Searching for a dispersed campsite near Altamont? The Dyrt provides you with a diverse selection of places to camp, from dispersed backcountry camping to boondocking, and everything in-between. From secluded to easily reachable, we offer dispersed campsites near Altamont just for you.
Primitive campground without individual sites. Campers are allowed to camp where they desire and may or may not have a picnic table. Two vault toilets dispersed throughout the campground. ALL GENERATORS AND MUSIC OFF (10pm-7am)
$15 - $25 / night
Primitive campground without individual sites. Campers are allowed to camp where they desire and may or may not have a picnic table. Three vault toilets dispersed throughout the campground. ALL GENERATORS AND MUSIC OFF (10pm-7am)
$15 - $25 / night
This is a dispersed camping area.
$6 / night
Many people enjoy the solitude and primitive experience of camping away from developed campgrounds and other campers. Dispersed camping is the term used for camping anywhere in the National Forest outside of a designated campground. Dispersed camping means no toilets, no treated water, and no fire grates are provided.
Camping in dispersed areas on the Forest is allowed for fourteen (14) days in any thirty (30) day consecutive period. Campers must move off Forest after reaching the 14-day limit. The stay limit also applies to all camping equipment (tents, chairs, ATVs, ATV trailers, etc.), even if used by a different person or group. Camping equipment must be removed by the end of the fourteen (14) day stay limit or the equipment may be impounded. Stay limits are implemented to reduce impacts to vegetation and wildlife habitat, as well as provide access to popular campsite areas for other visitors.
$21 - $29 / night
Numerous dispersed campsites along Highway 150 and Christmas Meadows Road which branches off of it.
Guide
Windy Park, like a lot of camp areas in Ashley National Forest is free, dispersed camping. The only rule is that you have to camp within 150 feet of a developed road. There is a 16 day camp limit for leaving your camper in the same camp spot like most of the locals from Vernal do (leave it on the mountain, and come up on the weekends, or for the hunt, etc.). There are many ATV roads, and hiking trails in the area. It's a quick drive to Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Enjoy the aspen and pine groves located throughout Ashley National Forest. Weather can be unpredictable in the Uintahs, so prepare for anything! We've had hail and snow in July!
Traveler
Love McCoy Flats! Totally free dispersed camping, so crawl off in there and set up wherever your heart desires and your vehicle allows. Fantastic sunsets and spots to accommodate any vehicle with or without 4wd.
Legend
Over Memorial Day weekend, my husband and I got away for a night and dispersed camp in the Unita National forest near the Mill Creek campground. We were planning to stay at the campground but it was closed, so we took advantage of free dispersed camping right outside. This is LNT(leave no trace) camping so be sure to pack out what you pack in. There are no amenities but you are along a water source so if you have a filter, you have water. All along the road there are open fields that can accommodate trailers and bigger parties then just a single tent. Near the campground (and the site we chose) is an outdoor education center which would be fun to go back and visit later in the summer. We really enjoyed camping here as it was peaceful and private (at least when we visited). Later in the summer that may not be the case, especially close to the road. The biggest issue may be the road. My Mazda3 was able to make it up, but the road was quite rutted and rough and you had to go through a small runoff stream. If you have a lowered vehicle, you may have a tough time but anything with a higher clearance will do just fine. Overall, I loved exploring a new area that I will definitely return to.
Legend
This is a great free camping site on BLM land. It is right across from the Moosehorn campground and is very close to Mirror Lake. Also only 5min drive from the Bald Mountain hime which offers incredible sunsets. There are a number of sites in this area and requires going down a dirt road. RVs can access the majority of sites. There are preexisting firepits and small clearings where tents can go. The prime, level spots are the best. There are a number of other sites that still have fire pits, but it is hard to find level ground for tents. There are lots of trees for those who like hammocking. Services are about 30 min drive from this location. Pack your own water!
Legend
Campground Review: Dispersed Camping at Pyramid Lake, UT
Pyramid Lake is another gem of a mountain lake found in the Uinta Mountains of Utah. It is a small-medium sized lake you can drive to (with a small walk in) and has lots of National Forest dispersed camping. This area, while on National Forest, does require a recreation pass. A three-day pass is $6 which you can get at the various self-serve stations found along the main Mirror Lake Highway or it is free if you have a National Parks pass. It is on the honor system. So before I go into the camp area a few notes on getting there. Once you turn off highway 150 towards Murdock Basin, you have 6 miles of dirt/rock road ahead of you. A car can make it the first four miles, but a vehicle with at least 18” of clearance (and recommended AWD/4WD) is required as the road turns into sections of just really large rocks. You can stop and camp anywhere along that forest service road, but to get to either Pyramid or Echo Lake, you need the higher clearance.
