Best Dispersed Camping near Cottonwood Heights, UT
Looking for dispersed camping near Cottonwood Heights? Dispersed camping is the perfect way to get off the grid. Find the perfect dispersed campsite for your next adventure.
Best Dispersed Sites Near Cottonwood Heights, UT (54)
1. Millcreek Canyon Backcountry Camping and Yurts
Mounthaven, Utah7 Reviews•10 Photos•398 Saves- Backcountry camping is allowed in Millcreek Canyon. You must camp at least 200 feet from trails, water and developed areas (and at least a 1/2 mile from the road).
- Be sure to “leave no trace” and properly dispose of human waste.
- A Valid Day/Annual pass is required to access the canyon and camp
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Dispersed
- Trash
- Picnic Table
2. Mineral Basin Dispersed
Alta, Utah8 Reviews•31 Photos•538 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
$6 / night
3. Miner's Canyon Dispersed
Saratoga Springs, Utah17 Reviews•68 Photos•236 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- ADA Access
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
4. Squaw Peak Road Dispersed
Provo, Utah13 Reviews•63 Photos•529 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- RVs
- Tents
- Group
- Dispersed
5. Cascade Springs Dispersed Site
Mutual Dell, Utah8 Reviews•33 Photos•522 SavesMany 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.
There are extra responsibilities and skills that are necessary for dispersed camping. It's your responsibility to know these before you try this new experience.
In most areas, dispersed camping is allowed up to 150 feet from a designated Forest Service Road, with some exceptions. Exceptions are based on protection of resources that may include water quality, soil conditions, and wildlife & fish habitat. No Dispersed camping within 100 feet of water (we recommend 200 feet). No dispersed camping where topography or existing vegetation limits vehicle travel (e.g. steep terrain, trees, brush). No dispersed camping within wet meadows or in saturated soil conditions. In these areas, walk-in tent camping and picnicking are allowed, however vehicle travel into these areas may be restricted. The public is asked to use existing pull-outs off the main road and walk in to take advantage of these areas that help provide clean water, productive soils, and habitats for fish and wildlife. Forest users can obtain Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM’s), that show where dispersed camping is allowed and roads and trails that are designated open to motorized vehicles
- Pets
- Fires
- RVs
- Tents
- Group
- Standard (Tent/RV)
6. Salamander Flat
Mutual Dell, Utah8 Reviews•14 Photos•410 SavesSalamander Flat trail connects the Timpooneke trail head with the Salamander Flat dispersed camping area and the Pine hollow trail. The trail starts by crossing a stream, then travels through large stands of fir trees, and crosses the road approximately 1 mile from the trailhead. The Salamander Flat dispersed camping sites and Junction with the Willow Hollow trail is .5 miles farther up the trail. From the dispersed sites, it is another .6 miles to the junction with the Pine Hollow trail #047.
Trail users should be aware of the high level of use that this trail receives, and should expect to see each type of user group on any given day. This trail is subject to a wet trail closure order during the spring and early summer. These closures help to protect and sustain the trail during wet periods. The trail will be signed as closed to all uses except hiking when these closures are in effect.
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.
- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Group
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
$10 / night
7. Miners Canyon BLM
Saratoga Springs, Utah9 Reviews•24 Photos•159 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
8. Albion Basin - Dispersed
Alta, Utah2 Reviews•10 Photos•190 Saves- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Dispersed
- Picnic Table
- Toilets
9. Dispersed Camping Willow Spring (Wasatch)
Wallsburg, Utah11 Reviews•21 Photos•367 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- RVs
- Tents
- Group
Recent Dispersed Reviews in Cottonwood Heights
186 Reviews of 54 Cottonwood Heights Campgrounds
- r
rachel
Traveler
Eagle Mountain Dispersed
Remote but hard to get to
This is BLM. A couple of different camping sites. Most have fire rings but no water or bathrooms. You will need a 4x4 with high clearance to get up the mountain (the road is rough). There are sites at the bottom of the mountain that you can get an RV or car in but those are crowded and around the shooting range. We had a great time at the top with beautiful views and quiet. Nobody else around. oHV area too.
