Rock Canyon Park

Natural Setting

Located in eastern Provo, Utah, Rock Canyon Park sits at the foot of the magnificent Wasatch Mountains. This sprawling 63.7-acre space combines natural landscape with recreational facilities, making it popular with both locals and visitors.

The park offers views of the surrounding mountains and provides access to Rock Canyon, a rugged canyon frequented by hikers, rock climbers, and nature enthusiasts. From its elevated position, you can see panoramic views of Utah Valley and Utah Lake - the sunsets here are particularly nice.

Feeling adventurous? The park connects directly to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and Rock Canyon Trail, which lead into the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or just looking for a pleasant mountain bike ride, there's a trail here that'll suit your style.

Recreation Facilities

Rock Canyon Park was recently renovated in 2023. The playgrounds now include a 3-tiered design with slides of increasing height, merry-go-rounds, obstacle courses, and a zip line - all with safety flooring for protection. There's also a separate area designed specifically for the little ones, with easier access points.

One of the most distinctive features of the park is its large grassy area with a bowl-shaped depression - great for spreading out a picnic blanket, tossing a frisbee, or just gathering with friends. When winter rolls around, this natural depression transforms into a fantastic sledding hill. In summer, kids (and let's be honest, adults too) love rolling down these same slopes or setting up slip-n-slides.

If you're into disc golf, you'll appreciate the 9-hole course that winds through the park. And for those who prefer a more leisurely pace, walking trails meander through the grounds, offering a pleasant way to get some steps in while enjoying the scenery.

Community Space

Rock Canyon Park functions well as a community space. Multiple pavilions and picnic areas make it ideal for family reunions, birthday parties, or just casual get-togethers. The covered pavilions are particularly useful when you need a bit of shade or shelter for larger events.

One of the park's most cherished features is its abundance of mature trees, creating islands of shade around the grounds. These trees have become hot spots for hammocking - you'll often see people stringing up hammocks between trunks for an afternoon of swaying relaxation. On scorching summer days, these leafy canopies provide welcome relief from the Utah heat.

Thanks to recent renovations, there are new, clean restroom facilities - a small detail that makes a big difference when you're spending the day outdoors. The overall maintenance of the park is impressive, keeping it pleasant and welcoming year-round.

Seasonal Activities

What makes Rock Canyon Park special is how it transforms with the seasons, offering something different all year long. Winter turns it into one of Utah County's premier sledding destinations, with that bowl-shaped area becoming a fantastic natural slope for snow-day fun.

Come spring, the open spaces fill with kite flyers taking advantage of the canyon breezes. Summer is prime time for sports, picnics, and hammock naps under those magnificent shade trees. And fall? That's when the changing foliage creates a spectacular show against the mountain backdrop.

Thanks to its location at the mouth of Rock Canyon, the park enjoys its own microclimate, often blessed with refreshing mountain breezes that provide natural air conditioning during the hottest summer days.