South Fork Park

To review or not to review? That is the question. In attempt to keep all these gorgeous hiking trails uncrowded, I tend to lean towards the latter. But this one that I happened to stumble upon via a «secret hikes Utah» website last weekend was just too good not to share. Maybe it was the super-​early spring weather we’re having providing plenty of tree cover or maybe HuxPup (my k9 companion) was particularly excited to explore all of the mossy islands and streams South Fork has to offer, but this place is deserving of some Unilocal love.
For a Saturday at noonish, the parking wasn’t busy at all. The last few campers were leaving as we pulled in and we saw maybe 2 other couples along the trail. As Jeffrey S. mentioned before, most wanderers tend to stop at the parking lots lower on the road. Even South Fork Park has two destinations. In the lower lot there are some well-​maintained campsites, and the upper SW corner of the lot is where we accessed the hiking and mountain biking trails. These a separate BTW. A big plus for us in puppy-​world. I don’t want my precious tangled up in someone’s wheels.

While others toiled at away at parks right along the Provo River, I would cruise by and head up South Fork Road to the lesser known South Fork Park. The wide open grassy areas, the picnic tables, the trees — it was a veritable emerald hidden away from the rest of the craziness along a busy canyon.
Those days are gone.
South Fork Park is still there. But gone are the days when you could escape the crowds. They’ve found South Fork. And they’re packed in up there every weekend.
The facilities are okay. Two pavilions, a big field, lots of picnic tables, a few grills. The bathrooms today were in horrendous shape, and there was more litter than I’m comfortable with. Parking was tough with so many people there, and there were kids crawling out of every corner you could find.
The respite comes when you cross the bridge. There are a few tables with fire pits along the trail, and it was there that we found our area and camped out for the afternoon. Some weenies, some s’mores, some beverages. It was a hot day, but the trees provided lots and lots of shade.
There are plenty of amenities. In addition to the restrooms and rentable powered pavilion, you’ve got a volleyball court, water at several spigots throughout, and great access to a little stretch of river. It’s not nearly as high and mighty as the Provo proper, so it’s a good choice for parents worried about kids near the raging rapids.
Truthfully, I’m disappointed to see that the masses have now converged on South Fork Park. There are days when you can still find some peace, but not weekends. And when it’s crowded like that it takes its toll on every part of a park that seems to bend a bit under that kind of stress. If you go, take care of it. It’s in a gorgeous setting and should be treated well so it stays gorgeous for everyone who enjoys it in the future. And that seems to be a lot of people.