Posted Thursday, June 19, 2003

Fishing access for physically challenged anglers

Salt Lake City — Trying to get to a good fishing spot can be difficult if you're in a wheelchair or have a similar physical challenge.

There are a number of fishing waters in Utah, though, where access is pretty easy.

The following is a list of waters that provide fishing access, and good fishing, to physically challenged anglers:

Northern Utah
— DWR Northern Region office at (801) 476-2740

Farmington Pond — fishing pier
Logan River — two fishing piers, one at First Dam and one at the Logan City Park
Mirror Lake — wheelchair access around most of the lake
Ogden River Parkway (mouth of Ogden Canyon to Washington Blvd.) — physically challenged access
Perception Park (SR-39, east of Pineview Reservoir) — two fishing piers and wheelchair accessible sites to the river
South Fork, Ogden River — trail and fishing platforms

Central Utah
— DWR Central Region office, (801) 491-5678

Adventure Learning Park Pond — asphalt trail circles the pond and provides access to a gazebo from which fishing is possible
Canyon View Park Pond — grass provides access to a low dike
Community Reservoir — dirt trail to the dam
Draper Pond — asphalt path from two parking lots provides access to a bridge area
Highland Glen Park (Highland) — docks and physically challenged access
Jordan River Parkway — access points at various places along the parkway. One of the best places is the new Willow Pond in Murray.
Mill Hollow Reservoir — limited access trail around the lake (mostly gravel, with some hardened surfaces)
Palisade State Park — three wheelchair access points
Payson Lakes — fishing pier and a paved trail along the shoreline
Provo River, just above Olmsted Diversion — fishing pier
Rainbow Reservoir (at the Deseret Chemical Depot) — concrete ramp from the parking area to the lake, with a guard rail around the fishing area
Salem Pond — fishing pier
Silver Lake (near Brighton) — board walk that provides fishing access
Spring Lake (in the city of Spring Lake, south of Payson) — dirt road that comes within ten feet of the lake shore in many spots
Strawberry Reservoir, Haws Point area — boardwalk trails and concrete walkways
Tibble Fork Reservoir — wheelchair access to the reservoir
Utah Lake State Park, north jetty — fishing pier
Vivian Park Pond — fishing pier
Yearns Reservoir — dirt trail to the dam; limited parking
Yuba State Park, Oasis campground — dock area that is wheelchair accessible

Northeastern Utah
— DWR Northeastern Region office, (435) 781-9453

Currant Creek Reservoir — wheelchair access areas
Diamond Mountain Lakes — concrete boat ramps, road base roads and parking lots allow some limited access to the water for anglers in wheelchairs.
Green River, Tailrace (just below Flaming Gorge Dam) — wheelchair access
Green River, Little Hole (about 7 miles downstream from Flaming Gorge Dam) — wheelchair access on the 3rd ramp and dock (south). It also has a sidewalk access (north) that has fairly accessible fishing, depending on the level of the water.
Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Antelope Flat — concrete boat ramp that provides fishing access
Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Sheep Creek — concrete boat ramp that provides fishing access

Southeastern Utah
— DWR Southeastern Region office, (435) 636-0260

Bench's Pond — 300-foot walkway provides excellent access to much of the pond.
Gigliotti Pond (Helper City) — concrete trail from the parking area provides access to four fishing stations near the water's edge. Two of these are shaded, and one is signed for exclusive handicapped use.
Huntington North Reservoir — concrete boat ramp and floating pier provide limited access.
Millsite Reservoir — concrete boat ramp and floating pier provide limited access.
Recapture Reservoir — boat ramp provides limited access (dependent on water level).
Scofield State Park — concrete boat ramp, trail and fishing pier provide excellent access.
Scofield Reservoir, Beaver Dam area (opens to fishing the second Saturday in July) — paved walkway provides limited access to the northern end of the reservoir (dependent on water level).

Southern Utah
— DWR Southern Region office, (435) 865-6100

Beaver River — paved parking lot and ramp to the river at several spots
Lake Powell, Wahweap Marina — covered fishing pier
Little Reservoir — concrete trail provides access to two fishing piers
Pine Valley Reservoir — paved trail that leads to a fishing pier with a railing
Skyline Drive Pond (St. George) — trail and fishing pier
Tawa Ponds (Snow Canyon Parkway, St. George) — wheelchair access around most of the two ponds