Utah State Parks

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Spring 2009

The Utah State Parks

Expl rerROCKIN’ UTAH 2009 BEGINS Utah State

Parks Geocache Adventure

PaddlefestSaturday, May 16Utah Lake State Park, ProvoLearn all things boating…sailing, canoeing, kayaking, knot tying, safety and more.

We Heart HikingSaturday, May 16Wasatch Mountain State Park, MidwayIt’s spring and all the new critters are out. Join us for the secrets of the pond hike.

Fish and FlySaturday, June 6Yuba State Park, LevanLearn to fish in the morning and then fly kites with Cloud 9 on the sandy beach in the afternoon.

Happy CampersSaturday, June 27Palisade State Park, Sterling

Join us for camping and cooking in the outdoors - made easy and fun.

Prehistory HuntSaturday, June 27 Utah Field House of Natural History State Park and Mu-seum, VernalHunting for fossils…Jurassic Park style.

History Day CampSaturday, July 11Camp Floyd State Park and Museum, FairfieldTravel back in time to 1858 – 1861 and enter the world of a soldier with Johnston’s Army at Camp Floyd in the Utah Territory.

Pottery in the ParkSaturday, July 11Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, Escalante

Learn ancient pottery mak-ing techniques and create your own art.

Hiking of the IslandSaturday, August 1Antelope Island State Park, SyracuseJoin us for an exciting hik-ing adventure on Antelope Island…you’ll be amazed.

Birding on the BaySaturday, September 12Willard Bay State Park, WillardTake a nature walk while watching for numerous birds that call Willard Bay home.

Fall Apple HarvestSaturday, September 19Wasatch Mountain State Park, MidwayJoin us for an old-fashioned apple harvest and learn what you can do with apples.

Play, discover and explore the great outdoors as part of the Utah State Parks Rockin’ (Reaching Out Connecting Kids in Nature) Utah initiative. Learn new activities, get ac-tive and enjoy Utah’s state parks.

Pre-registration is required and the cost is $10 per family/group with up to eight people. Each family receives a fun outdoor gift related to the event. To register, please call (801) 537-3123 or email rockin@utah.gov.

Hunt for treasure as part of the Utah State Parks Geocache Adventure. Explore Utah’s state parks on a high-tech treasure hunt using a global positioning satellite (GPS). Enter coordi-nates into a GPS unit and find the hidden cache.

Bring your own GPS or use a free Magellan GPS unit at the park. Inside each cache, you’ll find a logbook and a selection of free small gifts. Sign the book and claim your prize!

For a list of participat-ing parks and GPS coordinates, visit stateparks.utah.gov.

Take your pick at the apple harvest

Select from this list of statewide Rockin’ Utah activities:

Join the high-tech treasure hunt!

Get Ready FORE Golf pg. 2 | Summer Safety pg 3 | Three-Park Tour pg 4

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Palisade State Park

In three of Utah’s state parks, an afternoon hike might mean a stroll along fairways and greens sporting your golf bag instead of a back-pack. Utah State Parks offers six challenging golf courses at three very different parks in various regions of the state. From the mean-dering water hazards at Green River and breathtaking canyon shots at Palisade, to tree lined fairways of Wasatch Mountain, Utah State Parks offers consistent, great play at an affordable price. Combine golf with extraordinary scenery and camping for a great weekend getaway.

Online golf reservations may be made from approximately May 1 through September 30. Tee times may be booked up to eight days in advance, starting at 9 p.m. Online reservations are offered through Active Golf Solutions; there is no cost for us-ing this service, but you must register before making a tee time.

Tee times may also be made by telephone or in-person at the pro shops, up to seven days in advance starting at approximately 6 a.m.

Wasatch Pro Shop: (435) 654-0532 or (801) 266-0268Soldier Hollow Pro Shop: (435) 654-7442 or (801) 261-4733Palisade Pro Shop: (435) 835-4653Green River Pro Shop: (435) 564-8882

FORE! Get Ready for Utah State Parks Golf

Purchase a Utah State Parks Annual Pass and explore the lava tubes at Snow Canyon, catch large trout at Scofield, view wildlife at the Rock Cliff Nature Center at Jordanelle or visit any of Utah’s 43 state parks and museums.

Passes for the 2009 season are available for $75. Utah residents 62 years and older may purchase a Senior Adventure Pass for $35, which offers the same benefits as the Annual Pass. Use code USPNWS and receive $5 off! Passes cover day-use fees for the cardholder and up to seven guests in the same vehicle.Annual passes now also provide a $2 per night discount on camping except on holidays and holiday weekends. Passes are honored at all state parks except This Is The Place Heritage Park, and do not cover the Davis County Causeway fee at Antelope Island State Park.

Passes may be purchased at any state park, region office, online at stateparks.utah.gov and the Department of Natural Resources located at 1594 West North Temple in Salt Lake City. For more information, please call (801) 538-7220 or toll-free (877)UT-PARKS.

