INFORMATION

Fishlake National Forest

The Fishlake National Forest is comprised of 1,434,592 acres and is divided into four geographic locations all located in central Utah. There are 23 developed campgrounds of which 12 meet the selection criteria.

Fishlake National Forest is a forest with many faces. To the east, where the bright blue sky meets the crystal blue of water, is the forest's namesake - Fish Lake. To the west are the weird and fanciful formations of Castle Rock in historic Clear Creek Canyon. The north and the south hold the surprise of lush riparian areas in canyons that lead to sagebrush plains. And its all connected by a variety of trails for foot, horse, mountain bike, and ATV.

There are fewer natural lakes in Utah than manmade, which is one of the reasons Fish Lake is so special. Established as a protected reserve by President McKinley in 1899, Fish Lake Basin has developed into a very popular source for recreational opportunities. Supporting the excellent fishing and a network of foot and horse trails are six campgrounds. The level of development varies from the parking lot design and minimal services of Piute campground to hot showers, flush toilets and aspen shaded campsites of Mackinaw campground. At about the midway point between Fish Lake and Johnson Valley Reservoir is Frying Pan campground. Its sunny sites provide views of the valley and surrounding mountains. Doctor Creek campground, the closest to the western entrance to Fish Lake Basin, features some lakeshore sites suitable for large rigs and an RV dump station. For those who want to enjoy the area from the top of their horse, Tasha Equestrian campground is the place. The spruce shaded sites and easy access to an extensive trail system make this a pleasant place for both riders and horse. Privately operated resorts co- located with the forest service campgrounds offer a variety of services from laundromats and cafes, for a "cook's-night-out," to boat rentals and bait and an alternative to "roughing-it" at a forest service campground.

U.S. Route 70 passes through the magnificent Clear Creek Canyon where the Castle Rock area has become well-known to ATV enthusiasts but not as well known to others. Castle Rock area includes a trail head to the 230-mile Paiute ATV Trail, fancifully carved volcanic and sedimentary cliffs, the Fremont Indian State Park, and a sweet little campground named Castle Rock (administered for the Forest Service by the state of Utah). Within a short drive from the campground, campers can enjoy Fremont Indian State Park with artifacts from a Fremont village (destroyed by the construction of I70) and rock art made by the Fremont Indians and other people who lived or traveled through Clear Creek Canyon. While Castle Rock campground does get very warm during the summer, the creek running through the middle of it provides enough moisture for a shady riparian environment enjoyed by campers and a variety of birds. With its pleasant environment and access to the Paiute ATV trail, the many sights to be found in Fremont Indian State Park, and short drive to U.S. 70, Castle Rock campground is a delight.

Far to the north, in the Canyon Mountains, is Oak Creek campground. The mixture of Gamble oak, cottonwood, and various species of maple make this a colorful campground in the autumn. Oak Creek campground has two sections. One section stretches along the Creek with camp sites tucked into a dense growth of vegetation. The other section is a circle with a grass area in the middle making it perfect for large groups. However, it is the wondrous geology surrounding the campground that makes Oak Creek a favorite with geology classes. The fishing and hiking is pretty good, too.

At the southern end of Fishlake National Forest stand the towering Tushar Mountains. Reaching heights of 12,000-feet, the Tushar Mountains contain several auto loop roads, lots of opportunities for hiking, fishing, mountain biking, or just plain relaxing at one of three developed campgrounds located in the mountain's shady depths. Driving up Beaver Canyon on State Route 153, Little Cottonwood is the first and closest to Beaver, Utah. With its many cottonwood trees, long paved aprons, and the Beaver River providing a pleasantly tranquil atmosphere, Little Cottonwood campground is very popular with recreational vehicle enthusiasts. Higher up in the Tushar Mountains, along Forest Service Route 137, canoeists will enjoy exploring Kents Lake and returning to a warm campfire and a spacious campsite at Kents Lake campground. Still further up Forest Service Route 137 is a small campground hugging a mountainside above Anderson Meadow Reservoir named Anderson Meadow. From this campground, visitors with high clearance vehicle can explore the mysteries and wonders found even deeper in the Tushar Mountains range.

Once watershed and range management issues dominated the thinking of Fishlake National Forest. Today these issues are joined by a wide variety of others, including those related to recreation, preservation of heritage, and wildlife. But these issues do not distract from the beauty of this National Forest. With a topography ranging from sand desert to cool conifer forests, the mirror surface of Fish Lake to maple, oak, and cottonwood lined rivers in deep, shadowy canyon bottoms, Fishlake National Forest has a great deal to offer. Come and discover it for yourself.

ADDRESSES

SUPERVISOR ADDRESS
115 East 900 North
Richfield, Utah 84701
435-896-9233

RANGER DISTRICT ADDRESSES
Beaver
575 South Main St.
P.O.B. E
Beaver, Utah 84713
435-438-2436

Fillmore
390 South Main
P.O.B. 265
Fillmore, Utah 84631
435-743-5721

Loa
138 South Main
P.O.B. 129
Loa, Utah 84747
435-836-2811

Richfield
115 East 900 North
Richfield, Utah 84701
435-896-9233