Scofield State Park is a quiet mountain getaway located on Scofield Reservoir in central Utah. The park sits close to the scenic Manti-La Sal National Forest, in the northernmost portion of the Wasatch Plateau. The Wasatch Plateau, known for its spectacular views, high elevation lakes, and diverse vegetation, provides a mountainous backdrop for this area of Utah.
Scofield State Park sits in a unique portion of the state. While the park is semi-isolated, it is easy to access from many of Utah’s populated areas. For people who enjoy National Parks, but don’t always like the crowds, Scofield State Park is within a half a day’s drive from Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef National Parks.
The park is open year-round, so guests who crave recreation in every season can visit the reservoir for warm weather or cold weather activities. As with many state parks, Scofield winterizes the facilities that use water, so camping and many of the other buildings are closed for a period of the winter season. Since the park isn’t far from the Orem and Spanish Forks area, a quick day trip to the reservoir is convenient as the perfect weekend getaway, no matter what kind of weather is forecast.
Scofield State Park is approximately a 120-mile drive southeast of Salt Lake City and 54 miles southeast of Spanish Fork, one of the larger cities closest to the park. From I-15, exit using the Price-Manti exit, and head east on SR 6. Turn right on SR 96 and drive ten miles to the park’s entrance.
Utah state parks assess guests visiting the park a daily entry fee. This fee is an additional cost on top of camping reservation fees. The park is open year-round from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm, but many of the buildings and operational facilities are closed for the winter. Use the self-pay station if the park staff isn’t available upon entry.
Mountain View Campground, located near the dam, is a pet-friendly campground offering campers stunning lake views. This campground has back-in only spaces that are ideal for smaller trailers and tents. There are no hookups in this campground, except for one full-hookup site. Check the site specifications when making your reservation. While many of the spaces have fire pits with grills, some do not work because of the location. Most sites have picnic tables. The campground is located near a boat ramp, a fish cleaning station, the dump station, and the park’s entrance. It has modern restrooms, showers, drinking water, and a parking area available. To keep the natural, peaceful ambiance, please silence your generators between 10:00 pm and 7:00 am, the park's quiet hours.
Madsen Bay Campground, located on the northern shoreline of Scofield Reservoir, is a newly renovated facility, This campground has paved sites that allow more room for larger campers and RVs. This pet-friendly facility offers pull-through spaces that accommodate campers up to 35 feet in length. Each area has water and 20/30/50 amp electrical hookups, as well as a tent pad, a fire ring with a grill, and picnic table. There is one full-hookup space available. Madsen Bay Campground is located near a swim beach, a fish cleaning station, the park’s entry station, and a dump station. The campground offers guests modern restrooms, drinking water, and a parking area. To keep the natural, peaceful ambiance, please silence your generators between 10:00 pm and 7:00 am, the park's quiet hours.
Many people visit this park because it’s a beautiful location to enjoy the outdoors. The Lakeside Day Use Area gives visitors of all ages and interests a natural backdrop for many activities like boating, water recreation, and picnicking. Aside from a boat loading area, and a wheelchair accessible fishing area, there are modern restrooms, grills, and a reservable group-use pavilion for guests to enjoy. Pavilion reservations can be made online using the same system that reserves camping sites.
Scofield State Park is one of Utah’s most popular places for fishing. Scofield Reservoir is a cooler water lake, and the lake’s temperature makes it a prime location for rainbow trout and cutthroat trout. The park has two boat ramps that anglers can use as access points for water entry and a fish cleaning station to prepare your catch. All anglers age 12 and older must hold a valid Utah fishing license. Contact the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources for information on the different types of permits available for purchase.
The park doesn’t have any official hiking trails, but that doesn't mean that it isn't a popular location for hiking. The Manti-La Sal National Forest has many different hiking trails for day hikers and backpackers. Many of the trails are multi-use trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. The three trails closest to the park are the Fish Creek National Recreation Trail (NRT), Right Fork of Lake Fork Trail, and the Sweat Creek Trail. Detailed trail information including difficulty, length, accessibility, and the location is available on the Manti-La Sal National Forest website.
During the winter months, Scofield Reservoir is one of the best places for ice fishing. Because rainbow trout and cutthroat trout thrive in colder weather, the fishing is excellent during every season. Even though the park’s facilities are closed in the winter, ice fishers may access the reservoir. Please check for weather conditions and ensure the ice is safe for fishing before heading onto the frozen water. All anglers age 12 and older must hold a valid Utah fishing license. Contact the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources for information on the different types of licenses available for purchase.
The Manti-La Sal National Forest, located near Scofield State Park is one of the state’s more popular hunting locations. Although the park does not permit hunting inside of the park’s boundaries, the surrounding forest provides plenty of hunting opportunities. Many of the towns around the park have licensed outfitters and guides that will bring interested people on guided hunting trips. For information on hunting in the area, contact the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources or visit the Manti-La Sal National Forest website.
Utah’s varied landscape makes the state a host to many different types of animals. People who enjoy watching for wildlife can search for animals on the water, in the trees, and walking through the park’s facilities. The reservoir is a habitat for migratory birds like Canadian geese. Mallard ducks also like to call the reservoir home. Other commonly sighted animals are mule deer, elk, cottontail rabbits, gophers, and eagles. Ask the park office about the animals recently sighted in the park as you are checking in.
