Tropic Reservoir is only about 4 miles west from where I live (green line), as the Raven flies. However to drive to Tropic Reservoir required (pink lines) 3 miles out of the park, 2 miles west on SR12, and 7 miles south on the East Fork Road or FR087 (Forest Road). Not all that far to drive but could have been closer.
My RV home is parked along the fence line dividing Bryce Canyon National Park and the Dixie National Forest. It’s a pretty place to live under the Ponderosa Pines.
East Fork Sevier River
And it’s a pretty drive to visit the meadows and forest on the Dixie, especially once on FR087 headed south along the dusty gravel road to Tropic Reservoir.
And I do mean dusty. Even the signs reminding drivers of the 25mph to reduce dust, doesn’t seem to mean much to most folks. Lots of OHV (off highway vehicles) which are fancy enough to be enclosed so they don’t eat their own dust versus the open kind where all riders are helmeted and faces covered with bandanas. Me, I’m a lollygag, so I pull over and let them speed by, often just waiting for their dust to subside.
Saw where some local Dark Rangers have a telescope setup not far down the road. We enjoy some of the darkest skies in the west around here.
I didn’t go to camp, however I wanted to know about the Dixie’s restrictions on designated dispersed camping rules, which seem unusual for a national forest. But I get it because some folks abuse the land, leave a mess, drive over plants, and start fires. In the Powell Ranger District the policy is to protect the “holistic watershed restoration in cooperation with land management agencies, private land owners, and other interested parties.” I’m glad someone is thinking about watersheds and how humans have an impact. I didn’t drive south of Tropic Reservoir.
These 10 free sites are located south of the Kings Creek campground with 38 sites at $15/night with no hookups but toilets nearby, first come first served for all campsites.
There is also a boat launch ramp within 1/2-mile of the campground into the Tropic Reservoir which averages 10-25 feet deep. During the heat of summer the water level can drop below the concrete ramp pad. The reservoir is stocked with brook, rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout and open for fishing with a valid Utah state license. I watched a couple of families with kids swimming on the ramp area.
Kings Creek is a favorite of OHV enthusiasts, but not me, because of its easy access to a large network of trails and gravel roads. The Fremont ATV trail passes within 1/4 mile of the campground and the Great Western Trail is nearby. Hiking and mountain biking trails are plentiful as well, with access from various points within the campground. Too much dust.
I saw sideroad FR088 and later learned that connects to the FR back to where I live. It’s also part of the Great Western trail, a north-south long distance multiple use route which runs from Canada to Mexico. No wonder I occasionally hear what I thought was motorcycles.
Also turned out to be a great place for bird watching. Although difficult to see even zoomed in all the way those dots look like Canadian Geese to me.
Lightening the load
I saw this huge nest, then heard the cry of Osprey, a bird I haven’t seen in a long time. Finally saw one, then two in the tree tops. Not sure if this is a ‘youngster’ in the nest. As usual, not the sharpest shots as I find birds difficult to photograph.
I’d seen some people on paddle boards and taken a few shots. Then while at the Tropic Spring ran into them, exchanged contact information, and later sent them pics.
The water bubbled up through a pipe in a boulder and smelled good and tasted fine, so I filled a couple containers from a spigot on the side. As did the folks mentioned above. Then a crew of OHV folks arrived to quench their dusty thirst and it was time to move on.
And head home. Of course the Dixie National Forest is range land.