Mike
Scout
Miner's Canyon Dispersed
Very quiet and secluded
Arrived very late. Very easy to find. Directions brought us right to the location. Road was rough into the sites and were hard to determine specific sites. Ended up pulling into edge of field. Definitely a good quiet night's sleep
- CCarson S.Traveler
Cascade Springs Dispersed Site
Great Camping and Off-Roading
The views are great but the road is definitely washed out. You will need 4WD and high clearance to pass through the washouts and rocks which start near the entrance and go all the way to the top.
Maya G.
Guide
Miners Canyon BLM
It was fine
Rough roads. The main one isn’t so bad but the side roads are awful. Tons of flies. Like actually so many. Campsites are far away from each other which was nice. Fire ring was filled with trash. Lake is disgusting, dead fish on shore and trash, don’t swim in it. An obviously “long term” resident said he wouldn’t swim in it, one of the factories on the other side of the lake dump into it.
Devin B.Guide
Salamander Flat
It’s a campsite
After a long day of travel we just wanted to get to any site and camp. This is a national forest so there is technically a park permit required. However, we have an annual park pass and they accept that as well. It is an honor system kind of park permit. They ask you to scan the QR code or pay at the self pay station. $10 for a 3day pass, $20 for a 7 day pass.
The drive up to this site is winding and the cars seem to be used to driving it because they come around the corners pretty fast. Drive carefully and stay on your side of the road. It site is just after mile marker 17.
The site is huge! Lots of space for people, cars, RVs and trailers. The road is paved until you turn in and then it’s a regular dirt road.
The major con in this park in general is the bathrooms are yucky especially at this site.
This seems to be a local hangout for the youngsters as well. They were not a bother to us however, they were letting loose, having a good time at their site. They left around 11 or so.
No service with AT&T
- RRebecca L.Scout
Goshen Road Dispersed Camping
Goshen Rd free campsites
There is one campsite with a sign that says 3 day public camping. It is a huge dirt lot with a few shade trees and creek. About 1/4 mile after this location are 5 more Creekside campsites on the left side of the road ( if coming from Goshen ) they are unmarked. All campsites in this area are on BLM or state land. Please do not overstay your welcome. They have discussed blocking them off due to people staying for way to long and leaving trash.
Skylar G.TravelerCascade Springs Dispersed Site
Best views in Utah?
I want to start positive and say that the views are some of the best! Mt Tiponogous is in full view and the panoramic views are all great as well. It was only my group that camped up there the night we camped, but a couple people did drive by for some off road action. Speaking of off road action, the road is atrocious. Dont come unless you have some serious high clearance 4wd vehicle or you will bottom out and destroy your vehicle. I’m saying this as someone from Lake City CO who grew up driving the Alpine Loop, the road is BAD!
Ben H.Guide
Squaw Peak Road Dispersed
Bumpy road
The road leading here is very bumpy. There are two specific spots that are really bad. 4x4 is almost a requirement. I did however see some people make it up in a van so it is possible. The coordinates lead to an open field with a lot of campsites. I would suggest parking in the lot a little further ahead on the left. This road is a popular destination so people ride up and down it a lot. The views are well worth it and there is also some hiking trails around here as well. There are more dispersed camping sites further along this road. I was able to get a very spotty one bar signal of Verizon while near the coordinates.
- CCallie F.Traveler
Dispersed Camping Willow Spring (Wasatch)
Rocky Rough Road
Great dispersed camping area with plenty of room! If going all the way to the marked location on the map, only attempt with a high clearance 4x4 or you will not make it! We have a TRX and overland camper and bottomed out on a culvert that dropped off sharply. We went to the marked location only to find a single camping spot on a moderate slope. Recommend stopping two miles earlier in the “Big Glade” meadow, flat and plenty of camping spots. We ended up a mile before that at a cross roads at 8900’. Concur with the ATv traffic from previous reviews, but overall relatively quiet
- TTaylor I.Scout
Soapstone Basin Dispersed Camping
Very busy, but beautiful
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. It was extremely busy when we went, but managed to find a spot mostly to ourselves. No bathrooms, primitive and huge families with atvs and dirt bikes everywhere nearby. They were polite and had reasonable time for no noise. Cool pathways to walk or ride on and very nice views even though most the wildflowers seemed to have just finished their blooms.
Donovan A.Traveler
Moosehorn Dispersed Camping
Mostly sloped, but can't beat the views
F150 with aftermarket tires - 19' travel trailer with 225/75/15 tires.
