Park City is a mecca for nature immersion. Visitors and locals share a zest for exploring the wild regions surrounding the city. Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter and the Rock Cliff Nature Center at Jordanelle State Park are two organizations that provide meaningful opportunities to learn about the ecosystem and engage with the landscape. These are inclusive spaces where families and people of all abilities can bond and benefit from time in nature.
Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter
The 1,200-acre nature preserve near Kimball Junction is an extension of Utah State University. The designated open space is a vital habitat for many native species, including foxes, badgers, beavers, sandhill cranes, and a plethora of wildflowers. The preserve offers countless ways to interact with Park City’s ecosystems, including 10 miles of trails and dozens of monthly programs. The EcoCenter, Utah’s first LEED Platinum-certified building, features a museum with rotating exhibits, a gift shop, and wildlife-viewing stations.
Accessibility
“Swaner is committed to creating and improving access to ensure visitors of all abilities can explore, learn, and connect with nature in a welcoming, supportive environment,” explains office manager Emma Lowe. “We recently launched an accessibility website detailing accessible entrances, trails, restrooms, elevators, and more.”
All smiles at Swaner!
The 300-foot ADA-accessible boardwalk is an ideal place to observe wetland wildlife, and the viewing deck provides binoculars and benches. The trail network includes paved, fully ADA-accessible trails and double-track trails suitable for all-terrain wheelchairs and strollers.
Family
Engaging families and children through education is a key component of Swaner Preserve’s mission. “It’s so important for kids to have the opportunity to connect with nature and science at their own pace,” Emma says. “There’s always something to do during our regular open hours, including hands-on activities like our digital microscope, scavenger hunts, or the Wetland Supermarket.”
Ongoing activities include:
Weekly Sunday Craft from 11 am to 1 pm. It’s a free program where kids create upcycled and nature-themed crafts.
Geocaching is an outdoor adventure that uses GPS devices or smartphones to find hidden containers, or “caches,” at specific coordinates. There are seven caches hidden around Swaner Preserve!
The wetland climbing wall is a perfect introduction to indoor rock climbing for kids. It’s open Saturdays and Sundays, 1:15 – 4 pm.
Emma’s favorite year-round, family-friendly activity is birding. “It’s free to borrow binoculars and pick up one of our bird guides, so anyone can get out on our boardwalk to start spotting birds. All of our staff are bird nerds and are happy to help identify birds and give birding tips!”
Inclusion
Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter is committed to removing barriers to visitation and engagement. “We never want cost to be a barrier for visitors. While the EcoCenter is free to visit, sometimes our programs and exhibits have an admission fee. On each program’s web page, we offer fee waivers,” Emma explains. “Our visitor experience staff hosts a free family day once a month. I think that’s one of the best ways to get a taste of what Swaner’s all about.” The family days range from birding to crafts to an annual Mud Day.
Swaner has rotating interactive exhibits and discovery stations to keep your family engaged!
Rock Cliff Nature Center at Jordanelle State Park
The Rock Cliff Nature Center is in the closest State Park to Park City, where the Provo River flows into the Jordanelle Reservoir. Rock Cliff is a rich riparian habitat where beavers, muskrats, ungulates, hawks, and trout thrive. There are even elusive cougars that live on the cliffs above the marshy area. The Provo River widens before reaching the Jordanelle Reservoir, creating numerous streams and marshes abundant with ancient cottonwoods and other native vegetation.
Rock Cliff Nature Center
The nature center is a hands-on learning environment, featuring dozens of native taxidermies, including a brown bear, beavers, deer, a sandhill crane, a cougar family, and various birds of prey. Several interactive educational displays elaborate on the flora and fauna of Jordanelle State Park. Interpretive signs along the boardwalk surrounding the nature center foster learning as visitors immerse themselves in nature.
Rock Cliff Nature Center hours vary; call the Hailstone office to see when the building opens.
The walk to Rock Cliff is an outdoor adventure in itself!
Accessibility
The boardwalk surrounding the Nature Center is fully ADA-accessible, and a paved path connects the Nature Center to the day-use area, which features picnic tables, a pavilion, and restrooms. The accessible path leads to a bridge spanning the Provo River, offering awe-inspiring views of the riparian habitat and ecosystem below – keep an eye out for the resident beaver dens! (Accessibility is weather-dependent, as there is no snow removal.)
Get more details on the riparian environment surrounding Rock Cliff and the Provo River before exploring the board walks!
Activities
Miles of hiking trails surround Rock Cliff Nature Center, providing opportunities to explore the ecosystem diversity in the marshy areas along the Provo River and in the drier landscape on the cliffs above the riparian habitat.
The Perimeter Trail connects Rock Cliff to Hailstone and totals 22 miles.
Three Rocks Trail is a good choice for families. It’s a 0.7-mile round trip with 150 feet of elevation gain. Interpretive signs along the route help identify regional plant species, and the climb is rewarded with a view of Rock Cliff Nature Center and Provo River from above.
Jordanelle is a certified dark sky state park. Reserve a camp spot at Rock Cliff Nature Center or plan an evening outing. The steps to success are simple: dress appropriately, kick back, and gaze up for an enchanted nighttime experience.
More Adventures in Park City
For even more inspiration and stories from Park City—view our year-round visitor guide or request one in the mail.
