17 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Mirror Lake in the Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest permits horses in the designated horse section of the campground. The area features tent and RV camping with no electric or water hookups. Clean vault toilets serve the campground, and each site includes a picnic table and fire pit. While no dedicated horse corrals exist in the data, the campground accommodates equestrians with their animals. The lake allows non-motorized watercraft including canoes and kayaks. Numerous hiking trails connect to the campground, making it a practical base for riders exploring the Uintas. Sites at Mirror Lake fill quickly, especially on summer weekends, with reservations becoming available six months in advance.
The Highline Trail accessible from Mirror Lake Campground spans the entire spine of the Uintas from west to east, providing extensive riding opportunities. This trail is notable as it traverses the tallest east-west mountain range in the contiguous United States. Riders often take the ridge line through to Kings Peak and out Painters Basin by Atwood Lake. The forest area maintains cooler temperatures, approximately 20 degrees below the Salt Lake Valley, making summer riding more comfortable. Several other lakes and riding destinations lie within accessible distance. Weather conditions can change quickly at this elevation, so riders should pack appropriate gear even in summer. Swift Creek also serves as a starting point for backpacking and horseback riding trips, with vault toilets available before setting out on trails that ascend quickly through dense forest.
from $30 / night
Check Availability"From here we set off on the Swift Creek trail that ascends quickly. the Yellowstone trail however goes through a dense tunnel of forest for quite a few miles."
"Allow horses in the horse section of the campground. Lake you can canoe, kayak no motorized crafts allwed. Fishing and swimming in the lake. Nice hiking around the lake."
"Mirror lake is the most popular campground in all of the Uintas so the spots go super fast as soon as registration is opened! If you want solitude this is not the spot for you."
from $28 - $84 / night
Check Availability"Campground is more remote so it’s great if you want to get away from large crowds. Higher elevation so you escape some of the summer heat. Fishing is good for trout."
"Lake is too far to walk from the back campgrounds. Good fishing especially if you can get out on any kind of watercraft. FireWood available at host."
from $30 - $171 / night
Check Availability"Camparea review:This area is located a little over 8 miles from the parking area. It is walk or horse ride in only."
"It's a beautiful area and you have access to shade and water."
"No bathrooms, primitive and huge families with atvs and dirt bikes everywhere nearby. They were polite and had reasonable time for no noise."
"This area has many camp sites to choose from, traveling from the highway 150 will absolutely require 4x4 but the other end could manage without."
"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. "
"Our family really likes dispersed camping near Mill hollow reservoir. It’s very peaceful and scenic!"
"Heading South from Manila, Utah on Hwy 44 takes you to the Sheep creek Geological loop. Heading up into the Canyon about 2 mi brings you to the Carmel Campground."
"Minutes away from lots of activities. This campground is secluded in Ashley National Forest with tons to do. From hiking to fishing to playing in the Gorge you’ll enjoy this location day and night."
from $7 - $13 / night
Check Availability"Close to the lake. A couple small cabins possibly for rent?"
"Long drive back into the forest but it is well worth it. We were the only people camping here for two days and it was beautiful."
"You have to look for secluded spot, I didn't find any till I walked down road. About 8000' up, nice and cool for summer. Can get crowded. People leave campers to keep spaces. But FService does check."
TravelerBeautiful higher altitude camping. RV's and tent camping. No electricity or water hookups. No showers and pit toilets. Allow horses in the horse section of the campground. Lake you can canoe, kayak no motorized crafts allwed. Fishing and swimming in the lake. Nice hiking around the lake.
RangerHeading South from Manila, Utah on Hwy 44 takes you to the Sheep creek Geological loop. Heading up into the Canyon about 2 mi brings you to the Carmel Campground. This site has trees a creek and amazing beauty, along with wildlife and tons of great outdoor activities, being in such close proximity to Flaming gorge. When I was there the Kokanee salmon were spawning and filled the creek with their vibrant colors. Up the road you can see bighorn sheep that graze in the fields of the ranch and take in the exquisite wonder of what nature has created via the loop road. Manila is close by for any food or drink needs and fresh water in the campground. Please pack out what you pack in and leave it better than you found it. Enjoy.
LegendSmall primitive campground. Free, 9 sites, #10 is a group site. One vault toilet, no water or trash. No cell signal. Most sites are small back in, but a few are pull thru for larger trailers. Group area #10:seems popular with horse groups so lots of horse poop and flies. Oak Park lake is a draw down water source below so was not very scenic. Long gravel FS roads to get here.