The camping area and lake: it is dispersed camping so it is very primitive. No running water (either bring your own or a way to filter lake water), no pit toilets (bring a spade to dig a cat hole and bury or pack out your TP), tent or hammock camping (a pull behind trailer won’t make it the last few miles), scattered fire pits (practice extreme fire safety and make sure you fully put out any fire you start), and no garbage service (pack out whatever you pack in), aka typical backcountry camping. I loved it! The lake is beautiful and there is a trail you can walk around it. I did bring my inflatable paddleboard but didn’t end up breaking it out because it was too windy. But I will definitely return to paddle the lake another day. Multiple people were fishing and I could see the fish jumping as well. There is also a large boulder field on the South side of the lake which is fun to scramble around. I have decided my dog is part mountain goat. I chose a small spot about 50 meters from the water—halfway between the lake and where I parked the car. It was small and perfect for just one person and dog.
Downsides to the lake: While visiting a small mountain lake is always fun, there was a few things that didn’t meet my expectations (which are relatively low). The biggest thing which surprised me was how busy it was considering how rough the road was. It is really fun to see lots of people enjoying the outdoors but there were two larger groups of twenty-somethings that were really loud the whole night. I think one group played music and stayed up all night long and randomly walked down to the lake loudly with flashlights (which was really not necessary considering it was a cloudless, full moon night). They had dogs barking and generally seemed to not take the other people camping at the lake into consideration. Granted it was a killer spot for a group campout but it definitely affected by enjoyment of the evening. Overall, I really enjoyed the area and will return to camp again.
Gear Review: Matador Transit30 Duffle
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get the opportunity to test out gear for our awesome partners from time to time. I was given the privilege of testing out the Matador Transit30 packable duffle bag in grey. This bag, when stuffed is shorter but thicker than my phone but when unpacked is a full 30 liter duffle bag. For those who don’t speak liter size it is about the size of a typical medium Adidas duffle bag. It is made up of water resistant ripstop material, has one seam sealed zippered pocket, and the main pocket is accessed by a two-way seam sealed zipper.
Pros:
Cons:
Overall, I am very excited to use this bag for quick overnight camping trips and overall general duffle bag usage. I can see myself including this bag when I travel in case I need extra storage space. If you have a slight love obsession with gear bags (as I do), this is a must addition to your packing arsenal. Its versatility and weight are unmatched and time will tell on the durability (but I have a feeling it will hold up just fine!).
Legend
McCoy Flats BLM is a mt bike focus recreation area with a network of excellent nonmotorizrd singletrack trails. Dispersed free camping allowed, and currently there are several nice vault toilets scattered along the main access paved road.
This camping area is at the third new vault toilet. Lots of room for large TTs. No trash dumpsters and no water, but cell signal is excellent 5g five bars. Only few miles from main hwy on an old paved pothole filled road. And then only 3 miles back into Vernal and a Walmart on this end of town, so logistics are very good.
LegendWide open BLM area 3 miles from Hwy but paved (potholes!) into the TH. Vault toilet but no water, trash or designated campsites. Cell signal is very good on all carriers. Camping seems to be mostly around the TH corrals area. Note there is an extensive network of nonmotorized Mtb singletrack trails in this area, and there does not seem to be any restrictions on e-mtb bikes. Could be hot and windy as no trees or shade here!
UPDATE 2022 BLM has added two more vault toilets in this area besides the original main TH.
Future plans are for a developed BLM CG with fees but dispersed camping would still be allowed outside a set distance (1/2 mile?) radius from any future CG.
Scout
We go several times a year. You have to be willing to “rough it”. There are no facilities and no toilets. But it’s gorgeous. Wildflowers as far as you can see. Wide open spaces. Dispersed camp sites.
Legend
Beautiful spot up in the Uinta National Forest. The only fee is the recreation day pass which costs about $5 for 3 days. That's just to park your car. The trailhead begins about 50 yards to the right of the info kiosk. You hike in about 1.5 miles and the lake is surrounded by camping sites. Many firepits exist around the area and are all within 100-200 yards of the lake. You can hike around the lake which is very scenic. Mountain weather changes quick and we got caught in snow with a sudden drop in temp. Gear worked well and it turned out great. Make sure you sign the hiking log so rangers know you're out there. Can be found at the Wall Lake trail head. Cross over the little bridge at the lake and hike a little behind the trees to find some amazing camping spots!
Legend
Clyde Creek is about 5 miles up a dirt and graveled road about 1 mile south of US 40 on Strawberry Rd, at Strawberry Reservoir. The nearest town is Heber City 21.8 miles. The road is maintained by the forest service and is subject to closure when it becomes too wet.
This is a fantastic FREE camp site. It was very well kept and clean. There is quite a bit of shade because of the tree line the campsites are backed up to. The view is amazing. There is a nice little trail you can follow into the woods.
Area activities: OHV, fishing, hiking, and hunting.
TravelerSoapstone basin is dispersed camping at its best! I stayed here for three nights in July, it was quiet and secluded. The road at times was a bit rough for my little Ford escape and tab camper however the sunsets were amazing as was the dark moonless night. one night while falling asleep I hear a few little sneezes outside. It was a squirrel. Later I was told female squirrels will sneeze after mating! Not sure that's entirely true but the sneezing part was pretty cute!
GuideCamped across the road from established free camping. Our site was private and no ATVs so it's pretty quiet too. Some road noise, but it drops off around 11 pm.
