Redneck Forest and Beyond

Summer flowers, Upper Provo River Utah

The Big Summer Utah Road Trip. It was a little different this time.

Normally we make a stop in the North Kaibab National Forest, enjoying a favorite place and breaking up the first leg of the trip.  Of course, these treasured lands are ablaze.  3 ½ weeks after the fire began, the fire is listed at 9% contained and has burned over 70,000 acres.  I’ve written a bit about that lately.  I’ll just say that being in mourning for the loss of a favorite place puts an odd shroud on the trip.

Campsite in Fishlake National Forest Utah

So, we started in a part of the Fishlake National Forest in the Tushar Mountains that I’ve come to call “Redneck Forest”. The Paiute ATV trail runs through it.  There are quite a few ATVs there.  Noisy.  As we’ve come to know this area, though, we’ve learned to find quiet spots.

Aspen Circle (lower center), Fishlake National Forest Utah

We’ve taken to calling one favorite spot “Aspen Circle.”  We discovered it last year and were excited to tuck into the idyllic spot last week.  Not so fast.  There was a small, downed tree across the road, and our camping saw seemed to have disappeared.  We found another nearby spot for that night and got a saw at Walmart in Park City.  Well, nearby.  There’s no Walmart in Park City, of Course. We fixed that tree situation up on the way home.  It was a high-five moment in our little family, and we got to camp at Aspen Circle.

Lupines and baby conifer, Fishlake National Forest Utah

We had some lovely rain in Redneck Forest, to our great joy.  We haven’t had appreciable rain at home this year, so we treasured what there was on the road.  The wildflowers were resplendent in the high country.

The Park City tradition includes a rental house which is dog-friendly and has laundry facilities.  The shower felt nice, too.  We love being in Old Town, renting a ski house deeply discounted for the summer. Park City Resort has hiking trails crisscrossing it, and there was a trailhead just around the corner.  How wonderful to roll out of bed and have a nice morning hike.

Upper Provo River, Uinta Mountains Utah

East Fork Bear River, Uinta Mountains Utah

Regular readers will remember that my husband is an avid fly-angler.  There are lots of opportunities to entrap trout nearby, but none can compare to stops along the Mirror Lake Highway, on the Upper Provo and Bear Rivers.  The photo opportunities are great, too.

Trips with Gypsy are always modified for her needs.  Restaurants must have a dog-friendly patio and when shopping, one person stays in the air-conditioned vehicle with the girl.  It’s all worth it because her joy hiking and splashing in rivers is contagious. As she’s matured (6 years old now, can you believe it?) there are more hikes and fewer visits to the dog park.

As soon as the shadow of the long drive passes, we’ll plan a Park City road trip for next year.

There are more images in the Summer 2025 Gallery on the website.