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Yankee Meadows Campground is a little known gem that offers outstanding beauty and recreation. The scenery is fantastic at the lake with towering volcanic cliffs of Sydney Peaks rising in the distance. Trout fishing and boating are the most popular activities. There are several ATV routes around Yankee Meadows, including the Markagunt and the Second Left Hand trails. Trail users are strongly advised to pick up a trail map from any Dixie National Forest Service Office. There are hiking, biking and horseback riding trails in and around Yankee Meadows – Vermillion Castle, Noah’s Ark, Henderson Hill, and Yankee Meadows Loop. Campground Map Facilities 27 campsites with picnic tables, and fire rings 2 double sites with picnic tables, and fire rings ATV corral for all OHV parking Drinking water Vault toilets No garbage disposal, please pack it out
34 miles from Cedar City: Take I-15 northbound. Drive 19 miles to Parowan, take Exit 78 into Parowan, then take Highway U-143 south out of Parowan and drive 3 miles, then turn left on First Left Hand Road and drive 6 miles to the campground.
Yankee Meadows is one of my favorite places on the planet. My GGGrandfather Daniel Porter Clark built a saw mill here before the reservoir was created. He was a Yankee from NY and that's where the name comes from. The CCC built the dam in the 30's I believe.
I've spent many afternoons fishing here and it can be hit and miss. Some days you can really knock em' dead and others you just have to chalk it up to a beautiful day in the outdoors.
Please be respectful of the area and keep it clean. I'd love for my children to be able to enjoy it as I have. Try to avoid the inlet stream as the fish use it for spawning, especially in the fall.
For someone with a sense of adventure, you can hike up the hill quite a ways and find the small feeder lake. My father hiked there in 1956 and I still haven't made it up there yet. I've tried twice and had to turn back. Since the fire, it may be easier to trek. I'll report back.
As of today, 6/15/22 if you take Brianhead to the 143 and then the dirt road back about 2.8 mi before the reservoir a tree has fallen over the road and we couldn't get our SUV through.
Yankee Meadows is beautiful, but it was affected by the Brianhead fire in 2017. Currently there is no camping.
Great camping, and trail riding! It’s a perfect lake to do some canoeing and paddle boarding and even some trout fishing! The fish average anywhere from 8 to 18 inches. Nothing to write home to momma about but they are usually pretty active.
Our family's favorite fishing gem, it's the perfect place to beat the heat. Took our small kids out this past weekend during the heat wave and they both had a blast.
We've never been disappointed by the fishing, our youngest reeled in his very first and was thrilled! We also had the pleasure of watching a Bald Eagle overlooking the lake, what a treat.
I can't say enough about how clean and well stocked the bathrooms are, brownie points to that employee!
If nothing else, the scenery is worth the visit. If you need to disconnect and feel connected, this is the place.
