A new addition to Willard Bay State Park will elevate any winter visit to Northern Utah. While the reservoir itself already attracts visitors to the area, even when the weather turns nippy and the sky to icy gray, there is now a place for a warm and relaxing reprieve—a sauna—that makes the perfect ending to the perfect winter day.
Wildlife on the Water
Willard Bay is a freshwater reservoir quartered off from the Great Salt Lake. Boating and fishing are popular year-round, but nature and wildlife viewing in Willard Bay peaks in the cold months.
Anglers braving the chilly waters of the reservoir have been known to catch channel catfish and yellow perch. They can also take a non-motorized boat out onto Willow Peak Pond, which is stocked with bluegill, channel catfish and largemouth bass. Boat rentals are available at nearby Club Rec. They also offer ATV rentals to sight-see around the park.
February is the best time to spot Bald Eagles in the wild at Willard Bay. In winter, bald eagles descend from frigid Alaska to Utah and often nest in Willard Bay State Park. By February, hundreds of eagles are typically in the state, and they stay until March.
To spot nesting eagles at Willard Bay, top viewing spots include the mile-long hike on the Linda C. Higley Nature Trail and the hike near Pelican Beach. Be sureto bring binoculars and a camera.
The Sauna
The Sauna at Willard Bay State Park overlooks the Wasatch Range. Photo courtesy State Park Saunas.
The new softwood structure stands close to the shores of Willard Bay, facing the water and sweeping views of the Wasatch Range. The Willard Bay Sauna is modeled after the ancient Finnish tradition.
In that tradition, there is a bit of a ritual to the sauna: Shower in advance (there is an outdoor shower on site if needed); strip down and enter the sauna, typically heated between 150–175° Fahrenheit; breathe deep and stay as long as you are comfortable; when you need a break, cool down with a dip in the snow or water…then repeat.
After booking a session in the sauna online, visitors can access the sauna via a keyless entry system. On a practical note, be sure to drink plenty of water and bring a towel.
After-Sauna Tradition
Keeping with tradition, after the sauna it is customary to lounge and enjoy a sausage, along with beer. The Willard Bay Sauna has both a dressing room and lounge on-site. Afterward, continue the custom at Maddox Ranch House in nearby Perry. Sit in the classic log cabin’s dining room and order up a classic burger, famous fried chicken or steak and potatoes with all the “fixins.” Don’t forget to try the house-brewed birch root beer—a fine, American-style alternative, we feel, to the Finnish sauna tradition of beating oneself with a birch tree frond (called a Viht), but why not both?
Willard Bay Family Events
Big events at Willard Bay State Park include the family-favorite annual holiday light display, Fantasy at the Bay Light Show, as well as the New Year’s Day Hike on the Linda C. Higley Nature Trail and the upcoming annual Easter Egg Hunt. This year will be the first that the annual egg hunt is held at the relatively new Willard Peak Pond area. Willard Bay State Park Manager Benjamin Meraz says, “It’s a big-time event. Last year, we hid over 10,000 eggs,” and hundreds of children hunted for them. For more information, visit willardbay.utah.gov.
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