Upcoming Events of The Park

Mark your calendars for these upcoming events

Midway Utah. Local birders and nature enthusiasts are invited to participate in the 112th Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count Saturday, December 17 at 8 am at the Wasatch Mountain State Park Visitor Center. Beginner, intermediate, and expert birders are welcome to participate. Cost is $5 per person or free for those 18 and under or participating through feeder watching.

Count results are included in the Audubon’s State of the Birds Reports, which not only shape conservation initiatives, but have made news around the world.

The Christmas Bird Count began over a century ago when scientist Frank Chapman changed the course of ornithological history. In 1900, Chapman led a small group on an alternative to the side hunt, when teams competed to see who could shoot the most game. Instead, Chapman proposed they identify, count, and record all the birds they saw, founding what is now considered to be the world’s most significant citizen-based conservation effort.

For more information or to register, contact Wasatch Mountain State Park Naturalist Kathy Donnell at (435) 654-1791 or kathydonnell@utah.gov.  More information is also available at www.audubon.org/bird/cbc.

From feeder-watchers and field observers to count compilers and regional editors, everyone who takes part in the Christmas Bird Count does it for love of birds and the excitement of friendly competition -- and with the knowledge that their efforts are making a difference for science and bird conservation.

Basic Snowshoeing Class

Join the Naturalist on December 10th from 10 am to 12 pm at the Wasatch Mountain State Park Visitor Center for a Basic Snowshoeing Class.  Pre-registration required. Please email kathydonnell@utah.gov to register.

With a little instruction and guidance on basic snowshoe equipment and technique, anyone who can walk can enjoy the excitement, accessibility, and health benefits of snowshoeing. Come join the fun and get outside!

Park Activities

Wasatch Mountain State Park is the second largest Utah state park, covering 22,000 acres. Located in the Wasatch Mountains, west of Midway, the park elevation is 6,300 feet at the Visitor Center. Activities include camping, picnicking, golfing, hiking, biking, hunting in season, horseback riding and ATV riding.

Winter activities include a 12-kilometer Nordic ski track located on the golf course. There are groomed diagonal stride and skating lanes, with rentals available at the clubhouse. Wasatch Mountain boasts the finest and most complete snowmobile facility in the state. Mill Flat Trailhead in Snake Creek Canyon is enjoyed by snowmobilers and ATV enthusiasts. The new trailhead boasts a large parking area and restrooms for riders. There are approximately 137 miles of groomed snowmobile trails that are maintained throughout the winter. Snowmobile rentals, tours and equipment are available at the clubhouse pro shop.

Visitor Center hours are 8-5 daily. Closed on Thanksgiving, December 25 and January 1.