The Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter  is a Utah State University Extenstion site located in Park City, Utah. Swaner encompasses a 1,200-acre preserve, a 10,000-square-foot state of the art environmental education facility, and 10 miles of trails.

Swaner’s Mission is to preserve the land and the human connection to the natural landscape, educate the local and broader communities about the value of nature, and nurture both the ecosystem and the people connected with it. 

Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter

Take in views of East Canyon Creek and an ongoing stream restoration project on the Swaner Preserve: installation of beaver dam analogs (BDAs).

These human-made beaver dams mimic the ecological benefits of beaver by cooling and maintaining streamflow through dry summer months, creating habitat for dozens of species like the native Bonneville cutthroat trout, helping the watershed adapt to a changing climate, and sequestering carbon. Learn more about this research on the Swaner Preserve website here. Along with BDAs, Swaner staff and volunteers plant hundreds of willows and other woody vegetation along the banks of East Canyon Creek each year to improve shading and habitat along the riparian area.

This Chronolog is located approximately 0.4 miles from the Spring Creek Trailhead along a singletrack packed dirt and rock trail open to hikers and mountain bikers. Immediately behind the Chronolog is a bench and switchback. Trail maps for the surrounding area can be found here. 

Swaner Preserve Beaver Dam Analogs

Take in views of this 850-acre wetland parcel and the Park City ridgeline while helping Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter's conservation team monitor changes in vegetation and snowpack. Restoration work such as planting, invasive species management, and seeding occur in this immediate area. Learn more about wildlife,  plants of the Preserve, and restoration projects here.

This Chronolog is located at the edge of a gravel parking area with nearby benches. The parking area can be accessed along Highland Drive, the southern frontage road along Interstate 80. Parking, transit, and bikeshare information to the nearby EcoCenter can be found here. 

What are the pink flags that appeared in September 2024? Hundreds of pollinator plants from UDAF's Utah Pollinator Habitat Program. We're excited to watch these plants grow, and flags will help Swaner's team monitor and maintain plants.

Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter

Utah

2 chronologs managed by Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter

Swaner Preserve Kiosk

Swaner Preserve Beaver Dam Analogs

About Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter

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