Get Your Utah State Parks Annual Pass

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Your safety is our number one concern. Utah State Park Rangers offer these safety tips:

Off-Highway Vehicle Safety Tips- Always wear a safety-rated and properly fitted helmet, goggles, clothes that cover arms and legs, and over-the-ankle boots.

- Check mechanical controls and safety devices on your ma-chine before you ride to ensure proper operation.

- Do not take alcohol or drugs along for the ride.

- Ride your OHV only in areas designated for their use. The best way to protect your riding privilege is to stay on the trail and respect closed areas and private property.

- Do not carry passengers on single-person machines. How-ever, never ride alone and always let someone know your itinerary.

Boating Safety Tips:- Always wear a life jacket, Wear it Utah!

- Take a safe boating course from Utah State Parks

- Follow navigation rules

- File a float plan

- Play safe and play sober; do not boat under the influence of alcohol

For more information, please call (801) 538-RIDE or (801) 538-BOAT or visit stateparks.utah.gov.

Summer Recreation Safety Tips

Raccoon Scat: A Tasty Outdoor Snack!

Jordanelle State Park Naturalist Kathy Donnell shares this delicious and fun recipe from the National Association for Interpretation:

3 Tbs butter1 12 oz bag marshmallows1 12 oz bag chocolate morsels10 oz bag candy corn (represents corn that a raccoon would eat)10 oz of jelly beans or raisins (berries)2 cups crispy rice cereal (insects and crayfish parts)

1. Melt butter over low heat in a large saucepan2. Add marshmallows and allow to melt, stirring often. Once marshmallows are mostly melted, add chocolate morsels and stir until everything is melted.3. Add candy corn, jelly beans or raisins, and cereal to mixture, stir (Amounts are approximate and may need to be adjusted until you get the right consistency.)4. Use a spoon to scoop out cookies onto waxed paper or cookie sheet5. Form to look like raccoon scat6. Allow to cool

Makes approximately 30 yummy cookies!

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Three Utah State Parks in Three Days: Green River, Goblin Valley and Dead Horse PointExplore southeastern Utah and visit Green River, Goblin Val-ley and Dead Horse Point state parks. Though only three to four hours south of Salt Lake City, these beautiful areas are a world away.

Day One: Green River State Park, located in Green River, Utah, makes an excellent hub for a weekend getaway. Covered by a canopy of cottonwood trees, the full hookup campground ac-commodates both RV and tent campers. A nine-hole golf course offers challenges to golfers of all abilities, and if golf isn’t your thing, take a swim in the Green River that is within walking distance from camp.

Green River State Park boat ramp is the put-in site for Labyrinth and Still-water canyons. This 100-mile stretch of water winds calmly through desert canyons. For beginning rafters or those with limited time, the Green River Daily offers the perfect day-trip. This nine-mile stretch through the lower portion of Gray Canyon can be done in half a day. Local river outfitters offer guided trips on the Green River.

Day Two: After cooling off at Green River State Park, travel 45 minutes southwest to Goblin Valley State Park. Unique sandstone formations are abundant and thrilling for people of all ages. Several movies, including Galaxy Quest, were filmed at Goblin Valley because of its strange and un-earthly scenery. Spend the day hiking in the many hoodoos and spires, but take plenty of water and sunscreen as temperatures can exceed 100 degrees during summer months.

Day Three:Venture on a quick one-hour drive from Green River to Dead Horse Point State Park located west of Moab. Enjoy spectacular views of the desert land-scape that stretch as far as the eye can see. The labyrinths of Canyonlands National Park, carved by the Colorado River, appear a maze of seemingly un-inhabitable land. The park has been the backdrop for several movies includ-ing Mission Impossible II and Thelma and Louise. Known as a little Grand Canyon, this is a must-see for any visitor to southeastern Utah.

A visitor center reveals how this area was created over time. Learn about the wonders of ice, wind and water and how they attribute to forming the many unique formations, making this area popular worldwide. A gift shop offers wonderful treasures to remind you of a wonderful place and time.

Green River State Park Golf Course

Hoodoos at Goblin Valley State Park

Newsletter ContributorsHollie Brown - writerholliebrown@utah.govKathy Donnell - park naturalist kathydonnell@utah.govDeena Loyola - editor deenaloyola@utah.gov

We want to hear from you!Please send your comments, stories, questions and contributions to parkcomment@utah.gov or contact us by mail or phone. For more information about Utah State Parks, visit stateparks.utah.gov

Dead Horse Point State Park

Utah State Parks1594 West North Temple Ste. 116P.O. Box 146001Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6001(877) UT-PARKS, (801) 538-7220stateparks.utah.gov

Nichole Mallory - marketingnicholemallory@utah.gov Stefanie Michaelson - designer stefaniemichaelson@utah.gov