Jordanelle State Park
Looking southwest across Jordanelle Reservoir, Mt. Timpanogos in the distance, US Highway 40 on the right
Located in a beautiful mountain setting north of Heber City, Jordanelle State Park offers two distinctly different recreation areas: Hailstone and Rock Cliff.
Hailstone is a large developed day-use area and campground on the west side of Jordanelle Reservoir. Many of the campsites offer electric and water hook-ups and the concessionaire at Jordanelle Marina offers boat rentals and other recreational items. The Visitor Center at Hailstone has exhibits detailing the early mining and farming days of the area with a section about the development of the Jordanelle Reservoir in conjunction with the Central Utah Project.
Rock Cliff is on the southeast side of the reservoir and is significantly quieter (dogs are not allowed). The campsites are walk-in and a bit more primitive. The campground sits among the tall cottonwoods along the Upper Provo River. There's also groomed interpretive trails and an elevated boardwalk that leads across wetlands and rivers to the Visitor/Nature Center. This is an area where you can see moose, elk, mule deer, redtail hawks, golden eagles or hummingbirds.
Jordanelle Reservoir sits beneath the Wasatch Front and offers swimming and hiking in addition to the boating and excellent fishing. Summer park hours are 6 AM to 10 PM, winter hours are from 8 AM to 5 PM. Hailstone is open 365 days a year while Rock Cliff closes for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. At Hailstone a day-use permit is $10 while at Rock Cliff the same permit is only $7. You can also buy a $75 annual Utah State Parks pass at either visitor center.
Camping at Hailstone costs $20 per night, at the McHenry Loops: $16 per night, at Keetly boat/walk-in: $16 per night. Boat slips also cost $16 per night. At Rock Cliff, camping at Rockview, Upland Meadows, Riverbend and Aspen Grove all cost the same: $16 per night.
To get to the Hailstone main boat ramp: Take the US 40 exit off of the I-80 and go south to the Mayflower exit (#8). To get to the Rock Cliff Nature Center: go south on US 40 from the I-80 to the traffic light, turn east on U-32 and go about 7.5 miles. Then go left on Rock Cliff Road.
Elevation: 6,166'. Park acreage: 4,000. Surface water acreage: 3,068.
Jordanelle State Park area map