When the temperatures heat up, grab your buddy (fur buddies included) and head to Jordanelle State Park, Deer Creek State Park, or the lower Provo River. Throughout the year, you can enjoy the warm water at the Homestead Crater but leave your fur buddy at home for this one.

Jordanelle Reservoir has several areas for all skill levels of paddle boarders, including some non-motorized areas designed specifically for this up-and-coming sport. If you are feeling more adventurous, you can paddle around the peninsula that creates the bay.

Another favorite wakeless location is at Rock Cliff. A lot of wildlife can be found in this area — especially waterfowl and birds of prey. 

More experienced paddlers enjoy launching at the Personal Watercraft Ramp and following the shoreline towards the dam and back — about a two-mile round trip. 

If you consider camping in sites near the water, such as Murdock, the two cabins, or the lower portion of McHenry D, you’ll be able to carry your boards from your camping site to the water. 

Deer Creek State Park offers a few wakeless options for paddleboarders as well. While we suggest staying in wakeless zones for safety reasons, we strongly recommend checking out all that Deer Creek offers — especially the Dock of the Bay — a very popular area for paddleboarders because of the ease of access to the water. Rainbow Bay is another popular wakeless area for paddle boarding offering a more natural experience.

The Provo River has also been known to provide an amazing experience for more skilled paddle boarders. We recommend the lower Provo River area — where the tubes and rafts are launched, but be sure not to trespass as the river goes through a large portion of private property.

The Homestead Crater offers a unique paddle boarding experience – paddleboard yoga. This experience is only available through Park City Yoga Adventures and is guaranteed to be the most unique yoga and/or paddleboard experience around.  

Get Geared UP

Both Jordanelle and Deer Creek State Park have preferred vendors for paddle board rentals — jordanellerentals.com or deercreekislandresort.com and don’t allow outside rental companies to deliver to the park. You can bring your own paddle board or rent an inflatable one from Wilderness Access Outfitters or Uinta Recreation and bring them in yourself. 

Here are some helpful tips to ensure your paddle boarding experience in Heber Valley is completely epic:

• The best time of year to enjoy paddle boarding in Heber Valley is June–September
• Avoid busy summer weekends at the reservoir
• Bring your life jacket; they are required
• Dogs are allowed on the water but not on the beaches
• The wind picks up in the middle of the day — morning and late afternoon is a great time to paddle board

With so many great water-focused activities, we hope you plan your next summer beach vacation in Heber Valley.