Important Things to Know

No Cell Service

There is no cell service in the canyon or at the gate. Some AT&T users may find a connection at higher elevations. Plan accordingly — do not count on being able to make calls from inside the development.

Seasonal Water System

Upper Whittemore's culinary water is a seasonal system that typically runs June through October only. During the off-season — roughly November through May — the system is shut down and no water runs to the hydrants or cabins. Plan your late-fall, winter, and early-spring visits around this.

Prohibited Activities

  • No Hunting on Upper Whittemore property
  • No Shooting in the development
  • No Fires except in designated fire pits
  • No Short-Term Rentals — property may not be rented on an overnight basis

Open-Range Cattle

Upper Whittemore sits on legally designated open range in unincorporated Utah County. Cattle are allowed to roam freely, and ranchers are not required to remove them from your lot. Under Utah's "fence out" law, keeping cattle off your property is the owner's responsibility — you must fence them out. Cattle wandering through the development is a normal, recurring occurrence.

Trash & Maintenance

Owners must pack out their own trash. The UWPOA does not collect trash and does not maintain a community dumpster.

Road & Driving Rules

  • Posted speed limits are maximums, not minimums — drive for conditions
  • No parking along roads; vehicles may be towed
  • No trailers allowed on Oakwood Drive
  • Activate your own gate remote — do not tailgate

The Gate & Power

  • Never post or share the gate code — not on the gate, not on signs, and not with realtors or guests. Sharing the code is treated as aiding trespass and a violation of the CCRs.
  • Do not attach personal lock boxes to the gate. Use a temporary code or the realtor lockbox on the keypad; unauthorized boxes will be removed.
  • The gate depends on grid power, and outages do happen in the canyon. During an outage the gate can be inoperable and defaults closed, so a power failure may prevent normal entry or exit.

Winter Access

Winter access is limited. Roads are typically cleared only as far as the parking area, and in heavy snow even that can be suspended — beyond it you'll need a snowmobile or a tracked over-snow vehicle. Do not attempt the road in a wheeled vehicle when there is significant snow; getting stuck is common, and a vehicle stuck in the roadway can be towed at the owner's expense. See our Winter FAQs for more detail.

Wildlife Awareness

The area is home to deer, elk, moose, mountain lions, bears, and more. A few realities worth keeping in mind:

  • Black bears are increasingly common. Secure food and trash and never leave either accessible around your cabin.
  • Moose sometimes linger on the roads, including the road to the gate. Give them plenty of room — cows with calves can be aggressive.
  • Mountain lions are seen regularly and have at times shown little fear of people.
  • Small pets left unattended outside are at serious risk from predators. Keep animals leashed and supervised at all times.

Seasonal Fire Restrictions

Fire restrictions are common in summer and can prohibit essentially all open fires. Even when no restriction is in effect, keep fires small and never burn garbage or deadfall. Check current status at Utah Fire Info, and the WatchDuty app is useful for wildfire maps and alerts.

Defensible Space

All owners are required to clear undergrowth and dead timber around their property. No open flames are permitted outside cabins — this applies even on private property within the development.

Special Vehicle Rules

  • Snowmobiles require current UWPOA stickers; owners must accompany guests operating them
  • ATVs are restricted to roads only — no off-road use
  • Construction vehicles are restricted during winter road closures