Deer Creek

Visited: December 207, various others

The only part of this park I have been to so far is the Deer Creek Trail (North Trailhead). You follow along where the railroad goes along the reservoir the whole time. It's about 15 miles long one way and relatively flat. Another one I think my road bike could handle even though it's dirt, and will try once it's all dried out again. This park is HUGE and has many entrances, I want to see more of it once it's summer. This is another reservoir. I really like this trail though, and it was one of my first "hikes" after my ACL surgery, still in the knee brace. I tore a bunch of other stuff in my knee as well, and wasn't able to bend my knee past 90 degrees for 6 weeks after surgery, or past like 20 degrees the 4 weeks between the injury and surgery, so this was a big deal. It's just a really nice trail and I'm lowkey obsessed with it. You can get views of Timp from it too.

Last time I was there, the Heber Valley trail went by below us (me and Caitlin), and some guy with a weird hovercraft thing was flying over the marshy area, then flew by the train. It was wild.

My first walk here (I didn't make it much further... and this isn't far at all lol)

Jordanelle

Visited: October 2017, various others, got frickin MARRIED here 9/10/16

When I went in October, I was just breaking up a smoky drive back from Heber when I was hella sick this fall. And there was smoke from fires in California, so it was hazy as heck, and didn't exactly help my headache, but it made me feel nice on the inside. Cause I love state parks. And throwing rocks in the water, and lounging at a picnic table, and watching kids frolic and struggle with a fishing rod, etc.

Hazy as HECK

Hey I got married there

It was kinda weird to see the trees humans planted there with fall colors. It just illuminated the fact that they were planted and not natural, for some reason.

But yeahhhhhhhh I got married here! It was really neat! It was super cheap and easy and I'm probably the only bride with a $5000 budget that came in well under budget for 70 people (dress and wedding bands included yo). For EVERYTHING. Booze, food, decorations, invites, photos.... yup state parks are great. It's called the Hailstone Event Center and I'm not afraid to put it on blast now because I don't have to worry about the rental price going up once everyone realizes what a steal this place is. And it was fun to frolic around the shore with my brand new husband.

I've only swam in there once. Alicia my bff and best friend spouse took me here the night before for one last date with the moon and the water as a single woman. I messed up my pedicure. It was worth it. (Duh).

Anywayyyyy look at some pics of me getting married lulz. And now that I have a pass, I'll probably come here to cool off and swim in the summer, since it won't be $10 a pop. And I want to check out the nature center when it's open in the summer! And I might do a triathlon here. And I hear there's a short trail on the far shore. Damn this park really has it all. ANYWAY DONE RAMBLING (for now).

What a cool building

I love this also I took this

Bois

Daaaaaaaaaaaamn Daniel look at that view

It's like we are in love or whatever

Look at that scenery

Wasatch Mountain State Park

Visited: December 2017, and various others since 2015

I almost got married at this state park. There is a 'chalet' there that I thought would be perfect for the small crowd I wanted. I just loved the vibe there, and of course, state parks are life. However, renting a tent in case of inclement weather was more than the venue itself. Transportation was an issue. And then, the Wasatch 100 mile race was finishing 200 yards away. And like, good for them, but I really didn't want to say my wedding vows between cowbells ringing for sweaty, wavering runners. SOoooooooooo we ended up moving it to Jordanelle State Park and it was easy and perfect and wonderful and 5 stars would recommend. More on that later. Anywhooooo I've been here quite a few times, I am even a Junior Ranger and showed my extended family the visitor center. It's easy to access over Guardsman Pass and so dang scenic in the fall, how could you not?

This time I went to Dutch Hollow and went to the Heber Valley overlook with my bff Caitlin. It's a nice short trail that is accessible year round. It's very exposed, no shade, so winter was a good time to go. Though we did have to see the smog from Smog Lake City creeping into the valley. Gross. But cute trail and town.

There was a large network of trails here, and it seemed more popular for mountain biking, but hiking was still A-ok.

Here's some pictures of the park in fall. These were from a place called the "Midway Reservoir" which is apparently in the park and it very small and I don't know what recreation it would involve/allow besides running around looking at the aspens and the frogs and some bugs, and ogling at the fall colors. Last pic is of me and Paul (husband), taken by my bff Meegah.

Here's the reservoir in its full summer glory (much more scenic than in fall) ft my bff Caitlin.

And my Junior Ranger badge I earned with my bff Alicia. We got best friend married at this state park.

And here is a dope ass photo I took of a PBR at this park that PBR "liked" on Twitter but didn't have the DECENCY to retweet...............

So yeah this is a pretty freaking neat state park! They even had the winter olympic cross country ski races here. How neat is that? That's pretty neat.

Camp Floyd/Stagecoach Inn

Visited: December 2017

There are lots of plaques. One of them cracked me up because one of the soldiers was SAVAGE with their description of the camp location. The camp commissary is where you should start. There's a museum with honestly neat artifacts in there and a 10 minute overview film like every good park should have. It's actually kind of hilarious, the US government sent thousands of soldiers to "control" the "wild" Mormons. This was all based on jealous rumors that traveled back to DC in an attempt to get Brigham Young out of power in Utah. LOL. And it sounded like the soldiers were an unseemly bunch, bored as heck because the Mormons weren't planning a rebellion or taking advantage of the virtually lawless territory. Because, Mormons.

