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FARMINGTON -- Kevin Christensen and his friends knew they'd have a tough time finding a campsite this holiday weekend. They just couldn't believe popular spots like Lilly Lake up the Mirror Lake Highway are still closed.
"This is a perfectly good spot," said Christensen, "I've been out here for the past couple of hours walking around and it definitely doesn't seem necessary."
Those who came early to the campsites that dot the highway were fortunate enough to get a spot. But by Saturday afternoon, most of the campsites in this area were taken.
Taylors Fork, Beaver Creek, Trial Lake, Lower Provo, Moosehorn, Butterfly, Wolf Creek, and Lilly Lake campgrounds were still closed. The Forest Service said the closures are for weather reasons or because they haven't had a chance to clean out winter debris.
This is a perfectly good spot. I've been out here for the past couple of hours walking around and it definitely doesn't seem necessary.
–Kevin Christensen
Closed campgrounds had a locked gate at the entrance with a "road closed" sign at the entrance. However, Christensen wasn't sure if the sign meant no cars allowed inside or nothing allowed inside. He and his friends were considering parking their cars on the road and walking to a campsite.
"People are confused because they're closed, but it doesn't make sense why," said Christensen. "I don't know why it would be closed due to the water or snow or anything like that."
Kathy Jo Pollock, a Forest Service spokesperson for the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, understands the frustration, but said there is a reason for the closed signs; even if they don't seem immediately clear.
"We've had a lot of road damage, rock slides, and washouts," said Pollock. "We need to be able to get in there and have a look around before opening them."
As for camping beyond the closed signs, Pollock said the fines are steep.
We've had a lot of road damage, rock slides, and washouts. We need to be able to get in there and have a look around before opening them.
–Kathy Jo Pollock
"You are not supposed to go around it, and you can be fined. The fine is $175 to $5000," said Pollock.
That goes for dirt bikes, bicyclists, and hikers, too.
Campsites at Albion Basin are still covered in snow. The same goes for the road up Farmington Canyon. A washout from heavy rains took out a large chunk of the road, closing the area and Sunset campground above the washout.
"I think it's been about twice in my career where we've had campgrounds closed this late and that was in the 80s and early 90s," said Pollock. "So it's been quite a while we haven't had all our campgrounds open by the 24th."
Workers at Kirkhams Outdoor Products in Salt Lake City sure know about the late winter; sales have been slow until about two weeks ago.
"I've been here for 12 years, and from what I remember, this is probably about the latest it's been pushed for camping and backpacking in sales," said Andy Church, a sales manager at the store. "It just made our spring season slower. We had to push back some new orders and adjust staffing. But it's picking up now."
Email: acabrero@ksl.com