The initial road turn off is VERY easy to miss. If you're coming West on HWY150 and you see the brown Moosehorn sign, you've missed it. It's around Mile Marker 31 and the first 30' looks like it was paved at one point. It's just debris and potholes now.
The start is a little bit tight and rocky, but slow and steady gets you thru it. There is a first camp off to the right for an RV with level ground, loop to turn around. This one was taken and so I continued down towards the lake overlook. It's difficult to get level (I'm not really level right now lots of blocks, chocks, and rocks) but I don't care, the view is amazing. Great Starlink/Solar connection
High in August was getting to 75 and the low at night was not as cold as the lowlands of Uintas.
Elvira M.TravelerMiners Canyon BLM
Busy
It was very easy to find, since we could see RV since a long way down the road. We turned in and took one of the first sites though there were a lot of RVs further down.
A lot of the RVs looked like they were laughing the 14 day limit, almost to the point we were convinced they were living at this site. There was also several people with lose dogs, which made us not wanting to go closer to the water.
Otherwise the site itself is OK, it’s a little uneven, but we managed fine with our RV.
- EEmily L.Scout
Wolf Creek Pass Primitive Areas
Horrible, don’t bother coming here
Every site in every area from here to mill hollow is packed with swarms of biting flies. Seriously. Don’t come here.
Adam J.Guide
Currant Creek Rd Dispersed
Dispersed camping overlooking Currant Reservoir and Creek
Plenty of dispersed spots along the ridge road. Most have easy pull in access and fire rings. Beautiful views from multiple spots along the ridge but comes with the expected exposure to wind/sun. More privacy for the spots further along the road some nestled in beautiful aspen groves. It is a great area. We camped overnight and fly fished the currant the next day. It was July 4 weekend but still not crowded.
- John H.Scout
Salamander Flat
Utah has the worst system
All the sites said no reservation, first come first served, but they were all reserved with no campers. Camp host, as usual, nowhere in sight. I've camped in 43 states for decades and Utah is easily the worst state to camp at due to this system of theirs.
Also the drive up there is about 6 miles of winding hell with idiot children driving so fast I'm surprised there's not a death every day.
- Adam J.Guide
Dispersed Camping--Mill Hollow/Utah FR054
Amazing spots the further up you go
Thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. Road was very accessible lower down with some more adventurous offshoots requiring higher clearance and likely 4x4. We went up an offshoot and navigated through and around some deeper ruts and snow drifts but found an amazing spot on the rim. Fewer people the more altitude we gained. Lots of spots here. Keep driving until you find one, closer in spots are usually taken up with trailers and small rvs. Highly recommend.
- CCaitlyn R.Guide
Dispersed Uinta Campsite
Open space, nature and road noise
Plenty of spots on an easy dirt road, campfire rings and lots of space. There's so many birds and critters so you get the nature sounds but it's close to the road so there's road noise all night. Beautiful space. I think I heard a moose in the night-possibly not, but possibly?
Gabe S.Traveler
Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Dispersed Camping
Great spot!
Definitely rough reading for a portion of it. Lots of mosquitos. But super pretty and secluded. There were several spots that provide you with your own area and privacy. Bathrooms only about a 5 minute drive away. I had zero service though. Great spot and would come back again.
- RRyan G.Scout
Millcreek Canyon Backcountry Camping and Yurts
Beautiful canyon
The drive up is beautiful but there is actually no drive in camping. Camping doesnt open until July 1st so take that into account.
Lilly A.TravelerCascade Springs Dispersed Site
Beautiful but not private
Honestly, the only saving thing about this campsite is how beautiful it is. It truly feels like you are on top of the world. But, there were many downsides and we will not be returning. First, the road to get there was horrible. Don’t go up there unless you’re ready to do some off-roading. Second, the campsite had zero shade — so make sure to bring a canopy of some sort; there are no trees around the site. Third, the campsite is all gravel, so if you have a dog, be careful they don’t burn their paws (it was hot! We had to keep our dog in our man-made shade)! Lastly, at least 20 cars drove through the campsite per day, and this seems to be a spot a lot of people stop and get out and walk around. Then, someone set up camp right next to us! So, if you truly want to primitive camp, where it’s just you and nature, and have privacy, this is not the place to go.
