Beaver
Local Highlights
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Crusher in the Tushar
Every July, bike riders mount up in Beaver and race up paved and gravel roads in the Tushar Mountains to Eagle Point Resort during the legendary Crusher in the Tushar bike race.
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Eagle Point Resort
Eagle Point Resort, 20 minutes east of Beaver, is one of southern Utah’s best ski areas, with 650 skiable acres, 39 runs, terrain and snow tubing parks and over 350 inches of snow every winter. It’s affordable and friendly, with groomed beginner and intermediate runs and, best of all, no crowds. During the summer months, Eagle Point transforms itself into a mountain getaway, where alpine air provides a respite from the heat for hiking, mountain biking and more.
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Frisco Ghost Town
The windswept ghost town of Frisco, below the San Francisco Mountains northwest of Beaver, thrived during its 1880s mining heyday. Daily shootouts on the streets of Utah’s most dangerous town earned Frisco the title “the murder capital of the Old West.” Now you can roam its dusty streets and crumpled buildings, haunted by owls and lizards, and find the remains of mines like the Horn Silver, once the world’s richest silver mine.
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Mineral Mountains
From rockhounding to rock climbing, spectacular outdoor adventures await in Utah’s Mineral Mountains. Located just west of Beaver in Southern Utah, you can’t see these pristine peaks from the interstate. But it’s worth venturing beyond the basic east side views to explore these hidden gems. Thanks to great accessibility and high-quality dirt roads, it’s easier to reach these mini Sierra-style peaks than you might think.
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Minersville Reservoir
If you yearn to catch lunker trout, head west from Beaver to Minersville Reservoir (a.k.a. Minersville Lake) at the southern end of the Mineral Mountains. The cold tailwater below the dam is filled with 20-inch rainbow and brown trout, especially when irrigation flows are released. Adjacent to the reservoir you’ll find a county-operated campground and paved boat ramp, where you can rent peddle boats and life jackets for a couple of hours. Families love Minersville Lake Park, a natural playground located alongside the reservoir designed to wear kids out.
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The Creamery
In 1952, a deep-rooted dairy legacy was created in Beaver when local farmers built a cheese plant. Today that legacy is showcased within The Creamery retail store. Fellow dairy lovers are invited to enjoy products ranging from cheese curds, specialty cheeses, ice cream and more — all made fresh in Beaver with milk from neighboring family farms.
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World's Best Water
Beaver, first settled in 1856, is filled with historic sites including over 100 places listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The brick Beaver County Courthouse, built in 1882, is one of the area’s finest Victorian buildings and now houses a local history museum. Next door is the historic Farnsworth Cabin and Monument and across the street is the Beaver Opera House. The town, birthplace of famed outlaw Butch Cassidy, is also famous for its drinking water. Beaver’s water supply, originating from snow on the Tushars, was dubbed the world’s best spring water in 2010.
Read the Stories
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11 Utah Scenic Byways for Leaf Peeping
Explore 11 Scenic Drives in Utah for some serious leaf peeping. Utah is one of the best places to see fall foliage, visit great attractions, events and festivals.
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7 Utah Artisan Cheeses to Try Now
Taste delicious hand-crafted Beehive Cheese from Utah dairies at farmers markets, restaurants and specialty shops. Visit Utah and find your favorite artisanal cheese.
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An Insider's Guide to Hiking in the Tushars
One of Utah’s best-kept hiking secrets, the Tushar Mountains deliver sun-dappled trails, wildflower-sprinkled meadows, shaggy mountain goats and forever views from rocky summits. Check out these six choice Tushar trails and make plans to discover Utah’s third-highest mountain range.
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Basecamp Beaver: A Comprehensive Guide to Off-Roading Utah’s Paiute Trail
One of Utah’s top off-roading destinations, the Paiute Trail offers stellar views, towering mountains, alpine forests and spectacular routes for any kind of ATV enthusiast. There are many ways to hit the trail and from Beaver off I-15 you’ll find one of the best.
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Explore the Tushars on Snowshoe
Ready to experience snowshoeing in Utah? Eagle Point is a Utah favorite location. Check out this snowshoe excursion then plan yours today for fun and adventure.
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Frisco: West Desert Ghost Town
Standing in the Basin and Range topography of Utah's West Desert at ghost town Frisco, you'll feel the solitude of the space
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How to Summit Three 12,000-footers in the Tushar Mountains
One of the least known and wildest mountain ranges in Utah, the Tushars is best explored by foot to fully capture the engulfing silence, distant vistas and glimpses of wildlife this alpine world has to offer.
