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VERNAL — If you're looking for a place to play in the water or camp this summer, then you may want to strike Red Fleet State Park off your list.
Most of the park's day-use and campground areas will be closed this year as a result of "extensive" construction and renovations, according to state park officials. Details of the project are still being finalized; however, it calls for new campgrounds, beach access, day-use picnic areas and additional parking.
"This park means so much to the (Utah Division of State Parks), to the community and to those who visit Uintah County each year. It's going to be so great to see how this project helps current visitors and future generations experience such a magical area," said Amanda White, the park's manager, in a statement Friday.
White says the park's campground will be entirely reimagined, and the construction will make it impossible for visitors to stay overnight this year. Visitors will still be able to hike toward the Dinosaur Trackway at the park during the closures this year. Officials add they will also try to find ways to have at least some other park areas open for limited day-use access amid the construction.
While this construction isn't expected to begin until June, the park is mostly used during the summer. It brought in nearly 60,000 visitors last year, about two-thirds of which came during the months of June and July, according to park visitation data.
The park's visitation might pale in comparison to the state's most popular parks, including three that reached over 1 million visitors apiece last year. However, it is still growing in popularity, resulting in the need for improvements. Its 2021 visitation numbers are more than double the number of visitors from the 2015 fiscal year, which ended on June 30, 2015; last year's numbers are even a 20% increase from the 2019 fiscal year.
The construction this year is aimed to keep the park sustainable through the growing demand.
"Red Fleet State Park, like most of Utah's state parks, is becoming increasingly popular. To help meet this demand and increase the visitor experience, it's important that we improve and expand the park amenities," White said. "We're really looking forward to seeing the result. ... While this project will impact Red Fleet for this season, the work being done will help the park for many years to come."
It is one of what will be several projects paid for from the record $120 million in funds that the state Legislature allotted state parks last year. The state approved the funding request after visitation at state parks topped 10 million for the first time in 2020. Visitation then reached 11.6 million last year.
Although most of what Red Fleet has to offer will be unavailable this summer, White says there are plenty of other outdoor options to check out in the area, such as Steinaker State Park or the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum, in addition to the many trails in and around the Vernal area.
"Uintah County is full of beautiful recreation opportunities for visitors to enjoy," she said.
The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is also only about 40 miles north of Red Fleet State Park; and, Dinosaur National Monument is about 25 to 30 miles southwest of the state park.
