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UTAH COUNTY -- If you are heading out this weekend and plan on enjoying the great outdoors, you had better already have a reservation. Most campgrounds are already booked and some won't even open.
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With all of the cold weather, people are very anxious to get the summer started. This week's snow has a few of the higher-elevation campgrounds still closed.
Vern Utley is setting up his camp for the long Memorial Day weekend in American Fork Canyon. He and his wife are camping, they say, to just get away from it all.
Vern says, "The mountains and the trees and the water, it's all about relaxing and having a little respite from the journey of life."
Snow continues to invade some campsites. A few locations in the Wasatch range are still closed because of the snowpack. And many of the campgrounds managed by the U.S. Forest service along the Wasatch Front are already letting people know they are full.
Loyal Clark, with the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Service, said "So if you don't have your campsite reserved right now or are in a first come, first serve location by now, it's very unlikely you'll have a place to camp."
- Parents: watch your children and pets - swift water is a natural but potentially deadly magnet for curious youngsters and pets
- Don't wade across cold, swift water - fast-moving water can be deceivingly dangerous especially anglers
- Stay off unstable stream banks - added weight can unexpectedly cause them to collapse
- Avoid walking on iced-over lakes and streams - rapidly thinning ice may be hidden by a layer of snow
- Be aware of wet soils on steep slopes - may produce falling rocks that are dangerous for both hikers and vehicles
- Watch out for weakening snow bridges - especially a concern for snowmobilers at stream crossings
- Stay out of avalanche-prone areas - avalanche hazards remain considerable in many areas
It's a similar case with the state parks, but if you look closely and arrive early, park managers say there may still be a chance at a few locations.
Deena Loyola, the public affairs coordinator for Utah State Parks, says, "Most of our campgrounds are booked this weekend. Some of our higher-elevation parks like Bear Lake, starvation and even some sights at Jordanelle are still available because of cooler temperatures."
Of course, safety is always a concern, especially with streams and creeks running high right now. Campers are also reminded to keep their camping areas clean to prevent bears and wild animals from approaching them.
And if you can't find a campsite, you can always just spend the day at a state park.
Loyola says, "Make it a day trip: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday for the long weekend. We have lots of activities. Our golf courses are open, lots of activities for kids, our junior ranger programs."
Some of the roads which were closed for the winter, such as Wolf Creek Pass in Duchesne County are now open. The Alpine Loop from American Fork Canyon to Sundance will open Friday.
E-mail: spenrod@ksl.com