•  Bear Lake State Park Marina: Launch Ramp OPEN/35 degrees *watch for ice
• Bear Lake First Point: Launch Ramp CLOSED- boat launching may be available depending on ice
• Bear Lake Rainbow Cove: Launch Ramp CLOSED- boat launching may be available depending on ice
• Bear Lake Rendezvous Beach: Launch Ramp CLOSED
• Deer Creek State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED/thin and unsafe ice
• East Canyon State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED- one to 12 inches of ice
• Wide Hollow at Escalante State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED- soft ice, use caution
• Great Salt Lake State Marina: Launch Ramp OPEN/30 degrees 
• Gunlock State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/41 degrees 
• Huntington State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED- eight to 10 inches of ice
• Hyrum Lake State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED- four to eight inches of ice
• Jordanelle State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/35 degrees- thin ice at Rock Cliff and main ramp at Hailstone
• Millsite State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED- ice
• Otter Creek State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED- ice
• Palisade State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED – ice
• Piute State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED – ice
• Quail Creek State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/42 degrees 
• Red Fleet State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED/ nine inches of ice
• Rockport State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED/ice
• Sand Hollow State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/43 degrees 
• Scofield State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED – 24 inches of ice
• Starvation State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED/three to 12 inches of ice
• Steinaker State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED/nine inches of ice near boat ramp
• Utah Lake State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED – five inches of ice in marina
• Willard Bay State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED – partially open water; ice is unsafe
• Yuba State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/35 degrees *two inches of ice at Painted Rocks

U.S. Forest Service Areas

• Flaming Gorge: Launch Ramps- Ice in northern arms up to 18 inches
• Strawberry: Launch Ramps CLOSED – 8 to 16 inches of ice, however watch for areas of open water

Beautiful weather statewide- get out and visit your favorite state park!

• Bear Lake State Park Marina: Launch Ramp OPEN/35 degrees *watch for ice
• Bear Lake First Point: Launch Ramp CLOSED- boat launching may be available depending on ice
• Bear Lake Rainbow Cove: Launch Ramp CLOSED
• Bear Lake Rendezvous Beach: Launch Ramp CLOSED
• Deer Creek State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED/thin and unsafe ice
• East Canyon State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED- one to 12 inches of ice
• Wide Hollow at Escalante State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED- ice
• Great Salt Lake State Marina: Launch Ramp OPEN/30 degrees
• Gunlock State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/41 degrees
• Huntington State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED- ice
• Hyrum Lake State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED- four to eight inches of ice
• Jordanelle State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/35 degrees *ice forming at Rock Cliff and Hailstone
• Millsite State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED- ice
• Otter Creek State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED- ice
• Palisade State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED – ice
• Piute State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED – ice
• Quail Creek State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/42 degrees
• Red Fleet State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED/ice
• Rockport State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED/ice
• Sand Hollow State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/43 degrees
• Scofield State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED – 10 to 12 inches of ice
• Starvation State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED/three to 12 inches of ice
• Steinaker State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED/nine inches of ice near boat ramp
• Utah Lake State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED – five inches of ice in marina
• Willard Bay State Park: Launch Ramp CLOSED – partially open water; ice is unsafe
• Yuba State Park: Launch Ramp OPEN/35 degrees *two inches of ice at Painted Rocks

U.S. Forest Service Areas

• Flaming Gorge: Launch Ramps- Ice in northern arms up to 18 inches
• Strawberry: Launch Ramps CLOSED – 8 to 16 inches of ice

With fall winding down, it’s time to begin preparations for winter here at Dead Horse Point State Park. Time to begin checking our snow removal equipment, turn the heaters on in the facilities and prepare the vehicles for colder temperatures. As humans, we have made it relatively easy to confront the coming winter weather. For all other life within the park, a decision to confront, migrate, hibernate, or expire must be made.

For plant and animals that confront winter extremes, special adaptations are a must. Pinyon pines fill their stomata (the pores used for gas exchange) with waxy plugs and flush their needles with sugars to lower the freezing point, preventing cellular damage and avoiding death. Black-capped Chickadee emerges from a cavity in a tree trunk each day to search for larvae and pupae of insects buried in trees. It will cache as much food as possible during the day and will return later to reclaim these caches as needed. This small bird relies on it’s fat reserves and the ability to lower its temperature 10-12 0 C below its normal daytime temperature to endure the long winter nights.

Without the ability to sprout legs and migrate to another location, plants will sit this one out. Cool fall temperatures signal to the Ash-throated Flycatcher that it is time to move farther south into Mexico and Central America. Moving south helps this spring, summer, fall resident of the park avoid the physical stress of confronting winter extremes.

With a chilly nip in the fall air, the long-nosed leopard lizard retreats to its burrow, well below the frost layer only to emerge with the warmth of spring’s arrival. This lizard will spend the winter months in hibernation, during which its body temperature will lower to just above freezing. It will gain the minimal energy needed from fat stored throughout its body. All bodily functions slow, reducing the need to intake food or export waste. Scarlet globemallow spent the last bits of summer storing as much energy in its root as possible. The leafy portion of the plant will die back during the winter leaving the roots to retain stored energy for spring growth. Throughout the winter months, this plant will be dormant waiting for the return of warmer temperatures before sending its first leaves above ground again.

The most drastic response to approaching winter is to expire. Before the final day of a dwarf lupine’s life, as many seeds as energetically possible are sent out into the world. One last hurrah before death takes over with well wishes for a few to take root and emerge the next spring to carry on the tradition. For the hapless praying mantis that must meet it’s end, hopefully it had a full life filled with growth to an adult, mating and laying eggs to hatch the next spring.

Understanding the colossal energy reserves needed to survive the cold winter months teaches me gratefulness for my heated home, warm clothing to get from place to place and access to stores for winter supplies. My time outside is spent skiing, snowshoeing or playing in the snow rather than rushing about providing for my daily, physical needs.