TravelerWe found this place by chance a couple summers ago when all the campgrounds were packed this one was vacant and absolutely breathtaking. Now we are back again and couldn't be more excited. This dispersed campground is one to check out. It has very secluded spots tucked in the trees. You don't hear the highway traffic even at closer spots to the road. There are endless options for sites. In the summer they do drive cattle through this spot so be mindful that you may hear horses, riders, dogs, and mooing. Also it's fair to note they don't clean up after themselves. It is still worth it.
I do want to note that if you have a low clearance vehicle you must go SLOOOWWW. The road is pretty washed out and has plenty of rocks that will take your oil pan as a souvenir. If you have flipped the axel on your rig I'm sure it would be no problem bringing it down this road and you'd have space to flip around if needed. Tent camping offers more options in this location as there is plenty of grassy spots to put up your tents for a nice rest. Please keep this spot as wild as it is while I write this. Pack it in and pack it OUT. This spot is wild and deserves to stay that way.
LegendThis is one of the first campgrounds one comes across while heading north along Mirror Lake Hwy. Like some of the other campgrounds along the Hwy it is fairly close to the road and therefore traffic noise is an issue. There is a creek that runs between the campground and the road but it was such a slow flow it doesn't really do much to drown out the noise. The only positive to this slow moving stream is that beavers have taken up residence here and have created a pretty little beaver dam and pond! To get away from the noise of the Hwy one can take the nearby Shingle Creek TH to East Shingle Creek Lake or Big Elk Lake for some fishing. As with other campgrounds, water is not available due to the dry winter so bring all that you will need. To stay here you'll need to pay $18 a night for the campground and for the Mirror Lake Rec. Pass for $6 for 3 days and $12 for the week
LegendThere are only a few solid spots south of Mill Hollow to dispersed car camp, but it makes for a quiet trip if you’re lucky enough to nab one of the spots. The few that we’ve found to be the most comfortable and simple to access are along the river just south of the lake. They’re tucked back into the trees on the east side of the road. There are hiking opps everywhere. Beautiful trails to explore, river banks to walk, and even a small waterfall tucked back into the woods if you know where to look. Love this whole area!
GuideMirror lake is the most popular campground in all of the Uintas so the spots go super fast as soon as registration is opened! If you want solitude this is not the spot for you. I usually like to camp in the middle of nowhere, but this was a fun change. You have the lake right next to the campground where you can fish, canoe, or just chill lakeside. Then return to your tent for an afternoon nap. The nice thing about the Uintas is that it is always pleasant and cool. The views of bald Mountain from this lake is also awesome! Throw up a hammock on the shore and just chill all day long. The Uintas are also full of awesome hikes and millions of other lakes.
ScoutLove love love this campground. Clean campground, clean bathrooms, and fire pits. Love the lake and hiking trails close by!
LegendCamparea review:This area is located a little over 8 miles from the parking area. It is walk or horse ride in only. The hike is not to taxing and there are small streams that cross the trail a couple times if you need to stop and filter water. A few hundred yards from where the camp areas that have been cleared and set up there is ponds or a stream to filter water from. The sites are pretty established with fire pits already made. Finding wood is a lil bit harder so plan on hiking a bit to find some after you've established your camp. The sites are approxamately 12 miles from the summit of kings peak. There are no bathrooms and you must pack everything out so plan for that.
Product review:As a dyrt ranger I periodically receive gear to review. Here is a review of the Primus ETA Light. https://primus.us/products/eta-lite-black?variant=17262644741 Having to pack everything in and out this stove was an essential for cooking. It boiled water a lil over 1 minute after lighting. This was easy to light and easy to attach to the fuel bottle. As you can see in the picture my fellow hikers had a jet boil. So doing a side by side comparison my Primus boiled water faster with the same amount in it. The primus lid just sets in the cup but has straining option as the jet boil did not. Mine was a little smaler in size but never did I need to even fill it 3/4s of the way for my meals. So being smaller was an advantage as it cut out weight from my pack.My primus also had the ability to be hung up. The base of the "mug" can stay connected to the fuel and you can easily just untwist the mug if you wish to use it. The whole set up was so light weight though most of the time I just tipped the whole thing over into my dehydrated food bag and didnt have to disconnect anything. The mug keeps things hot but cools quickly once the contents are dumped out. Easy non stick cleaning.
