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About 45 minutes from Salt Lake City and just a few minutes from the town of Coalville, you’ll find Echo State Park. Named for Echo Dam and its resulting reservoir, this is one of the newest state parks in Utah.
Echo Dam was built during the Great Depression by the United States Bureau of Reclamation. With a height of about 160 feet, it’s a substantial structure, though it would seem miniscule if compared to a monstrosity such as Glenn Canyon Dam (which is more than 700 feet high).
Echo Reservoir is a gorgeous destination for all kinds of water sports. It has a 74,000-acre-foot capacity and has traditionally been used to help manage irrigation water.
Popular activities on the reservoir include kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boarding. But it’s the fishing that attracts many visitors. You’ll find rainbow trout and catfish in these waters. And if you’re lucky, you might even hook into one of the giant brown trout that haunt the deeper waters.
While Echo State Park can get a little crowded on summer weekends, you’ll likely enjoy plenty of solitude if you go mid-week. There’s nothing better than trolling along the shoreline in a canoe. The water is often calm in the evenings, making for great fishing before you enjoy an epic sunset.
If you want to experience an awesome trail, check out the Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail. This route follows the rail line used by mining-era trains. If you feel so inclined, you can take it all the way to Park City.
The fun doesn’t end in the winter, as the ice fishing on Echo Reservoir can be excellent. Be sure to bring a good auger, as the ice can get quite thick here. And it’s helpful to bring a fish finder if you have one, because the fish are known to congregate in unexpected areas during this time of year.
Another fun winter activity is snowshoeing. You can use the state park as your base camp and then strike out into the surrounding terrain.
More Information:
Echo Reservoir State Park
Nearby City / Town:
Coalville Utah
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