south end of the parking area for the Aspen Grove trail to the summit of Mount Timpanogos. The trailhead is just past Brigham Young University’s Aspen Grove recreation area on the Alpine Loop Road above Sundance Resort.

Fees: There is a minimum $6 fee (for a three-day pass) to continue on the Alpine Loop Road past the BYU facilities. You must pay the fee to access Timp Summit/Stewart Falls trailhead.

3 Battle Creek Canyon: There’s a scenic 50-foot waterfall less than a mile up the canyon, but the trail doesn’t stop there. If you continue hiking above the falls — watch your step! — you can eventually reach the saddle between Mount Timpanogos and Big Baldy, the small summit that protrudes from the south face of Timp directly above Orem and Lindon.

Distance: 1.5 miles round trip to Battle Creek Falls

Where to start: The mouth of Battle Creek Canyon is above a park (with pavilion) and parking area at the top of Battle Creek Drive (200 South) in Pleasant Grove.

Fees: None.

4 Squaw Peak: The 7,877-foot summit of Squaw Peak above Rock Canyon is one of the most accessible mountain peaks in Utah County. It’s steep from start (at the mouth of Rocky Canyon) to finish, but the views from the summit are spectacular and the trail is frequently shaded, either by the soaring walls of Rock Canyon or, higher up, dense thickets of maple, oak and aspen.

Distance: 8.4 miles round trip

Where to start: Park at the mouth of Rock Canyon above 2300 North in Provo and enter the canyon to begin the hike. The summit trail forks left from the main Rock Canyon trail about 2 miles up the canyon.

Fees: None.

5 Windy Pass: You can get a nice taste of the Great Western Trail, the Canada-to-Mexico multi-use route that stretches more than 500 miles through Utah, with this long winding jaunt around forested slopes to a high saddle above a spring. There are numerous trails in the area, so be sure to consult a trail guide and mark your route on a map before beginning.

Distance: 13 miles round trip

Where to start: Park at the upper parking area at Big Springs Park in the South Fork of Provo Canyon (accessed via Vivian Park).

Fees: None.