Best Tent Camping near Alta, UT
Tent camping in the mountain valleys surrounding Alta, Utah offers several backcountry and walk-in options, primarily in the Little Cottonwood Canyon area. Silver Lake Backcountry and Red Pine Lake provide established tent sites requiring hikes to reach, while Millcreek Canyon Backcountry offers dispersed camping options within the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Most locations require permits and enforce restrictions to protect watershed areas.
Access to tent sites varies significantly between locations, with many requiring physical effort to reach. Most backcountry areas mandate campers stay at least half a mile from roads and 200 feet from water sources. High-clearance or 4WD vehicles are necessary for reaching trailheads at certain locations like Silver Lake, where roads become rough and occasionally cross streams. One camper noted, "You can't drive to the coordinates, you have to park at the uppermost parking lot for Silver Flat and hike up to a camping spot." Campfires are prohibited at several sites including Red Pine Lake, and almost no walk-in tent areas provide drinking water, toilets, or trash service.
The tent camping experience near Alta rewards those willing to make the effort with exceptional alpine scenery and relative solitude. At Red Pine Lake, accessible via a moderately difficult 3-4 mile trail, tent campers find themselves surrounded by mountain vistas above 9,000 feet elevation. A review mentioned, "Peaceful camping even on a Saturday night" despite the area's popularity with day hikers. Many tent sites feature uneven, rocky terrain that requires careful tent placement. Summer weekends see increased activity at all locations, with the most remote sites offering greater chances for solitude. Fishing opportunities exist at several lakes, though swimming is typically prohibited as many serve as drinking water reservoirs.
