Utah Valley has one big lake at its feet and more than a dozen reservoirs within a two-hour drive. They are not interchangeable. Some are cold mountain trout water, one is warm and shallow with walleye and pike, a few are mainly boat lakes, and in any given week several carry algae warnings that rule out swimming. This page sorts them by what you want to do, then gives each one a short entry with the details that matter from Provo.
How we measured. Drive times are OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM) from Center Street and University Avenue in Provo to each park entrance, without traffic. Fees, hours and conditions are from each park's official page as posted in October 2026. Conditions change weekly; the park pages and the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) map are the authority on the day you go.
All of them at a glance
| Reservoir | Drive from Provo | Best for | Fall 2026 note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer Creek | 25 min | boating, windsurfing, fishing | algae warning |
| Jordanelle (Hailstone) | 54 min | swimming, boating, paddling | algae clear, 60% full |
| Strawberry | about 64 min | big-trout fishing, ice fishing | see our Strawberry guide |
| Rockport | 71 min | swimming, rentals, trout and bass | algae clear, 38% full |
| Yuba | 78 min | warm-water fishing, beaches | 18% full, ramps closed |
| Scofield | 79 min | trout, ice fishing | algae warning, 40% full |
| Echo | 83 min | boating, ice fishing | algae warning |
| East Canyon | 97 min | boating, swimming | no posted alert |
| Willard Bay | 106 min | boating, warm-water fishing | reservoir "looks good" |
| Electric Lake | 108 min | quiet paddling, scenery | no state park |
| Pineview | 116 min | beaches, boating | construction closures, algae warning |
Just over two hours: Starvation (Fred Hayes State Park, about 123 minutes), the walleye lake, and Huntington (about 124 minutes). Our Uinta Basin loop has the park's current status.
If you want to swim
Swimming at a Utah reservoir comes down to two things: the water temperature and the algae status.
Algae first. DEQ uses three advisory levels. A Health Watch or Warning Advisory means do not swim or water-ski and do not drink the water or get it in your mouth; for a bloom, also avoid scum when boating, keep animals away, and clean fish well. A Danger Advisory means swimming, drinking and boating are not allowed, and the water is often closed. In October 2026, the park pages showed:
- Clear or "looks good": Jordanelle, Rockport, Willard Bay, Yuba.
- Warning advisory: Deer Creek, Echo, Scofield. The Forest Service also posted a harmful algae warning at Pineview.
Then temperature. The mountain reservoirs are snowmelt water. Jordanelle posted 67°F and Rockport 69°F in October; Yuba, at about 5,100 feet and well south, posted 65°F. Our algal bloom explainer covers why blooms build through late summer, and our swimming guide covers the pools and beaches closer to home.
Best swimming bets when clear: Jordanelle and Rockport for clean mountain beaches; Yuba for sand and warmer summer water; Deer Creek for the shortest drive.
If you want to fish
| For | Go to | Why (official source) |
|---|---|---|
| Trout | Scofield | Utah State Parks: Blue Ribbon Fishery for cutthroat, rainbow, tiger trout |
| Big cutthroat, kokanee | Strawberry | see our Strawberry guide |
| Walleye, pike, catfish | Yuba | Utah State Parks lists walleye, wipers, northern pike, tiger muskie, perch, catfish, carp |
| Trout and bass | Rockport | Utah State Parks: trout and bass, ice fishing in winter |
| Walleye, trophy size | Starvation (just over 2 hrs) | Utah State Parks: walleye featured; tournament fish over 10 pounds |
Anglers need a Utah fishing license; our licenses guide explains the options, and fishing near Provo covers the Provo River and Utah Lake. In winter, Scofield, Rockport, Echo and Strawberry become ice-fishing destinations; our ice fishing guide covers safety and gear.
If you want to boat
The homework. The Division of Wildlife Resources requires everyone who launches any watercraft, paddleboards and kayaks included, to take the annual mussel-aware boater course. Motorized boats also pay the annual AIS fee, $20 residents, $25 nonresidents. Clean, drain and dry when you leave every waterbody, pull drain plugs for transport, and if the boat has been on Lake Powell, Utah's only quagga-infested water, get a professional decontamination or wait the dry time: 7 days in summer, 18 in spring and fall, 30 in winter, and always 30 for wakeboard boats unless decontaminated. If you are heading south, our Lake Powell guide covers that lake.
Decontamination stations are seasonal. Jordanelle's runs by appointment Monday to Thursday and first-come Friday to Sunday until 5 p.m., closing for the season around October 11. Scofield's is by appointment only. Starvation inspects and washes boats at its entrance booth from May 1 to October 1 and by weekday appointment otherwise.
Ramps that are open, and closed. As of October 2026: Deer Creek's Main and Island ramps were open. Yuba's Oasis and Painted Rocks ramps were closed for low water. At Pineview, the Port ramp is closed through 2026 construction and Anderson Cove has been closed since July 20, 2026; Cemetery Point remained open but may close if the water drops. Call before towing.
Rentals are listed at Rockport (boats, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards) and Yuba (paddleboards from $30 for two hours). Our rentals guide covers Utah Valley outfitters.
The reservoirs, one by one
Deer Creek (25 minutes)
The closest, up Provo Canyon. Fees: $20 per vehicle from March 19 to October 20, $15 from October 21 to March 18, $10 for seniors. Hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. year-round, with self-pay at every entrance. In October 2026 both ramps were open and an algae warning was posted. The park says life jackets are required for everyone on a vessel, including kayaks and paddleboards, and warns of cold water. Our Deer Creek and Jordanelle guide covers which to choose, the river between them and the camping.
