East Canyon State Park

Open — Open year-round with reservations available through Utah State Parks. Park hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Note that the road from Salt Lake City via Emigration Canyon (State Road 65) closes from Thanksgiving through Mother's Day; use the Ogden route via Morgan during winter months.

About

Nestled in the serene mountains of northeastern Utah, East Canyon State Park sits at 5,700 feet elevation approximately 28 miles northeast of Salt Lake City. The park centers around the 685-acre East Canyon Reservoir, a popular destination for boating, fishing, swimming, and water sports. The mountain setting provides temperatures about 1,500 feet higher and cooler than Salt Lake, making it an ideal summer escape. Camping facilities accommodate various preferences, from the Dixie Campground with 33 full and partial hookup sites to 21 primitive tent sites on the south side of the park. The park also offers yurts, cabins, lake cottages, and three group campsites. A unique hammock camping site accommodates up to 8 people at Big Rock campground. Hiking trails wind through the south side of the park, and the area holds International Dark Sky certification for exceptional stargazing opportunities. Beyond recreation, the park preserves historical significance as it sits adjacent to the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail along Utah Highway 65. This route traces the 1,300-mile journey taken by Mormon pioneers from Illinois to Utah. A 4.3-mile hiking portion of the trail runs from Mormon Flat to Big Mountain summit, with interpretive markers providing historical context. Park hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with boat rentals and equipment available through Club Rec.

Directions

From Salt Lake City (Thanksgiving through Mother's Day, this route is closed - use Ogden route): Take Interstate 80 east for 6 miles, take the Emigration/East Canyon Exit, then 21 miles northeast on State Road 65, then 1 mile west on State Road 66. From Ogden/Morgan: Head south from Morgan 12 miles on State Road 66.

Nearby Campgrounds