Box Elder County's dispersed camping sits primarily on BLM land and in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest in the ranges east and west of Brigham City. No water, no restrooms, no trash service on-site. The 14-day stay limit applies. Forest roads accessing higher dispersed sites close from November through April, with some remaining impassable into May depending on snowpack.
Ogden's dispersed sites give a wider set of no-fee options in this part of northern Utah if Brigham City-area roads are closed or inaccessible. Standard passenger vehicles work on maintained gravel roads in the lower foothills. High clearance is a practical advantage on the less-maintained forest routes above 6,000 feet. Pack in all water and plan for no cell service on the upper canyon roads.
"About 15 mins outside of Logan up a beautiful canyon. Headed up around 4pm on a Saturday during Memorial Day weekend so didn’t have high hopes but found a spot with a fire ring almost immediately!"
"Easy to find by putting the coordinates provided in Google Maps. Came in after dark and easily found a site about 1/4 mile or so up the road. Road is a bit bumpy but nothing major."
"About 1/4 mile down a dirt road from Hwy 39 is a good single boondocking spot with a great view. Not for large RVs."
"Two nice boondocking spots just a short drive on a tight dirt road off the highway. The campsite on the right is bigger, the one on the left is very small."
"My family and I were driving through and needed a place to stay for the night. We camped the first night that lot camping was allowed (9/10) so it was quiet and peaceful."
"Picked a pull-off spot about 10 min up the highway and was really surprised. It went pretty deep and and truly felt like I was away."
"The coordinates on the map are not exactly right for this campsite, at least in early may."
"After you've passed the Smithfield campground there are plenty of spots on both sides of the road where you can pull off and have dispersed camping."
"Stayed here for two nights, at the end of a dead end road, close to the creek. Real easy place to be."
"Took close to two hours from Salt Lake City, once you turn off I 15 you’ve still got close to an hour."
"Was a beautiful location for one night, but not much more than that. The Golden Spike park is on the way which is nice to stop by at. Was windy on the night we stayed, no fires."
"While there are a lot of disbursed sites along the corridor, they were all completely filled due to a bike race happening at nearby Beaver Mountain."
"Easily accessible spot off FR 006. Found shady, mostly level spot to park van right off the road. Peaceful location. Fire pit in the camp area. No amenities."
TravelerYes the road in is rough but while I was there they graded the first half. I made it with a 20ft bus. Just go slow. The views are beautiful and it was very quiet. Loved walking out to the waters edge.
GuideThis had amazing views, including a cool cave. However, the road is very bumpy and the spots are smaller. It would not be good for a larger RV. The spots fill up very quickly.
GuideCamp is about 25 minutes from town via a dirt road 4x4 not required in certain areas just be cautious when selecting certain sites if you don't have 4x4. Also worth noting lots of dirt bikes and side by sides and folks shooting guns, so if you're a light sleeper you may not enjoy this site. Otherwise, it's totally fine.
RangerVery easy access off 89. Very large sites with fire rings start about 1/4 off the main road. Only one other site being used that I saw. Pit toilet available at the large parking area. Clean and well kept. No cell service. Free range cows.
TravelerPretty far but worth a visit. We got here midnight and IT WAS WINDY!! Was afraid our car gonna tip over (yes, it’s that bad)
To our surprise it snowed in the morning and we had such a long walk around the site, very inspiring, very introspective. Would recommend!!!
GuideWe had a wonderful view of the city with few bugs and a visitor in the morning! Roads were tough so we didn’t get up too far but had a wonderful stay.
ScoutWhile there are a lot of disbursed sites along the corridor, they were all completely filled due to a bike race happening at nearby Beaver Mountain. We continued up and finally found a nice camp site just on the south side of Utah border but it turned out to be on private property. There’s a small stretch of a private property near the state line marked by a sign posted cattle grate. The property owner stopped by, he was super polite, but explained the boundaries and asked us to move along.
In many spots on the road on the way up there were wide open areas where a single camper had claimed a large area, even sites that could comfortably accommodate several rigs, so just a few things to watch out for.
GuideI stayed here for one night, the higher you go, the better the views. The lower you go it is a little bit louder with people dirt biking, four wheeling, shooting guns, recreationally, etc. I was towards the top of the mountain and I did not have any issues with sound the whole night. I felt very safe camping by myself.
GuideThis spot was in the parking lot of spiral jetty lake in the golden spike national park. It was questionable if we were allowed to camp there, but not one came out to stop us!The parking lot is small and was busy when we first arrived. There is a camp ground within the national park, so it cleared out as the night went on.
The ride to the site was rough as we got closer to the parking lot. The road was heavily washboarded. We drove a class C RV to the spot, and it was a lot drive as we could not go over 10 MPH most of the way. But it’s worth it at the end!
You can walk down the the lake. It was very cool. The beach leading up to it felt like concrete and there was a bunch of salt deposits. When you get down to the water it is pink!
Overall all a good spot for a night!
Primitive camping near Brigham City, Utah takes place in the Wasatch Mountains where elevations range from 5,000 to over 9,000 feet. Temperatures in these dispersed sites can drop 30-40°F from day to night, even in summer months, requiring proper thermal gear. Most sites remain inaccessible from December through mid-April due to snow accumulation.
Fishing access opportunities: Several dispersed sites provide direct river or stream access for anglers. At Franklin Basin Dispersed Camping, sites are "easily accessible and close to Logan river if not on it," according to camper Chris A. The area features beaver ponds that also offer fishing opportunities.
