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PIUTE STATE PARK, Piute County — If you’re looking for a more classic camping experience, Piute State Park is the spot for you.
The park is located on the northern mouth of Piute Reservoir near Junction, Piute County. The state park's website says that the park was named after the Native American tribe, the Paiute, who used to populate the area. The state Legislature changed the spelling of “Paiute” to “Piute.”
Lance Eliason, the assistant park manager for Piute State Park, said the park was founded in 1963 after the reservoir was created.
“Robert D. Young was over construction of the dam that created Piute Reservoir. It was completed in 1908,” Eliason said. “He was also responsible for building Otter Creek Reservoir."
Fishing
Now operating for over 50 years, Piute State Park is most famous for its fishing, according to Michael Franklin, the Piute State Park manager. He said that the park is well-known among trophy anglers.
“The park is known for the great trout and bass fishing,” Franklin said. “However, the drought has been hard on the fishery the last few years.”
A boat ramp and dock are available to those eager to fish at the reservoir.
Watersports
The state website also mentions the reservoir is popular for watersports like water skiing. There is also river rafting available in the nearby Sevier River.
The reservoir also proves useful to the community and is used to irrigate crops, Eliason said.
Camping
Camping accommodations are very simple at Piute, according to Eliason. Taking a “primitive” approach, the campground offers vault toilets and shade shelters but not much else.
For those looking for a holiday or weekend campout, Piute is a perfect hidden gem. The park is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week with no holiday or seasonal closures for camping, according to the park website.
OHV trails
For adrenaline junkies, Piute is popular for its off-highway vehicle trails.
“Over 900 miles of riding trails can be accessed directly from the park,” Eliason said. “There are beautiful cliffs (to ride to) near the park and around the water’s edge that are a part of the Sevier Plateau.”
What’s your favorite thing to do at Piute? Let us know in the comments.
