5/22/2006
Great access for anglers with physical challenges
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 anglers who have physical challenges. These are also great places for children and elderly anglers to fish.
Note: Not all of these areas have hard surfaces, and those that do may not meet ADA standards — call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office for more information. Also, many of these waters have special fishing regulations — please check the 2006 Utah Fishing Proclamation to learn the regulations for the water you'll be fishing:
Northern Utah
DWR's Northern Region office, (801) 476-2740
 | Bountiful Pond — fishing pier and fairly good access to the water |
| Clinton Pond — fairly easy access to the water |
| Farmington Pond — fishing pier |
| Logan River — three fishing piers, two at First Dam and one at the Logan City Park |
| Mabey Pond (Clearfield) — anglers can park at the water's edge |
| 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 |
| Pioneer Park Pond (Brigham City) — a sidewalk around the pond and a bridge that serves as a fishing pier |
| South Fork, Ogden River — trail and fishing platforms |
Central Utah
DWR's Central Region office, (801) 491-5678
| Adventure Learning Park Pond — asphalt trail circles the pond and provides access to a gazebo that can be fished from |
| Canyon View Park Pond (Spanish Fork) — a fishing pier and grass that 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) — cement 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 |
| Spanish Oaks Reservoir (Spanish Fork) — wheelchair ramp to the elevated reservoir and a paved path that surrounds the reservoir |
| Spring Lake (in the city of Spring Lake, south of Payson) — dirt road that comes within 10 feet of the lake shore in many spots |
| Strawberry Reservoir, Haws Point area — boardwalk trails and cement 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 area near campground |
| Diamond Mountain Lakes — 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 near the boat ramp (depends on water levels) |
| 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. |
| Lake Canyon Lake — parking area that's within a few feet of the water's edge |
| Pelican Lake — breakwater area on southwest side of the lake (depends on water level) |
| Sheep Creek Lake — parking area that's within a few feet of the water's edge |
| West Greens Lake — fishing pier. Also, wheelchair access in the northeast corner of the lake (this access isn't available during low water years). |
Southeastern Utah
DWR Southeastern Region office, (435) 636-0260
| Bench's Pond — 300-foot walkway provides excellent access to much of the pond. |
| Duck Fork Reservoir — the north side of the reservoir has a packed trail that provides good access to the reservoir. Three fishing platforms can be accessed from the trail. The platforms include "stop logs" that help prevent wheelchairs from rolling. |
| 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 physically challenged use. |
| Huntington North Reservoir — floating pier provides limited access. |
| Millsite Reservoir — floating pier provides limited access. |
| Scofield State Park — 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 |
Utah's state parks
Some of Utah's state parks that are not listed above have areas that might be accessible to anglers with physical challenges. Before traveling to one of the parks, call the park's staff to learn whether they have areas that might provide this type of access. Telephone numbers are available by calling the nearest Utah State Park office or on the Internet at stateparks.utah.gov.
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