- CClayton P.Guide
Miner's Canyon Dispersed
Nice free spot near Salt Lake City
Easy drive into the area, paved road up until you turn down toward the lake. Nice gravel road for the next half mile. 6 other RVs here when I stopped on June 20th.
A little loud from the generators but sound of waves from the lake help drown it out.
Some established fire pits. Overall the place was clean and felt safe.
ConnerGuide
Skull Valley Rd Dispersed Camping
(Along 196) Endless off road fun and private dispersed
First of all there is no pull out at the coordinates. In fact it represents just as a reference for the highway road off the 80 highway you go along 196 and there are pull off roads leading to either straight up the side of a mountain or along the valley.
I parked at lone rock which is basically just a shooting range. You name it they obliterated it with ammo. Oh well I climbed to the top of the lone rock which was pretty epic. Fucking windy night and dusty I hate dust so much. Maybe if I parked down road inside the sagebrush it would have broke the wind. Also lone rock was full of trash :(
Glad I live in lush Colorado away from these deserts. Except alamoda area I guess.
Tyler C.GuideSkull Valley Rd Dispersed Camping
Really good with little bad
Especially if you get here before sunset, you can hike a little ways up the mountain and watch the sun go down, but once it does start to go down it gets real windy. All the breeze from the salt flats comes right your way. This location is also right in an outdoor shooting range with multiple spots so that’s a plus if you’re looking for entertainment. As a bonus for me at least, it’s close enough to the road that getting back to it won’t be a problem, and I don’t think the noise will be a factor because the wind takes the cake. Dirt road is also real rough, probably not for sedans.
- Loren L.Traveler
Mineral Basin Dispersed
Road closed at the top
We couldn’t access early June road still closed past the ski resort.
Arthur M.GuideSkull Valley Rd Dispersed Camping
Not available
This point leads to a solar field - no camping here.
- ConnerGuide
Millcreek Canyon Backcountry Camping and Yurts
Season starts in July I wasn’t able to access in june
Be careful there is a 5$ per car fee sneaking at the entrance. Pretty good trails on the way up but like in the Titlr I wasn’t able to make it
- SSherezade F.Scout
Cascade Springs Dispersed Site
You better be camping in a tent until they fix this road
Don't come with a trailer. Just don't do it. Sure is pretty but we never made it to the top
Guide to Cottonwood Heights
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Cottonwood Heights, Utah, where nature meets adventure. With stunning landscapes and a variety of outdoor activities, these spots offer a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Top Activities for Adventure Seekers while Free Camping near Cottonwood Heights
- Experience breathtaking views at Cascade Springs Dispersed Site, where the panoramic scenery of Mt. Timpanogos is a highlight for many campers.
- Enjoy off-roading adventures on the rugged roads leading to Mineral Basin Dispersed, but be prepared for some rough terrain that requires a high-clearance vehicle.
- Hike the trails around Pittsburg Lake Dispersed, where you can explore the alpine lake and enjoy fishing in a serene setting.
Tips for Free and Dispersed Camping near Cottonwood Heights, Utah
- Always check for road conditions before heading to Lone Peak Cirque Dispersed, as the hike can be challenging and requires good preparation for elevation gain.
- Bring plenty of water and a filtration system when camping at Neffs Canyon, as the area is known for its beautiful but remote locations with limited water access.
- Be mindful of wildlife encounters, especially at Twin Peaks Wilderness Area - Dispersed, where moose sightings are common, and maintaining a safe distance is crucial.
Scenic Attractions for Dispersed Campers
- Visit the stunning Albion Basin - Dispersed, which offers access to multiple lakes and breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.
- Take a short hike to Lake Desolation Primitive Sites, where you can enjoy a peaceful camping experience with the lake almost entirely to yourself.
- Explore the unique landscapes at Eagle Mountain Dispersed, where you can find remote sites with beautiful views and a chance to connect with nature away from the crowds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Cottonwood Heights, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Cottonwood Heights, UT is Millcreek Canyon Backcountry Camping and Yurts with a 4.1-star rating from 7 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Cottonwood Heights, UT?
TheDyrt.com has all 54 dispersed camping locations near Cottonwood Heights, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.