State parks of Utah: Northern region

State parks of Utah: Northern region

(Photo Credit: Gina Herbert)


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It is no secret Utah is beautiful. Filled with mountains, forests, rivers, lakes and natural rock formations, this desert state looks like anything but a desert.

Tourists come from all over the world to visit the state’s wonders — and five of them can be counted among the nation’s national parks.

But, did you know that Utah also boasts 42 state parks?

It’s true. Utah has more state parks than it does counties, and while many people often think of Southern Utah as a state park haven, Northern Utah isn't far behind in that department. The state's Northerners enjoy a quick and easy drive to some of the most exciting and beautiful places the state has to offer.

Here is a list of some of those parks, and what you can expect when you visit:

Antelope Island State Park

Located along the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island State Park is the largest of the nine islands on the lake.

Check out this awesome stat: Antelope Island was recently listed as one of the top 10 places to see a sunset by National Geographic, as well as one of the 20 most stunning state parks by USA Today. The island also offers some of the best wildlife viewing in the state such as antelope, deer, bobcats, coyotes, birds, waterfowl and perhaps the island’s most famous, the American Bison.

Antelope Island also offers much in the way of recreation.

Visitors can go swimming (or floating) in the salty water, boating, sailing or even camping on one of the island’s many beaches. The island’s access to Frary Peak also makes for fantastic hiking, mountain biking and exploring.

Entrance fees are $10 per vehicle and $30 per night for a family camping pass. Annual passes can also be purchased.

Photo credit: http://www.wanderlustimages.com

Bear Lake State Park

Go for the cobalt water, stay for the bears! Alright, don't stay for the bears (because there aren't any and you have your whole life ahead of you). You should, however, stay for the sailing, horseback riding, boating, fishing and the raspberries, ideally in shake form.

Known as the “Caribbean of the Rockies,” Bear Lake offers stunning, turquoise-blue water, brought about by the reflection of the limestone deposits suspended in the lake. With its northern location along the Utah/Idaho border at nearly 6,000 feet, Bear Lake has cooler water than most lakes in the state.

But it isn’t just the pristine waters that the park has to offer. There are also tons of campsites, as well as a variety of ATV trails for four-wheeling in the warmer months and snowmobiling in the cooler months.

Entrance fees are $8 per vehicle per day or $75 for an annual pass.

Photo credit: http://spanishpeakscountry.com

East Canyon State Park

East Canyon State Park is one of the lesser-known parks in the state, but it's got history.

In 1846, a group of pioneers known as the Donnor Party was the first wagon train to pass through while on a quest from Illinois to California to find more fertile ground. The ground proved treacherous and only 47 of the original 87 members made it to their destinations.

It was the Donnor Party’s trail that Mormon Pioneers later followed to enter the Salt Lake Valley.

And while you will likely not trek thousands of miles while on a trip to East Canyon, there are many activities the park has to offer like boating, fishing and swimming. The nearby mountains and surrounding areas offer fantastic hiking, biking, picnicking and camping.

Visitors can expect to pay a $9 fee per day to enter the park.

Photo credit: http://static.panoramio.com

Hyrum State Park

Here's another history lesson for you: Hyrum State Park, located in Cache County, in the city of Hyrum, is named after Mormon pioneer and brother of Mormon prophet, Joseph Smith.

The reservoir within the park was created by a dam built in 1939, and is a site where Mormon Pioneers once dug a nine-mile-long canal for irrigation.

No longer used for irrigation purposes, the reservoir brings many visitors every year who love to boat, fish, participate in watersports, picnic and camp beneath the tall, shady trees that surround it.

A day use pass can be purchased for $6, if you do not have an annual state park pass.

Photo credit: http://usbr.tumblr.com

Jordan River OHV State Recreation Area

If you enjoy riding off-highway vehicles (and really, who doesn't?), Jordan River OHV State Recreation Area has just what you are looking for.

Located on Rose Park Lane, off of Exit 25 on I-215 in Salt Lake City, this state park is easily accessible to Northern Utah residents, particularly those in Salt Lake County.

The park is open from April through November and offers four tracks, including two motocross tracks, one for off-highway motorcycles (OHMs) and another for ATVs.

The hours of operation are Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9-8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays, 8-8 p.m., with a daily fee of $10 per rider.

Photo credit: http://www.philandtropic.com

Willard Bay State Park

Willard Bay is a freshwater reservoir located just 12 miles northwest of Ogden along the floodplains of the Great Salt Lake.

The reservoir was recently renovated and now offers state-of-the-art day-use and camping facilities, ground use areas and boat launch ramps.

Visitors can swim, boat and water ski their way through Willard Bay’s warm waters. Fishers can also reel in some of the reservoir’s variety of walleye, wipers, catfish and black crappie fish. Meanwhile, campers can pitch a tent under the beautiful cottonwood trees.

The park also stays busy during winter months with opportunities to see wildlife, particularly bald eagles, and for those of you who like to live on the edge: ice fishing.

The day use fee is $10, which includes the use of watercraft launches.

Photo credit: http://www.visitsaltlake.com

For complete information on these an other Utah State Parks, visit Utah.com.

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