Otter Creek State Park offers year-round fishing, ATV riding

Otter Creek State Park offers year-round fishing, ATV riding

(Lance Eliason/Otter Creek State Park)


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OTTER CREEK STATE PARK — Otter Creek State Park in Piute County offers excellent fishing, camping and is a great access point to thousands of miles of ATV trails.

Mormon settlers began construction on the Otter Creek Dam in 1897, making it one of the oldest dams in Utah, according to the state park website. The reservoir was completed in 1901 and the area was established as a state park in 1964.

Here are some of the activities to enjoy at Otter Creek State Park located about 11 miles east of the intersection of U.S. 89 and state Route 62 near Junction:

Fishing

Fishing is arguably the biggest attraction at the park, according to assistant park manager Lance Eliason. Otter Creek Reservoir is known for its trout fishing and 2015 was a banner year, Eliason said. Along with trout, the Division of Wildlife Resources also stocks bass and wipers into the reservoir annually.

The reservoir has about 53,000 surface acres, and while it's currently only about 35 percent full, people are still able to launch boats at the main ramp, Eliason said. The park has two 14-foot motorized fishing boats and four canoes available for rent and the fishing is great year-round.

"In the winter, the ice fishing is unbelievable," Eliason said. "I mean, we can have hundreds of people out on the ice at one time, just loving the ice fishing. It's really good."

Photo Credit: Lance Eliason/Otter Creek State Park
Photo Credit: Lance Eliason/Otter Creek State Park

Riding ATVs

Otter Creek State Park is located in the middle of dozens of OHV trails and is a great jumping-off point for people wanting to ride ATVs, Eliason said. People can access trails that lead to Dutton Mountain, Boulder Mountain and Monroe Mountain. The Paiute Trail offers almost 1,000 miles of interconnected OHV trails and the trailhead is located 2 miles from the park.

"We are nestled right in the middle of ATV country," he said. "You can come, bring your ATVs here and literally drive for days in any direction."

Camping

The park has 53 campsites and a large group site and pavilion that accommodates between 25 and 100 campers, Eliason said. All the campsites are primitive and without RV hookups, but the restroom facilities have flush toilets and showers.

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