Dispersed camping near Coalville, Utah provides primitive backcountry experiences in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Situated at elevations between 6,000-10,000 feet, these camping areas experience significant temperature drops at night, even in summer months when daytime temperatures can reach the 80s. Forest roads throughout the region typically open by late May but remain snow-covered at higher elevations until mid-June.
What to do
Hiking with wildlife viewing: The Millcreek Canyon Backcountry Camping and Yurts area offers extensive trail networks. "You can backpack in and camp anywhere a 1/2 mile from any road like the other nearby canyons. Good trails to approach from are Church fork and Lambs Canyon Trailhead. Everytime we come here we also see moose and deer. Best time is definitely fall," reports one camper.
Backcountry exploration: At Lake Desolation Primitive Sites, adventurous campers can find solitude and mountain views. "Once we got to the lake, we had the entire place to ourselves. Even if you went in the middle of summer, there are enough open, flat areas surrounding the lake to setup camp," notes one visitor who hiked in from Big Cottonwood Canyon.
Seasonal wildflower viewing: The meadows throughout the forest transform with wildflowers from late June through August. "Wide open spaces. Wildflowers as far as you can see," mentions one camper about the landscape near Soapstone Basin.
What campers like
High elevation cooling: The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Dispersed Camping areas provide relief from summer heat. "Headed up this way to escape the valley heat. Temps are significantly cooler," notes a camper about the elevation change advantage.
Water features: Many dispersed sites include access to streams or small lakes. "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!" shares one visitor to the Uinta dispersed area.
Night sky viewing: The minimal light pollution provides exceptional stargazing opportunities. "If weather permits, leaving off the rain fly provides an exquisite view of the milky way as you drift off to sleep," reports a visitor to Albion Basin who backpacked to a dispersed site.
What you should know
Road conditions: Most dispersed sites require vehicles with higher clearance. "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," warns a visitor to Soapstone Basin Dispersed Camping.
Cell service limitations: Coverage varies dramatically by location and carrier. "Cell service is also spotty here. I have Xfinity Mobile and I had decent coverage here and there.... everyone else had T-Mobile and they were also spotty, but more so compared to mine, so AT&T (who I think XM uses) is slightly better," reports a camper at Bountiful B Dispersed.
Insect preparation: Mosquitos can be intense, particularly near water sources. "BEWARE THE MOSQUITOS. Wear so much bug repellant or at least bring it. Idk what the deal was but the last time I was up there just a bit after Trial Lake, there were swarms unlike anything I've seen in my life. So be forewarned!" cautions a visitor to the Uinta dispersed areas.
Tips for camping with families
Accessible creek exploration: Millcreek Canyon Dispersed Camping offers water features suitable for children. "We love Millcreek Canyon for camping, hiking, or even just going up for dinner at their day use spots. Pet friendly. One of our families favorite canyons. We take tubes and float in areas of the river. The kids play in the river. Just a fun time," shares one family.
Site selection timing: Arrive early to secure family-friendly spots, especially on weekends. "We came up looking for a last minute site on the 4th. Most of the road was closed and we grabbed the last spot," notes a camper at Mineral Basin Dispersed, highlighting the competition for limited spaces.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Morning and evening provide the best chances for wildlife sightings. "The campsite we settled on was absolutely beautiful. Very quiet and peaceful, great place to get back to nature and forget about day to day things," reports a visitor to Mineral Basin who observed local wildlife.
Tips from RVers
Clearance considerations: Mineral Basin Dispersed requires careful vehicle assessment. "This area is beautiful and primitive camping. Resulting in two major points: It is free and in order to keep it nice, please pack out what you pack in!! We accessed this area via the east side and Wasatch State Park and Midway, UT. It is a long dirt road which is relatively maintained... a non-lowered vehicle should be able to navigate the roads with only a few bottom scrapes."
Site availability patterns: Weekdays offer significantly better chances for RV-suitable dispersed sites. "Nearly the entire mountain to the south of the official Soapstone campground is open to dispersed camping. There are several dirt roads (best accessed with SUV's or Trucks) that wind around the mountain top, in and out of trees and meadows. Nearly every few hundred yards there are different pull-offs where you can just set up camp."
Extended stay preparation: With no services available, water management becomes critical for longer stays. "Soapstone 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."