Typical government waste

SAVAGE

S A V A G E

Then they can open up the Stagecoach Inn for you, and you are guided through the whole building and there's some old furniture and artifacts there as well. The stairs are hella steep.

The Stagecoach in was in operation until the 1940's

So ornate

I went to check out the creek the disgruntled soldier described.

It seemed fine to me, but upon further inspection....

There was a goldfish carton lodged under the log before I took the pic -_-

There was a dog running around. They didn't like me until I was having a picnic in the balmy 35 degree weather (that's picnic weather right?). I didn't feed them. I didn't think they would like lettuce and craisins.

Also, someone get me a trime thanks

Rockport

Visited: December 2017

It was a lake. It had water. The dam had a different name because they couldn't agree on the name for the lake, and decided the dam and lake could have different names. The lake was going to bury the town of Rockport in water, to make sure this area could have water for agriculture, and they wanted some credit for their sacrifice. Dams are BIG ya'll. It was also so cold outsude it made me cold in my bones. I threw a rock from the pull out near the dam and it didn't quite make it into the water. That's all I have to say about that.

Union Pacific Rail Trail

Visited: December 2017

This is a very unusual park- it's a rails to trails project. Part of the old Union Pacific line was converted into a bike path. So the park is about 15 feet wide and 26 miles long. This trail goes from the far end of the Echo Reservoir to Park City. In the summer they run a shuttle so you can just ride one way. It's partially paved, mostly dirt, but nothing my road bike couldn't handle. Well except one particularly sticky patch of mud. I wanted to get one last bike ride in before the snow and the state park website boasted that it was still dry. I rode from the beginning of the trail at the Echo Reservoir, along the lake to the Coaville trailhead, through the town of Coalville, and a few miles past. We did 10 miles roundtrip, and it looks like the trail marks every mile. I spotted a couple of muskrats in puddles/small bogs? along the trail. It looked like you could freely access the Echo Reservoir anywhere there wasn't a fence between the trail and the water. There were some nice sandy beaches and some steep rocky shores. It was a very chilly and windy day but of course better than staying inside!

This is something I'd like to do in it's entirety in the summer with a shuttle. I think I've also run on the Park City trailhead but I can't remember for sure.

Utah Lake

Visited: November 2017

I'd been to the shore of Utah Lake at Inlet Park in Saratoga Springs, and it never would have occurred to me to go to the state park, as I don't have a boat or fishing rod. But it was a great place to take a lunch break after visiting schools in Provo. I drove out as far as you could on a spit in the lake, and nestled up against the rocks and listened to some gentle waves while eating a salad. Another place I wouldn't have visited without the pass. The view from those rocks was pretty stunning though, it helped me see the immensity of the lake that I couldn't even glean from the top of peaks like Squaw (guh hate that word...) and Timpanogos. It basically felt like a sea for this desert dweller. Another lake where I could watch the sunlight twinkle on the water.

Steinaker

Visited: October 2017

This yet another lake! It was very low and people were fishing and hunting ducks on a weekday afternoon. I went to a picnic ground and found a couple of golden yellow leaved cottonwood trees, set up a hammock, and listened to the Lonesome Dreams album by Lord Huron in its entirety (you're welcome) before getting up. I don't normally "chill" outside, I'm usually moving or looking around or DOING something. So this was big for me. Especially in Vernal, with so much to see. I'm moving there some day. Also, all the children that week were angel children. I didn't want to smack a single one upside the head.

Lord Huron always comes to mind when I'm out in nature. Do yourself a favor and listen to them, and let "In the Wind" float through your mind next time you're at a beautiful overlook.

Need a hammock? Use my link to be eligible for discounts from Madera Outdoor, a company who uses profits to plant trees and teach sustainable farming practices to under served populations. I love the color options, the weight, and how small it rolls up!

Red Fleet

Visited: October 2017

Obsessed.

I started on the Dinosaur Trackway Trail. I had printed out the trail guide before I left, because experience tells me that more often than not, the trailhead box of brochures or guides is empty. I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only were there several copies, but they were adorable little books, in color, on nice glossy paper. I left my big printed black and white copy in the box in case someone needed larger print, or if they ran out of nice books in the box in the near future. So much delight stopping at each post and reading the nature trail facts.

As promised, the trail ends at DINOSAUR FOOTPRINTS. At a LAKE. Again, not a soul around on a fall weekday afternoon. It was well signed with enough information to not be overwhelming. Enjoy some pictures of me chilling with some dinosaur footprints in the Best Place on Earth, Vernal Utah:

I enjoyed watching the sun dance on the water in the afternoon sun. You could almost hear it making twinkling sounds. This park also had the amazing red rock/blue water contrast of Sand Hollow.

I went into the main part of the park to see more of the lake and check out the campground. I will 100% be back. Plus, I didn't make it to the museum in town that is a state park, the Utah Field Museum, so gotta go back anyway!

They were VERY strict about no cliff jumping here, unlike Sand Hollow, whose signs indicate it's your own damn fault if you get hurt. At Red Fleet, it was clear you'd be in trouble if you got too close to the ledge.

This sign was at the Dino Footprint trailhead. Made me think of home, where we have these signs at our trailheads:

Awwww just like home <3