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Ramble On: An Insider's Guide to Beaver County
Ramblers, also known as Beaver County, is an outdoor playground. From winter to summer, check out the top 10 things to see and do in Ramblers.
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Utah at 15 mph
When it comes to family bike tours, Utah is tough to beat. Learn how to plan a family-friendly bike tour and see what this state has to offer!
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Utah’s Unexpected Pit Stops
You’re doing it wrong if you think road trip pit stops are boring layovers on your way to more exciting destinations. How many of these hidden gems have you been to? Here are 11 mini-adventures to check off your list next time you’re road-tripping through Utah.
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Weaving Through Granite Mazes in the Mineral Mountains of Beaver County
The Mineral Mountains, one of Utah’s most magnificent but least known natural wonders, offer superb hikes through a rugged granite wonderland of cliffs, domes and valleys. Backcountry trails beckon with the chance to discover precious gemstones, climbing routes and airy summits with expansive views across southwestern Utah.
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Why You Should Ditch I-15 on Your Way to Zion
If you’re not in a rush to get to Zion National Park from Northern Utah, consider taking a long, meandering route that features historic sites, adventure breaks and out-of-this-world scenery. Hop off I-15 and take Highway 89 and four nearby scenic byways to see and do as much as you possibly can on your way to Zion.
Outdoor Adventure
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Fishing
There are several fishing holes scattered around Beaver, from glistening alpine tarns to forest-edged lakes filled with trout. The best fly fishing for brown and rainbow trout are deep pools along the upper Beaver River. Favorite fishing lakes for locals include the three Kents Lakes, Little Reservoir, LeBaron Lake, and Puffer Lake, the largest natural lake in the Tushar Mountains.
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Hiking
The Tushar Mountains east of Beaver offer up one of Utah’s great unknown hiking areas. Set up camp at a Fishlake National Forest campground and follow the Skyline National Recreation Trail along the west flank of the range crest. For spectacular views, follow a trail up grassy slopes to the summit of 12,169-foot Delano Peak or hike a rocky ridge up 12,137-foot Mount Belknap.
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Mountain Biking
Beaver offers miles of singletrack mountain bike rides and no crowds. Close to town, the Beaver Bench Trail System offers flowy trails, large berms and jump features for riders of all abilities. After the snow melts, Eagle Point Resort boasts 41 miles of riding on 12 trails through aspen forests and meadows dotted with wildflowers. Trails around Big John Flat and the Skyline Trail are perfect pedal adventures in late summer. In the winter, head for the dry desert to ride abandoned mining tracks that date from the 19th century in the Mineral and Wah Wah Mountains.
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Off-Roading
Ramblers has hundreds of miles of OHV trails, and it loves its off-road visitors. Popular trails include Picture Rock, Mag's Brothel, Frisco Kilns. The 72-mile Beaver Side Trail, part of the famed Paiute ATV Trail, makes a loop through the Tushars that begins and ends in Beaver. This ATV trip twists along dirt roads and narrow tracks through forests and meadows and over high ridges with spacious views across western Utah. The Beaver Canyon Scenic Byway, one of Utah’s best drives, threads 17 miles up a deep canyon from Beaver to Eagle Point Ski Resort. The Kimberly/Big John Scenic Backway runs 22 miles over the Tushars before dipping past mine ruins at Lower Kimberly.
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Rockhounding
Nestled 10 miles east of Milford, you will find the Rock Corral Recreation Area at the head of the Corral Canyon. You will be amazed by the towering granite peaks that surround you at this location that has a little bit of everything. This area provides a variety of recreational opportunities such as hiking, picnicking, primitive camping, rock climbing, horseback riding and rockhounding. In fact, rockhounding opportunities abound within the granite monoliths near Rock Corral. Some of the most common finds include smoky quartz and feldspar crystals.
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Scenic Drives
Have time for a drive of epic proportions? Consider heading east on Beaver Canyon Scenic Byway (State Route 153) and be transported back in time to an untouched view of the West. You’ll drive through the Tushar Mountain Range where you can enjoy a side trip of OHVing, hiking, mountain biking and camping. And Kent Lake Loop (F.S. Route 137) in the Tushars is another drive-friendly, well-graded dirt and gravel road popular for its untouched setting and clear-flowing creeks. Bring a rod along and you can try your luck at Little Reservoir, Kents Lake, or Anderson Meadow Reservoir.
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Wildlife Watching
The Tushars are home to one of Utah’s largest and healthiest herds of mountain goats. Head for the high country from July through September to glimpse the shaggy goats grazing in high meadows and cavorting on snowfields. Bring binoculars, warm clothes and a camera. The state Division of Wildlife offers an annual goat-watching event, usually the first weekend of August.
