SCOFIELD -- Woody Carter was just one of a million other people living in Seattle six years ago.

Today, he's one of 29 people living in Scofield.

Carter is glad he made the move -- trading the hustle, stress, opportunities and luxuries of big-city life for the absolute serenity and beauty of living in the mountains of Utah.

More than 100,000 other outdoor lovers have found Carter's secret. They haven't moved to Scofield, but they visit the area to bask in its serenity and take in the beauty of mountains, reservoirs and streams that this area offers.

The town of Scofield is 90 minutes southeast of Provo, following Highway 6 up Spanish Fork Canyon. Near the town is Scofield Reservoir, one of the biggest draws to the area. It is the second-busiest trout fishery in Utah. Its popularity primarily comes from its good populations of large feisty trout, its accessibility to the metropolitan areas, and the scenic setting in mountain splendor.

Other visitors come for the camping, hiking, picnicking, water-skiing, swimming, photography and wildlife watching for mule deer, elk and eagles in this scenic mountain setting. Some visitors come to learn about the fascinating history of Scofield Town, once home to 8,000 residents, and also one of the most serious mine disasters in United States history.

The rugged mountains, rolling hills, and open valleys are dominated by pinion pine, juniper, quaking aspen, oak, elderberry, sagebrush, rabbit brush, willow and a variety of summer wild flowers.

Because of the many recreational opportunities in this area, the state has developed a popular state park -- which is both a summer and winter delight. It is situated 7,618 feet above sea level in the Manti-LaSal Mountains of the Wasatch Plateau. The 2,800-acre reservoir offers excellent camping, boating and year-round fishing. During the winter months, the area serves as a base for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing on groomed trails in the spectacular mountains surrounding the park.

There are three facilities, Mountain View, Madsen Bay and Lakeside, for camping and picnicking located around the reservoir. The reservoir is located on State Route 96, just 10 miles southwest of Colton, and is stunningly placed in Pleasant Valley.

The Mountain View Campground and Boat Launch is located six miles north of the town of Scofield, near the dam.

Park ranger Larry Johansen says, "The Mountain View Campground was recently closed so we can install completely new restrooms and showers. It will be open again next spring."

Facilities include a 34-unit campground and drinking water, and will feature new restrooms with hot showers. This site also has a group-use pavilion, fish cleaning and sewage disposal stations and a boat launch ramp.

Madsen Bay Campground, located on the north end of the reservoir, has a 40-unit campground with drinking water, modern restrooms, a boat ramp, docks, parking lot and sanitary disposal and fish-cleaning stations.

The Lakeside facility is for day-use only, and provides modern restrooms, group-use pavilion, grills, and a boat loading and fishing platform for the physically challenged.

Louis Berg, the aquatics manager for the Southeastern Region of the Division of Wildlife Resources says, "The best fishing of the year will be starting soon and go for the next two months. Late fall until several weeks after the reservoir freezes is usually the best fishing. Scofield usually is the first lake to freeze in Utah, because it isn't very deep. It usually freezes in December."

Scofield has two species of trout, the rainbow and the cutthroat. Berg says the rainbow are averaging 14 to 18 inches, and the cutthroat are averaging 14 to 21 inches. Berg says some fishermen have reported catching fish up to seven or eight pounds.

"Fishing has been slow this year, because of problems we had with last year's stocking schedule. We normally get our fish from the Midway Hatchery, but when it closed last summer because of whirling disease, we had to look for another source. We finally found some fish at the lower federal hatchery in Jones Hole, but it was later in the summer. Now we're back on a regular schedule and next year should be good," said Berg.

Berg says, "One of Scofield's great draws is its good shore fishing. Even people without a boat can catch fish here. There are a lot of good banks, with easy access. Fly fishermen do really well. Popular flies are leach patterns, woolly buggers, and woolly worms in the black, brown and olive green colors. One of the most successful lures on Scofield is the brass with red spots Jakes Spin-o-Lure. Bait fishermen do well on traditional baits like night crawlers, power bait, and salmon eggs."

According to the DWR Fishing Roundup, a four-trout limit is in place at the reservoir and tributaries.

Because of the low water during the past few years there is a threat of the fish dying when the reservoir freezes in the winter.

"We have had winter kills five out of the last six years, and it may happen again this year, because the water is low," said Berg.

"Conservation efforts have been good this summer. so the water is not as bad as it has been in past years," Johansen said. "The boat ramps are still accessible, and there is plenty of water for safe boating."

According to Scofield history provided by Johansen, the reservoir was created on the upper Price River in 1940s to impound water for farm irrigation.

Carter said the town of Scofield was incorporated on March 7, 1892. It was a town larger than Price and was considered the county seat. With the economics of coal down, and with automobile transportation making commuting easier, the population of Scofield has steadily declined.

"I enjoy living here, after 35 years in Seattle. It's peaceful and I love the mountains. I just have to walk out my door and I'm in the woods. My wife grew up here and we love to cross-country ski, and snowmobile in the winter, and hike and enjoy the mountains in the summer. It's a great place for us to live," said Carter, who is now the town clerk for Scofield. He and his wife also run a bed and breakfast.

"Business is spotty," said Carter. "It does get busier during the hunting season."

There are two other businesses in town, the South Shore Snack and Pack, run by town mayor Jim Levanger, and Sherries Care, a family-operated business.

Of Scofield's 29 residents, only three work in the two mines that are still in operation. The rest of the mine workers commute from the Provo area, or Price. There are also another 100,000 visitors to this area every year who commute from busy cities just to enjoy the peaceful mountains that Carter has come to love.