With temperatures in the mountains in the 90s this week, I thought it would be great to remind our readers about the state parks that surround Park City. The photos of Magnus and me were taken at the Ross Creek Recreation area at Jordanelle State Park. Dogs must be on leash, but I took his leash off for a few minutes to let him cool off in the water.
I own two inflatable stand-up paddle boards (SUPs) and I use them at our local reservoirs. The electric pump was a total game changer for me and I highly recommend it. Your board will inflate in just a couple of minutes, and when you have had enough, the deflation is also much quicker. The inflatable boards are easy to transport.
Jordanelle State Park and Reservoir
The Jordanelle Reservoir is filled by the Provo River, and, along with Deer Creek Reservoir, it helps provide culinary water to users in Wasatch, Utah, and Salt Lake counties. There are three access points to the Jordanelle Reservoir: Hailstone, Rock Cliff Recreation Area, and Ross Creek Recreation Area.
Hailstone Recreation Area
The Hailstone Recreation Area is located off the Mayflower exit on Highway 40. It is the main recreational site at the Jordanelle for camping, fishing, wakeboarding, water skiing, canoeing, and boating. Hailstone Recreation Area includes an eight-lane boat ramp, personal watercraft ramp, dry storage, wet slips, full-service marina store and pro shop, picnic areas (cabanas), modern restrooms and showers, RV and tent campgrounds, reception center, group day-use pavilions, and one group overnight pavilion. You can rent boats (pontoon, water ski, or fishing), Jet Skis, kayaks, and stand-up paddle boards (SUPs) by the hour or half-day at the marina store. While the Jordanelle is no Lake Tahoe, it is stunningly beautiful and provides the lake experience that many people who are used to spending summers near water are looking for.
Rock Cliff Recreation Area
The Rock Cliff Recreation Area is located on the eastern shore of Jordanelle Reservoir, on Highway 32 between Francis and Heber City. It is nestled in the tall cottonwoods of the Upper Provo River. Rock Cliff offers visitors the opportunity to experience nature on a very intimate level. Elevated boardwalks and interpretive trails guide visitors across wetlands and rivers. The area includes a small boat ramp, access to the nonmotorized perimeter trail, Three Rocks Trail, group-use pavilion, fish-cleaning station, river, and reservoir access, and the Rock Cliff Nature Center, which houses a small museum.
Ross Creek Recreation Center
The Ross Creek Recreation Center is on the far north end of the park, off Highway 248. The Ross Creek Trailhead provides parking, a vault restroom, hitching posts, and nonmotorized day-use access to Jordanelle Reservoir and the perimeter trail. The perimeter trail allows hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians, and other nonmotorized users the opportunity to explore the other side of Jordanelle. The Ross Creek nonmotorized boat ramp provides nonmotorized users an exclusive launch free from the bustle of motorized vessels and traffic at the Hailstone entrance.
Deer Creek State Park and Reservoir
Deer Creek State Park and Reservoir is just south of Heber City. The reservoir and park are extremely popular for recreation and camping. Major park activities include boating, water skiing, sailing, windsurfing, swimming, and fishing. You can rent equipment such as Jet Skis, boats, and SUPs at Deer Creek Island Resort. Uinta Kiting offers kiteboard lessons at Deer Creek. There is an Island Aqua Park for kids. Two campgrounds, Chokecherry and Great Horned Owl, are open May 1 to October 15.
Zipline Utah on Deer Creek Reservoir is home to the country’s longest continuous zip line course over water. This high-flying, 2-mile adventure features 10 lines and seven aerial suspension bridges that keep you off the ground from start to finish. The Lakehouse at Deer Creek is available for lunch and dinner during the summer months.
Rockport State Park and Reservoir
Rockport State Park is located just three exits east of Park City off of I-80. Take the Wanship exit (Highway 32) east from I-80, and you can’t miss it. During the summer, you can fish, boat, water tube, wakeboard, and water ski on Rockport Reservoir. Tent or RV camping is available in one of five campgrounds. In 2021, Rockport State Park became certified as an International Dark Sky Place by the International Dark Sky Association. No rentals or food are available at Rockport, so plan on bringing your own food and recreational accessories.
Echo State Park and Reservoir
Outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers enjoy a day at Echo Reservoir for its serenity, fishing, boating, and paddleboarding opportunities. Jet Skis, paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes are available for rent if you would like to try one out for a day or half day. In 2022, the reservoir closed to motorized boats due to low water levels, which made it all the better for nonmotorized activities like paddleboarding, kayaking, and canoeing.
Do you visit our state parks? If so, which ones, and what do you like to do there? Please comment. For more info, visit stateparks.utah.gov.