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MILLSITE STATE PARK, Emery County — In the canyons of central Utah, you’ll find a hidden gem. Millsite State Park offers camping, fishing and golfing in a quiet, cozy part of Utah.
The origin of the park began in the 1970s, when Emery County was trying to find new ways to store water, according to Millsite park manager Jonathan Hunt. Millsite Reservoir was part of that project and a dam was ultimately built to store water.
“(The park) is near the site of an old mill, so they named the reservoir Millsite,” Hunt said.
Hunt said the reservoir now not only acts as a source of water for Emery County but also as a fun place for people to hike, golf and do watersports.
But what sets Millsite apart from other state parks in Utah?
Golfing
Something you won’t find in most of Utah's state parks is an 18-hole golf course. Hunt said this is probably the park's most popular attraction.
“If people come camp at Millsite, the majority of them bring their golf clubs with them,” Hunt said.
The golf course also has a restaurant that is popular with campers and golfers alike, he said.
Camping, fishing and boating
Hunt said that Millsite is also home to 22 campgrounds. Each campground has electric hookups for those who choose to camp in an RV. For fans of water sports and fishing, Millsite State Park is the place for you.
“(There are) all the reservoir-based activities as far as boating and water skiing and riding wave runners, canoeing and kayaking,” Hunt said. “There’s some small cliffs for cliff jumping.”
Millsite Reservoir is also home to many species of trout for those interested in fishing. The park has a boat run at the mouth of the reservoir that is available for fishing, Hunt said.
Hiking, biking, and riding ATVs
Millsite is right in the middle of areas with great hiking trails and ATV trails, such as Manti-La Sal National Forest.
“The cool thing about Emery County is that there’s a ton of public land,” Hunt said.
Riding ATVs and other off-highway vehicles is very popular during this time of year, according to Hunt. He said that visitors will ride ATVs up the mountains near Millsite to see the fall colors or to go hunting. During the springtime, Hunt said people like to off-road on trails like the Devil’s Racetrack.
Because Millsite lies right in the middle of swells and forests, Hunt said it can be hard to know exactly where you’re going. He said the park is planning to make directions and trailheads more apparent and accessible to the campgrounds.
What is your favorite thing to do at Millsite State Park? Let us know in the comments.
