The Big Pole Estates is located in a rural Wasatch County location about 6 miles east of Main Street in Heber City. The location provides a quiet setting among the western foothills of the Unita Mountains at an average elevation of about 6400 feet. Breathtaking views are available from every lot in the subdivision. The HOA owns over 500 acres of surrounding land which is zoned as a greenbelt. The hills are populated with elk, deer, and moose. On rare occasions, mountain lions have been spotted but have not caused any problems as the abundant deer population feeds them well. Other smaller animals such as rabbit, ground squirrels and chipmunks are numerous. At night when the windows are open, coyotes can often be heard in the surrounding hills. Big Pole Creek has a population of brook trout and beavers.
Hiking and Biking Trail
A major amenity available to Big Pole residents within the subdivision is a six-mile Hiking and Biking Trail. The first phase of the trail was built in 2016 and the second phase of the trail system was added in 2018. The trail location starting point is between Lots 14 and 15 in the northeast corner of the development. The trail terminates on Big Pole Road which is a County Road on the northern edge of the development.
Signs with maps are provided around the trail system to guide the user. It is suggested that you take your cell phone and take a photo of the map on the trailhead entrance sign. The trail is owned by the Big Pole HOA, but it is open to the public so come on up and take a hike or bring your mountain bike and experience the spectacular views. You may decide you want to live here. Caution should always be exercised. Click here to download the Big Pole Trail System map.
In the area surrounding the Heber Valley, there are numerous other developed trail systems accessible to the public. All are only a short drive from Big Pole Estates. For more information on these trails, click here.
The editor of UtahMountainBiking.com took a ride on our trail in July 2018 and here is his review.
Big Pole Common Area
Maps for the common area can be found on the Wasatch County Base Map System. Two versions of the base map for the area surrounding Big Pole Estates can be downloaded below. The Big Pole Estates owns four non-contiguous parcels numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4 on these maps. Parcel 2 (70 acres) contains the common area surrounding the platted lots in the subdivision. The Big Pole Trail System starts in parcel 2 and lies mostly in parcel 4 (268 acres). Parcel 1 is 120 acres and Parcel 3 is 88 acres)
Note that on these maps, the term open is used instead of parcel.
National Forest Land
About seven miles east of Big Pole Estates on Lake Creek Road you will enter the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. From that point, you can access hundreds of miles of National Forest for camping, hunting, and fishing. ATV and snowmobile trails are located throughout the mountains surrounding the Heber Valley. The Forest Service Website has lots of information on this region. Or you can visit the regional office in Heber at:
Heber-Kamas Ranger District
2460 South Highway 40
Heber City, UT 84032
(435) 654-0470
Fishing & Watersports
The region around the Heber Valley has extensive opportunities for fishing. The Middle Provo River runs through the valley and is one of Utah’s favorite trout fisheries.
Reservoirs within a short distance from Big Pole Estates include Deer Creek, Jordanelle, Rockport, Echo, and Strawberry. These waters offer a wide variety of game fish and watersports. More information can be found on the Utah DWR website.
Downhill Skiing
Several of Utahs Major ski resorts are about 30 to 45 minutes away. These include Deer Valley, Vail Park City Mountain Resort, and the Sundance Resort.
Cross Country Skiing & Snowshoeing
You can start out of your front door! However, realistically, the Big Pole Road is a close place within the subdivision to start cross-country skiing. It goes gently uphill towards the Wolf Creek Ranches community and connects to the National Forest. The surrounding National Forests are accessible by driving east on Lake Creek Road to the end of the pavement (about 7 miles). The National Forests offer countless areas to explore. Trails near Daniel Summit are also popular. Then, near Midway, a small town in the valley to the west, lies Soldier Hollow – the 2002 Olympic Cross Country Skiing Venue.
For snowshoeing, the Big Pole Hiking and Biking Trail is a must. It offers six miles of reasonable terrain starting between Lots 14 and 15 within our subdivision. There are many other snowshoeing options in the area as well including trails in Wasatch State Park near Midway, UT, which is less than 10 miles away on the west side of the Heber Valley.