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Rockport Lakeview Trail
The Lakeview Trail is located on the east side of Rockport Reservoir in
Rockport State Park. The trail's track is broad and easy, suitable for
beginners and family rides. It's done as an out-and-back, 2 miles each
way. Along the ride, there's a short interpretive nature trail as a side
trip.
View west from the trail, looking at
Rockport Reservoir. Trail review and photos by Bruce
on October 26, 2015.
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| The trailhead is located on SR 302 on the east side of
Rockport, 1.7 miles from the State Park entry gate. You'll see it on the
left side of the road just after you pass the Twin Coves campground.
There's a toilet about 60 feet downhill from the roadside parking.
Rockport State Park is a fee area. In 2015, it's $10 per car ($5 for
seniors and $4 for a bike-in).
Trailhead parking along SR 302. This
is your starting spot unless you're camping at Twin Coves or Juniper.
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Riders who are coming just to ride the trail should park and
begin their ride at the SR 302 trailhead. If you're camping in the area,
you can start from the Twin Coves campground in the south or the Juniper
Campground in the north. (An extension to the Cedar Point campground is
planned for the future.)
Just downhill from the trailhead, the
trail runs north-south, just uphill from the toilet. Fork right. (Twin
Coves is about 1/10 mile to the south. If you're headed there, don't be
suckered into taking the lakeside fisherman's trail further downhill. It's
not biker-friendly.) |
| The connection to the Twin Coves campground seems to be a
work-in-progress. In October 2015, you'll need to cut through another
camper's parking spot to find a narrow trail dropping steeply through the
ravine.
At the north end the connection is easily found across the paved road
from the Juniper Campground.
View from the second-to-last campspot
in Twin Coves, which is (as of October 2015) the only not-overgrown
connection to the Lakeview Trail.
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The trail base is smooth and broad. For 90% of the trail,
there's enough room for parent and kid to ride side by side.
Typical trail. Broad, flat, and
surrounded by juniper. |
| The trail lies in juniper forest on the hillside above the
lake. There will be occasional views of the lake, but you won't be riding
near the water.
Looking west over Rockport. The water
is at its lowest point as we approach winter.
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At 0.3 miles from the south trailhead, you'll run into an
interpretive loop trail. Keep to the right at the first fork. If you plan
to ride around the trail, pick up a trail brochure at the next trail fork
where you'll find station number one. Fork to the left on the cindered
path to go counterclockwise around the interpretive trail.
The cindered path is the interpretive
trail. Brochures were absent from the box on the day of my off-season
ride. Many of the markers had cement patches with wildlife footprints.
Kids would like this. |
| After completing stations 1 to 16, and you'll find yourself
back on the main Lakeview Trail. Retrace your path back to the trail fork
at station #1 (put your brochure back), and fork to the right. Go across
the paved road.
From here on, you'll be on the uphill side of SR 302, a bit further
away from the lake.
View from the apex of the interpretive
trail as we pass a conglomerate outcrop.
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The trail is new in 2015, and features are still being
added.
There are several of these spots that
feature a new post ready for a sign or banner, with a nearby small wooden
platform. Yeah. No clue. Maybe future exercise stations? |
| After crossing the road, there will be some gentle up and
down riding. The total climbing over the four mile round trip is 300
vertical feet. The steepest pitches are quite mellow and suitable for true
beginners. My impression is that the slopes can be done with a fixed-gear
kid's bike.
Heading east into a draw as we
continue northbound.
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The trail will occasionally join then leave old doubletrack
routes and erosion-control berms, but the correct path was never unclear.
The only significant wash crossing was butter-smooth with culverts and
rock armor.
Approaching a wash crossing. |
| The trail ends on SR 302 directly across from Juniper
Campground.
Bottom Line: Potential destination trail for families and true
beginners. For the rest of us, it's something you might ride while you're
camping at the state park.
End of the trail at Juniper
Campground. For now. An extension is planned to Cedar Point Campground.
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Riding notes, SR 302 TH to Juniper:
0.0 Drop downhill from TH
N40 46.118 W111 23.294
60 feet, then R N40 46.113 W111 23.310
(do NOT go downhill past toilet)
0.3 Keep R (L = return interpretive trail)
N40 46.247 W111 23.351
0.4 L on interpretive trail
N40 46.322 W111 23.299 |
0.6 Keep L to rejoin Lakeview (see mile
0.3)
0.7 R and cross paved road (see mile 0.4)
2.0 L on dirt road then R again on trail
N40 46.866 W111 23.390
2.2 At paved road, double back
N40 47.003 W111 23.611
4.1 Back at parking (skip interpretive trail) |
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Getting there:
On I-80 east of Park City, take the Wanship/Rockport exit and go south
(right if you're coming from the Wasatch Front). Drive south on State Road
32 (Old Highway 189) to the south end of the lake (about 6 miles). Turn
left on SR 302 to Rockport State Park. About 1/4 mile later, stop at the
fee station to pay your entry (may be self-serve during off-season). Now
go north 1.7 miles on SR 302. Just after you pass Twin Coves campground on
your left, watch for the trailhead parking on the left side of the road at
N40 46.118 W111 23.294.
Water: At campgrounds, none at trailhead
Bathrooms: In activities area along trail just below trailhead and
at end of trail at Juniper CG.
Camping: Direct access to trail from Twin Coves and Juniper CG.
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