If you ask locals where to find the best views in Utah Valley, most will say Kyhv Peak Road. This winding canyon drive climbs out of Provo Canyon and offers wide valley views. It includes sunset overlooks, wildflower meadows, and one of the most underrated summit hikes. It shines in the summer, but it truly peaks in the fall, when the mountainsides light up in red and gold.
Here's everything you need to know before you go.
Getting There
The turnoff for Kyhv Peak Road sits about two miles up Provo Canyon on US-189. Watch for the signed right turn, then settle in for a paved climb full of switchbacks and increasingly jaw-dropping views. Take it slow, enjoy the corners, and pull over at the marked viewpoints if you want photos on the way up.
A quick note on the name: this road was formerly known as Squaw Peak Road. It was renamed in 2021, and Kyhv (pronounced "kive") comes from the Ute word for mountain. You may still see the old name on some maps and apps.
Kyhv Peak Road
Honestly, the drive alone is worth the trip. The paved section winds up the mountainside with wide open views of Utah Valley, Utah Lake, and the surrounding Wasatch peaks. In summer the hillsides are green and full of life. In fall, the canyon maples turn deep red and the aspens go gold, and the whole drive feels like moving through a postcard.
After a few miles the road reaches a fork. Right takes you to the Kyhv Peak Overlook. Left continues toward Hope Campground and turns to dirt, leading to Buffalo Peak and beyond.
Good to know: Seasonal gates block the road, and the road usually closes from November 1 to late May. Plan your visit from Memorial Day to late October.
Kyhv Peak Overlook
Take the right fork at the split. You will reach the Kyhv Peak Overlook. It is a paved viewpoint at about 6,700 feet. It offers a wide view of the whole valley below.
This is one of the best sunset spots in Utah County, full stop. As the sun drops behind the Lake Mountains, the whole valley glows, and on a clear evening you can watch the city lights flicker on from Lehi all the way down to Springville.
It gets busy at golden hour, especially on weekends and during fall color season, so arrive a little early to grab a spot. Bring a jacket even in summer, since the elevation makes evenings cooler than you'd expect. And if you're lucky, you might even catch paragliders launching from the ridgeline.
Buffalo Peak
Back at the fork, head left past Hope Campground and the pavement ends. Fair warning: this dirt road is rough, bumpy, and dusty. Most passenger cars can make it if you take it slow, but drive carefully and expect to want a car wash afterward. About three miles down the dirt road, look for the trailhead parking near a break in the fence.
The payoff is more than worth the bumps. The Buffalo Peak trail is short, roughly a mile round trip with about 275 feet of climbing, and it delivers some of the biggest views per step of any hike in Utah Valley. The final push to the summit is steep, but it's short enough that kids can handle it with a few breaks.
From the top you get a full 360-degree panorama: Mount Timpanogos and Cascade Peak rising behind you, Utah Lake stretching out below, and the valley unrolling from Point of the Mountain to the south end of the lake.
When to go:
In late spring and early summer, the slopes around Buffalo Peak burst with arrowleaf balsamroot. These bright yellow wildflowers carpet the hillsides. They make this one of the county’s best wildflower spots. Come fall, the oak and maple on the mountainside turn bright red and orange.
The colors usually peak from late September to mid October.
Whether you come up for a picnic, a photo shoot, or a quick summit at sunrise, Buffalo Peak has a way of becoming a favorite. Ask anyone who's been.
Want a longer hike? You can also reach Buffalo Peak from the Kyhv Peak Overlook. Hike the ridgeline trail for about 4 miles round trip. The route gains about 1,400 feet. It winds through oak brush and aspen groves.
Tips for Your Visit
- The road is open roughly Memorial Day through October 31, weather depending
- There are no restrooms or water at the overlooks, so plan ahead
- Cell service is decent through most of the area
- Pack out everything you bring, especially at the overlooks and summit
- Sunset and fall weekends are the busiest times, so go early or midweek for more solitude
- Dogs are welcome on the trails
From a golden hour picnic at the overlook to a wildflower hike up Buffalo Peak, Kyhv Peak Road packs an incredible amount of scenery into one short drive. Add it to your summer list, then come back in October. You'll understand why locals call fall up here the best show in Utah Valley.
