Deer Creek State Park (Utah) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Deer Creek State Park |
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IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
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The Rainbow Bay day use area of the Deer Creek State Park, with the Deer Creek Reservoir and Mount Timpanogos in the background, October 2012
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 Deer Creek State Park
Location in Utah
Deer Creek State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Wasatch, Utah, United States |
| Area | 3,260 acres (13.2 km2) |
| Elevation | 5,400 ft (1,600 m) |
| Established | 1971 |
| Visitors | 338865 (in FY2017) |
| Governing body | Utah State Parks |
Deer Creek State Park is a fun state park located in Wasatch County, Utah, United States. It's famous for its huge Deer Creek Dam and Reservoir. You can find the park near the town of Charleston, in the beautiful Heber Valley.
Contents
What Can You Do at Deer Creek State Park?
Enjoying the Water and Outdoors
Deer Creek State Park was created in 1971. It covers about 3,260-acre (13.2 km2) of land and water. The main attraction is the large Deer Creek Reservoir. This reservoir is a super popular spot for many water activities.
You can go fishing here, or just relax and enjoy the sun. Many people love to try other surface water sports. These include boating, sailing, swimming, and even windsurfing. The park is located at an elevation of about 5,400 feet (1,600 m) above sea level.
Park Facilities and Amenities
The park has great facilities to make your visit easy and fun. There are two concrete ramps for launching boats into the water. If you want to stay overnight, there's a campground open in the summer. It has 75 spots, with 58 for RVs and the rest for tents.
You'll also find clean rest rooms and showers. There are places to dispose of sewage from RVs. The park offers two areas for groups to gather. You can also enjoy picnic areas and special stations for cleaning fish. For your convenience, there's a restaurant and a gas station. You can even rent boats right at the park! In 2017, over 338,000 people visited Deer Creek State Park.
Getting Around the Park
Most parts of Deer Creek State Park are easy to reach. They are directly accessible from U.S. Route 189 (US-189). This road runs along the eastern and southern edges of the reservoir. There's also another road, Utah State Route 314, which connects from US-189. It gives you extra access to the facilities on the southern shore.
History of Deer Creek State Park
Solving Water Shortages
In the 1930s, the Salt Lake City area faced a big problem. There wasn't enough water for the city and nearby farms. This was due to a long period of drought, which means very little rain. To help with this issue, the United States Congress approved building a reservoir in 1935. The Deer Creek Reservoir became a very important part of the larger Provo River Project.
Building the Reservoir
The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) started building the reservoir in the spring of 1938. Water began to fill the reservoir and was ready for use by 1941. The entire project was finished in 1955. For many years, the Provo River Water Users Association managed the reservoir. They paid back the building costs and kept the facilities running.
During this time, the main fun activity allowed at the reservoir was fishing. Other water sports were not permitted.
Becoming a State Park
In January 1971, things changed for Deer Creek. The Division of Parks and Recreation took over the management of the area. This is when it officially became a state park! Since then, the park has been developed and maintained by this division. Now, visitors can enjoy many more activities beyond just fishing.