Wildlife viewing: The higher elevation sites offer excellent opportunities to spot local wildlife. Near Smithfield Dispersed Campsite, visitors report seeing deer and occasionally elk in early mornings and evenings. One camper noted, "It's a very pretty canyon with a creek running through it."
Winter activities: While most roads close for camping, some areas transform for cold-weather recreation. Green Canyon becomes a cross-country skiing destination in winter months. "The road is closed, and is groomed by a local group named Nordic United. They groom it for cross country skiing several times a week and after every good storm," notes a visitor.
Solitude in less-visited areas: For those willing to drive deeper into dispersed areas, isolation can be found. At Franklin Basin, Kennedy F. reports, "Ended up driving this road up to Idaho to find a bigger spot and some solitude. Took the dirt road for about 30 minutes and got the most perfect spot. Nobody was near us and the view was amazing."
Natural soundscapes: Many campers appreciate the natural ambient sounds at these primitive sites. At Dispersed camping near Monte Cristo, visitors enjoy sleeping with natural background noise. Erika M. describes camping near a creek: "We had that for our soundtrack as we slept."
Fall foliage viewing: The aspens and maples in the mountains surrounding Brigham City create spectacular autumn displays. Colyer D. described Monte Cristo as "Absolutely Perfect" in late September: "The views were immaculate, the sites were very spread out, it was the end of September and all the leaves were changing."
Campsite claiming practices: Many campers report issues with site availability despite apparently vacant spots. At Franklin Basin Dispersed Camping, Kaden M. observed: "Tons of land, tons of campsites.. but most are 'occupied' by empty trailers with no other vehicles or people around. There's empty cars parked on top of fire pits, no tents or any sort of life nearby."
Road quality variables: Road conditions deteriorate significantly after rain or early in the season. Sarah C. noted about Smithfield Canyon: "No warning that the road narrows with no turn around about a mile into the campground, or the trees are overgrown which scratched up my sides."
Time of day considerations: For optimal site selection, early arrival is recommended. Regarding camping near Franklin Basin, Maddie F. advises: "I would be cautious if you aren't car camping to make sure you show up earlier than I did (6pm)."
Seasonal pest awareness: Mosquitoes can be problematic at certain sites during early summer. At Franklin Basin, one camper warned: "If you camp way further down the mosquitos are absolutely miserable. I heard it's better in August."
Access to safer swimming areas: While many streams are fast-moving and dangerous for children, certain areas provide calmer water access. Curtis Creek/Arbs Basin offers several sites near gentler sections of creek, with Hannah M. noting it's "very quiet, barely any people."
Weather preparation: Temperature swings affect children more severely. Kennedy F. advises about camping at higher elevations: "We went at the beginning of June, it was a bit chilly some mornings and at night, so come prepared."
Turn-around limitations: Several dispersed sites have limited space for maneuvering larger vehicles. At Monte Cristo Pull-off, Brian C. warns: "Not for large RVs. Our 17 ft trailer with 4x4 was tricky to get into the spot because the loop was so small."
Site pre-assessment: For larger rigs, scouting ahead prevents difficult situations. Nathan S. suggests: "This is now my current go to for last minute camping. Picked a pull-off spot about 10 min up the highway and was really surprised. It went pretty deep and truly felt like I was away."
Road surface considerations: Even well-maintained forest roads can present challenges. Johny R. notes about Franklin Basin: "2wd friendly road for MILES. You can drive well into Idaho... Just make sure you stick to the gravel road as you go up, dont turn off. The road turns to dirt in idaho but is still 2wd safe until you get to a ver clear turn around."
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Brigham City, Utah?
Several free dispersed camping options exist near Brigham City. Green Canyon Dispersed Campground offers 15-25 first-come, first-served sites with established fire rings and restrooms. It's accessible even with 2WD vehicles like a Honda Civic via a navigable gravel road. Another option is Franklin Basin Dispersed Camping, which features numerous spread-out sites along a 2WD-friendly gravel road with beautiful river and mountain views. Both locations provide free camping opportunities within reasonable driving distance from Brigham City, with Franklin Basin being particularly popular among OHV enthusiasts.
Is there beach access for camping near Brigham City, Utah?
While Brigham City itself is inland, you can find beach camping opportunities within driving distance. Spiral Jetty offers primitive camping along the shores of the Great Salt Lake, providing a unique beach camping experience with no facilities. For a more traditional beach experience, Curtis Creek / Arbs Basin provides access to creekside camping with natural swimming holes during warmer months. Many campers also make the drive to Bear Lake from the Franklin Basin area for day trips to enjoy sandy beaches and water activities. These options provide various water-adjacent camping experiences at different distances from Brigham City.
What are the rules and regulations for boondocking around Brigham City?
When boondocking near Brigham City, you must observe fire restrictions which may prohibit campfires during dry seasons. At Dispersed camping near Monte Cristo, established fire pits exist but fire bans are enforced when conditions warrant. Camp in designated dispersed areas only, using existing sites rather than creating new ones. Bountiful B Dispersed has designated areas for fires, and local law enforcement regularly patrols to ensure compliance with regulations. Most areas follow the standard 14-day stay limit. Pack out all trash and waste, and practice Leave No Trace principles. Note that hunting seasons (particularly September) may bring increased traffic to dispersed camping areas.
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