Jordanelle (54 minutes)
Three separate areas: Hailstone, Rock Cliff and Ross Creek. Day use runs 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. year-round; campgrounds close October 31 and reopen May 1, and the marina store closes for winter. Swimming is not allowed on the docks or in the marina. Dogs may swim off-leash in the reservoir but must be leashed on land; Salt Lake City's dog brochure notes that Rock Cliff is the one state park area where dogs are not allowed. In October 2026: algae clear, 60 percent full, water 67°F.
Strawberry (about an hour)
The big-fish water. Strawberry is not a state park; its visitor center sits in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. DWR lists Eurasian watermilfoil among Strawberry's invasive plants, one more reason to clean, drain and dry. The slot limit, the kokanee rules and the winter drive are covered in our full Strawberry guide; OSRM puts the visitor center about 64 minutes from Provo.
Rockport (71 minutes)
Near Peoa in Summit County. The launch ramp is on the east side with floating docks, and the park rents boats, canoes, kayaks and paddleboards. Waterskiing and wakeboarding in summer, ice fishing in winter, trout and bass all year. Hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. In October 2026: algae clear, 38 percent full, 69°F, and Stage 1 fire restrictions in effect.
Yuba (78 minutes)
The warm-water lake beside I-15 south of Nephi, at about 5,100 feet. Walleye, wipers, northern pike, tiger muskie, perch and catfish. Day use $15 weekdays, $20 weekends and holidays. In October 2026 the reservoir was at 18 percent and both main ramps were closed. Full details in our Yuba State Park guide.
Scofield (79 minutes)
Up US-6 and SR-96 at 7,616 feet: the trout reservoir, with Madsen Bay and Mountain View campgrounds, day use at $10, and winter hours for ice fishing. In October 2026 it carried an algae warning and was 40 percent full. Pair it with Electric Lake and the Skyline Drive in our Scofield high-country loop.
Echo (83 minutes)
Near Coalville, built by the Bureau of Reclamation in the 1930s, with local recreation concessions running by the late 1960s, according to Utah State Parks. It has a beach, boat launch and docks, and ice fishing in winter, with 16-hour access year-round. In October 2026 it carried a harmful algal bloom warning: no swimming, no skiing, keep pets out.
East Canyon (97 minutes)
In Morgan County, with a boat launch, beach and swimming. Hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. In winter, snowmobiles and street-legal OHVs may launch from the boat ramp onto the ice. No algae alert was posted in October 2026; check the park's current conditions page.
Willard Bay (106 minutes)
At Willard, north of Ogden, with North and South marinas, slips and a beach. The reservoir showed "Looks good!" for algae in October 2026, while the small Willard Peak Pond nearby carried a warning. Winter brings nesting eagles. For the rest of a day in that direction, see our Ogden from Provo guide.
Electric Lake (108 minutes)
Not a state park: a power-plant reservoir at about 8,580 feet on the Wasatch Plateau, with a concrete ramp on the SR-264 shore. Quiet and high; covered in our Scofield and Skyline Drive guide.
Pineview (116 minutes)
The Ogden Valley lake, at the outer edge of two hours. 2026 is a construction year. UDOT's Ogden Valley guide and the Forest Service report the Port Boat Ramp, Pineview Trailhead (Windsurfer Beach) and nearby western-shore areas closed through 2026. Cemetery Point, Anderson Cove and Middle Inlet are fee areas; Pelican/Quist Beach and Spring Creek are free, with vault toilets. On busy weekends Anderson Cove and Cemetery Point can fill by 9 or 10 a.m., and the concessionaire turns cars away once lots are full. Illegal parking, including on Huntsville streets, can draw a $150 fine. The Forest Service lists the managed season as about May 1 to September 20.
Closer to home
Not every water day needs a long drive. Utah Lake is 10 minutes from downtown, Tibble Fork sits in American Fork Canyon, Payson Lakes are on the Nebo Loop, and kid fishing ponds dot the county. For a lake trip worth a weekend, see Bear Lake.
Related Guides
- Deer Creek and Jordanelle reservoirs
- Strawberry Reservoir from Provo
- Yuba State Park from Provo
- Scofield, Electric Lake and the Skyline Drive
- Fishing near Provo
- Ice fishing in Utah Valley
- Where to swim in Utah Valley
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the closest reservoir to Provo?
Which reservoir near Provo is best for swimming?
Which reservoir is best for fishing near Provo?
Do paddleboards need anything to launch in Utah?
How much do Utah state park reservoirs cost?
Can I bring my dog to the reservoirs?
Are the reservoirs open in winter?
Is Pineview Reservoir worth the drive from Provo?
Sources
The facts in this guide were checked against these sources. Hours, fees and rules change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with the source before you go. How we make Provo.com.
- Deer Creek State Park, Utah State Parks. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Deer Creek State Park Fees, Utah State Parks. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Jordanelle State Park, Utah State Parks. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Rockport State Park, Utah State Parks. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Echo State Park, Utah State Parks. Checked October 20, 2026.
- East Canyon State Park, Utah State Parks. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Willard Bay State Park, Utah State Parks. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Fred Hayes State Park at Starvation, Utah State Parks. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Scofield State Park and fees, Utah State Parks. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Yuba State Park and fees, Utah State Parks. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Pineview Reservoir, USDA Forest Service, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NF. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Guide to the Pineview Reservoir, Summer 2026, UDOT Ogden Valley. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Harmful Algal Blooms, Utah Department of Environmental Quality. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Boating in Utah in 2026, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Dogs and the Wasatch Front Watershed (brochure, 2023), Salt Lake City Public Utilities. Checked October 20, 2026.
- OSRM routing API (OpenStreetMap data), drive times from Center St & University Ave, Provo, Project OSRM / OpenStreetMap contributors. Checked October 20, 2026.