Guide
40.47015, -111.06317 Lots of dispersed camping up here.
Traveler
Dispersed camping all along the road past the Washington Lake established campgrounds
LegendI love that you can camp just about anywhere off of the main drag here. There are several dispersed camping areas here, I liked Oaks Park the best! This is a great second option though. Lots of ATV trails and like previous reviewers have said, many people leave their RVs parked up here. We camped near two RVs but no one was home so we had the place to ourselves. Flaming George is close as well, but we prefer free, solitary camping.
TravelerOur family really likes dispersed camping near Mill hollow reservoir. It’s very peaceful and scenic! The main road in is fairly easy to navigate but if you venture off the main path you’ll want a vehicle with clearance and possibly 4X4. We cherish the ability to camp like this so we always take out everything we brought in “leave no trace” unfortunately not everyone has the same respect so we typically end up taking out any trash we find from the previous campers. Overall a great place to camp if you’re equipped for dispersed camping!
Ranger
Lots of wildlife, didn’t see a bear though. Stargazing!! Tons of hikes in the area, can’t remember the names of the trails I did. This is dispersed camping from the US Forest Service so you drive around until you find a patch of grass or sand you like by the road (but only drive on the roads). Dispersed camping is very popular out west---do not expect any facilities. Best place to get more detailed info is just by calling the ranger office, as the road is closed in winter and reopening times vary. Beautiful and a true wilderness experience without having to haul your gear on your back!
GuideThe Wasatch National Forrest is beautiful. There are many hidden lakes to explore and lots of big trees to help keep cool in the summer. Lots of dispersed camping sites.
Traveler
A great place to do some dispersed camping without being bothered. Right off the creek, and beautiful views. Easy to drive in with a smallish trailer. No defined camp rings to build a fire in
Traveler
Based on the review above, we stayed at the dispersed camping site just past sulphur campground and we were not disappointed. There was a little stream in walking distance across the meadow and we even saw a moose go through the campground in the morning!
GuideMassey Meadows is a beautiful place to camp. Mostly wide open meadow like spaces where you just pull up your camper and park (dispersed camping). There are a lot of beautiful places you can explore, including Massey Cave. However, usage is so high that I recommend trying to camp a little lower in the Dry Fork Canyon area. The two are connected by a wonderful trail system called the Flume Trail. The Flume Trail runs next to the river, and is absolutely beautiful. It's huge for mountain biking and hiking, and offers 10 to 24 miles of trail. There are several developed campsites on both sides of the road, each with fire rings and picnic tables. I highly recommend camping in Dry Fork/Red Cloud Loop/Massey Meadows area.
GuideHeaded up this way to escape the valley heat. Temps are significantly cooler. Decent dispersed camping sites, but coming in on a Friday afternoon a lot of sites already filled. There is a lot of road traffic in the area, keep an eye out for side by sides, motorcycles and 4 wheelers because a lot of them aren’t.
Legend
This is a primitive camping area by Sheep Creek Lake. No amenities, no established campsites, no toilets, no garbage dumpsters, no water, no cell signal. Road access is gravel graved. A primitive boat ramp is available. This lake seems to be more of a Fish and Game nursery lake for raising Colo River Trout.
GuideWell off the beaten path. Nearest boondocking neighbor is over a mile away. Good att coverage
Legend
This dispersed camp area is at FS #547, it is not at end of pavement like the other review notes. No cell signal, no toilets, trash dumpsters, water or any designated sites with tables or metal fire rings. Another open area called Round Park is 1 mile down the #547 road on a good gravel road and is much nicer area to camp but still no cell signal. I disliked Dyer Park.
Legend
West Fork Smiths Fork is a huge area to the west of China Meadows. Campers from all over the state venture to China Meadows to hike to Red Castle, and hunters from all over the country travel here to hunt deer and elk!
Hiking along the river will lead you south to Bald Mountain and Bald Lake. Dispersed camping is available throughout the entire area. Vast meadows are filled with various wildlife and gorgeous views!
The simplest access for most campers coming from Utah will be coming down through Wyoming, past Stateline Reservoir. The area can also be accessed from the west via Mirror Lake Highway, but will take significantly longer due to the overall length of dirt road you'll be required to travel on from that direction.
RangerNumerous options for dispersed camping most in large open fields that would fit a number of RVs or trailers. Biggest drawback for us was that the fields were mostly a steep incline (requiring a delicate balance of additional materials to get level). Also, even on a quiet Wednesday late in the season, the area was packed with off road vehicles, which is not really our scene. If it is your scene, this would be a great place for staging with 30 of your closest friends (which seemed to be how this is used!).
Dispersed camping near Altamont, Utah, offers a chance to immerse yourself in nature without the constraints of traditional campgrounds. With stunning landscapes and a variety of outdoor activities, this area is perfect for those seeking adventure and tranquility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Altamont, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Altamont, UT is Juniper Point — Fred Hayes State Park at Starvation with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Altamont, UT?
TheDyrt.com has all 43 dispersed camping locations near Altamont, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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