The Uinta Mountains near Altonah, Utah sit approximately 20 degrees cooler than the Salt Lake Valley, providing relief from summer heat. Located in northeastern Utah, this area features elevations exceeding 10,000 feet with cooler temperatures that persist through summer months. Seasonal road closures impact campground access, typically opening from late May through October depending on snowmelt conditions.
Fishing opportunities: At Swift Creek, anglers find productive waters away from crowds. "Nice area. great for fly fishing. Few of the sites have not been maintained. water is limited," notes James M. The creek's cooler waters support trout populations even during summer months.
Lake activities: Mirror Lake provides non-motorized boating options. "We went to the day use area and it was great. Toilets available, multiple picnic tables which included fire pits and a place to put your camping stove or other provisions," reports Kailey C. The 2.1-mile lake loop trail offers accessible hiking for most fitness levels.
Backpacking excursions: From Swift Creek, backpackers can access remote alpine terrain. "We started here on a 3 day trip and took advantage of the vault toilets. From here we set off on the Swift Creek trail that ascends quickly," shares Alan B., noting that the Swift Creek trail offers better views than the Yellowstone trail for shorter trips.
Cooler temperatures: Soapstone Basin Dispersed Camping offers relief from valley heat. "Our first time here we secured a fantastic spot in the higher elevation. Great escape from the SLC Valley heat...a short 1.5 hour drive and temp drops 20 degrees from the valley," explains Belinda H.
Wildlife viewing: The area hosts diverse wildlife ranging from small mammals to larger ungulates. At Soapstone Basin, Carol B. reports, "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!"
Star gazing: The remote location provides exceptional night sky viewing. At Dispersed Camping--Mill Hollow/Utah FR054, Adam J. notes, "Thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. Road was very accessible lower down with some more adventurous offshoots requiring higher clearance and likely 4x4." The higher you camp, the better the stargazing.
Reservation timing: Popular sites fill quickly during peak season. At Mirror Lake, Casey M. advises: "As the most popular campsite in the area, I was a little worried we wouldn't be able to snag a spot. But we went up on a Tuesday and there was plenty of room!"
Road conditions: Many access roads require high-clearance vehicles. At Currant Creek Rd Dispersed, one camper warns, "Main road is dirt, was there on 6/28 weekend. No stop traffic!!! I'm full time rv'er. Never seen anything even close to this."
Weather preparation: Despite summer heat at lower elevations, mountain weather changes rapidly. Sarah E. from Mirror Lake cautions, "With the high elevation make sure to bring plenty of layers. Nonetheless there are some great hammock trees."
Accessible lake activities: Mirror Lake offers family-friendly water access. Michelle L. shares, "We went for our first family vacation and we had a great time. My 3 year old son had such a blast exploring, bug hunting, star gazing and of course marshmallow toasting and just sitting around a big campfire."
Weekday visits: For families seeking quieter experiences, midweek camping provides better options. Lisa W. reports, "Lake is gorgeous and fishing is good. Canoe and kayak, hiking, bike, kids love it, adults love it. If this campground is full there are tons more around it."
Horse camping options: For equestrian families, Yellowstone Group Campground provides access to mountain trails. While no dedicated corrals appear in the data, horse campgrounds near Altonah, Utah accommodate riders with proper equipment. Kendra P. notes, "You are packed in there and it's totally worth it. no matter what go and live your dreams."
Limited hookups: Most campgrounds near Altonah lack electrical connections. Mike D. from Currant Creek advises, "Good campgrounds with flush toilets and water hookups. No electric or sewer hookups. Sites are spacious enough and have fire rings and tables."
Dump station locations: Plan waste management before arrival. As Michelle E. notes about Currant Creek, "Be prepared to pay to launch your boat and empty your tanks at the dump station... There are no hook ups-electric, water, sewer at this campground."
Road access challenges: Taylor I. warns about Soapstone Basin: "It was easy to find and the road can be a little scary when wet. There is a couple of miles with pretty rocky roads so i wouldn't risk a low clearance car."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Altonah, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Altonah, UT is Yellowstone Group Campground with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Altonah, UT?
TheDyrt.com has all 17 equestrian camping locations near Altonah, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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