Utahns ready to play outdoors

Some say spring always seems to come too quickly, that they haven't finished with skiing or snowmobiling. For others the warmer weather doesn't arrive quickly enough.

Both sides see Easter, on April 11 this year, as the benchmark — the end of winter and the beginning of spring.

Which means one of two things: Get out and enjoy the last vestiges of winter or get out and start enjoying what spring has to offer.

A check at national parks, like Zion, Bryce, Arches and Capitol Reef, shows that camping spots that can be reserved are already taken and that those open on a first-come, first-served basis are expected to be full by Thursday or early Friday at the very latest.

Park officials suggest visitors look at neighboring towns as stopovers.

Most of the state parks are full. The latest release indicates there are still openings in some of the northern stops, such as Fremont Indian, Jordanelle, Palisade, Rockport, Utah Lake, Wasatch Mountain and Willard Bay. Yuba has beach campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis.

To make a reservation, call 322-3770 from within the Salt Lake area or 1-800-322-3770 outside the area.

Despite the warmer weather, boaters are cautioned to expect cold water temperatures.

Current launch-ramp conditions show the ramp at Antelope Island is open, but launching fixed-keel boats is not recommended. At Deer Creek Island, boaters must launch on the dirt ramp at their own risk.

Ramps at East Canyon, Wide Hollow Reservoir at Escalante, Great Salt Lake State Marina, Gunlock, Huntington, Hyrum, Millsite, Otter Creek, Palisade, Piute, Quail Creek, Rockport, Sand Hollow, Starvation and Yuba are open. Boaters must launch at their own risk at Utah Lake and Willard Bay's north ramp.

Moab will be a busy place leading up to Easter. The annual Easter Jeep Safari attracts upward of a thousand four-wheel enthusiasts from all over the world. Drivers will select from 30 separate trails through the spectacular red-rock country. Routes will range from easy to challenging.

Vacationers can expect some of the state's off-highway riding areas, like Coral Pink Sand Dunes, Little Sahara Sand Dunes and the sandy dunes near the new Sand Hollow Reservoir, to be busy.