Millsite State Park ~ Utah

Flickr album link: Millsite State Park

Millsite State Park definitely is a cozy place to be during the spring and summer seasons. This park is nestled in the mouth of Ferron Canyon, which is located on the western edge of the picturesque San Rafael Swell region in central Utah. Endless adventures await in the San Rafael BLM recreation areas, so Millsite is the perfect spot for setting up a basecamp, especially if you have luxury in mind. Not everybody wishes to rough it every inch of the way when exploring the wilderness areas of the west and the Millsite State Park experience is far from being classified as a typical rustic park with only primitive camping options. In fact, Millsite is basically a civilized modern lakeside resort area by standards, since a public golf course and shopping can be found right next door.

All it takes is one look to fall in love with the idea of spending some quality time in Millsite State Park, so it is best to plan on an extended stay from the start. This park originally was an old flour mill site with a man made pond, then a reclamation project constructed a full size dam to create a regional watershed. The result was a moderate size reservoir lake in the high desert and water certainly is a powerful natural attraction in this unforgiving environment. The Millsite Reservoir offers light craft boating, water skiing and these waters are safe to swim in, so there will be plenty of opportunities for cooling off on a hot day. The fishing is supreme in this lake and the daily catch limit was recently increased due to fluctuating water levels from a current dam improvement project. An angler stands a chance to land a nice variety of trout for some gourmet campfire cooking, which includes rainbow, brown, cutthroat and tiger trout. Tackle shops are located nearby in town, so anybody can join in on the action.

The Millsite Campground may be small, but it is spacious, so it is not like being packed in a sardine can. The campground is fully developed and it features modern facilities, so a high level of comfort can be maintained. There are several pads with full RV hookups, while cabin rentals can be found in town. Drinking water is available, so all a visitor needs to do is stock up on food and gear prior to arrival. Because a golf course is located right next door, it is not uncommon to see RV campers with a golf cart trailer in tow, instead of an ATV. There are several hiking, mountain biking and ATV trails that begin next to the park, so the trail riders will be in luck too. If this all sounds too good to be true, Millsite is in the Utah State Park reservation system and overcrowding is rarely a problem, which makes booking a stay easy as pie. Millsite State Park definitely offers a unique civilized experience in the harsh San Rafael Swell landscape, so be sure to check it out when passing through!
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