Best Tent Camping near Cottonwood Heights, UT

Tent camping opportunities near Cottonwood Heights, Utah range from established campgrounds to backcountry sites, with several notable options in the nearby Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Red Pine Lake offers tent-only backcountry camping at 4.7/5 stars with a moderately difficult 3-4 mile hike in, while Millcreek Canyon provides dispersed tent camping options that require campers to set up at least half a mile from any road. The Silver Lake Backcountry area provides additional tent camping with access to alpine views and fishing.

Most tent sites in the area require campers to be self-sufficient, as amenities are minimal. Many locations lack drinking water, toilets, and trash service, making proper preparation essential. Fire restrictions vary by season and location, with several areas including Red Pine Lake prohibiting fires entirely due to watershed protection regulations. According to a review on The Dyrt, "No fires or pets are allowed given that Little Cottonwood Canyon is considered Watershed. So plan on cooking with a backpacking stove/cooker." High-clearance vehicles may be necessary to access certain tent camping areas, particularly after rain or early in the season when road conditions deteriorate.

Tent campers in the Cottonwood Heights vicinity experience dramatic mountain scenery with opportunities for solitude, especially on weekdays. The tent-only sites at higher elevations provide cooler temperatures during summer months and exceptional stargazing opportunities. A camper wrote that Red Pine Lake "can be fully enjoyed as a backpacking trip. The weekend can get very busy so during the week is the best time to camp as it's likely you'll be the only overnight camper." Wildlife sightings are common, with moose and deer frequently observed in Millcreek Canyon. The primitive nature of these tent camping areas means fewer amenities but greater immersion in the natural environment. Most locations feature flat spots for tent placement, though sites are generally unmarked and first-come, first-served.

Best Tent Sites Near Cottonwood Heights, Utah (28)

    1. Red Pine Lake

    7 Reviews
    Alta, UT
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 733-2660

    "Red Pine Lake is located up Little Cottonwood Canyon, on the south side of the road."

    "wonderful place to backpack up to during the week. can access 3 different beautiful lakes from this drainage and 2 beautiful peaks!"

    2. Silver Lake Backcountry

    8 Reviews
    Alta, UT
    10 miles

    "An amazing spot to drive to and spend the day or backpack in and spend a night or two.  Be warned you will need a 4wd vehicle if trying to go up the road after a rain storm. "

    "You can’t drive to the coordinates, you have to park at the uppermost parking lot for Silver Flat and hike up to a camping spot. Camping anywhere along that road will give you gorgeous views, though!"

    3. Millcreek Canyon Backcountry Camping and Yurts

    8 Reviews
    Mounthaven, UT
    9 miles
    Website

    "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."

    "Millcreek Canyon is home to some wonderful trails that can be accessed by foot or bike. Although the canyon offers many hiking trails, the main use of the trails seems to be for trail running."

    4. Kimball Campground

    3 Reviews
    Mutual Dell, UT
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 999-2103

    "It was just off the road and basically no privacy but I was just looking for a safe place to sleep and that’s what I got!"

    "These campground spots are hidden within trees up the dirt road just past Silver Lake flats on the dirt road. The dirt road gets rough and rocky, but is driveable."

    5. Lake Blanche Trail - Backcountry Camp

    1 Review
    Mounthaven, UT
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 733-2660

    "great hike to the lake!"

    7. Anderson Park

    2 Reviews
    Pleasant Grove, UT
    18 miles

    "Several fire pits, large covered lighted pavillion with three rows of picnic tables.  Large grassy field, two wooded areas, boarders a residential neighborhood, flushing toilets."

    8. closed

    1 Review
    Wanship, UT
    22 miles
    +1 (801) 513-1583

    $59 - $64 / night

    9. American Campground

    1 Review
    Saratoga Springs, UT
    23 miles

    10. Camp Eagle Mountain

    1 Review
    Eagle Mountain, UT
    26 miles

    $26 - $38 / night

    "It is a dry area and hot mid-summer, but good base for ATV, bike, and hunting areas. No ATV/bike riding or hunting on the campground - just a good base camp for those types of activities."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Cottonwood Heights, UT

1288 Reviews of 28 Cottonwood Heights Campgrounds


  • Tommy C.
    Aug. 29, 2020

    South Fork (UT)

    AWESOME spot

    Absolutely awesome spot. Hosts were really friendly. Stayed in my pop up camper for a night and there was tons of space for pop up and our site (A1) was the best in the campground, I think. It was secluded with tons of trees. Not all sites had a lot of tree cover. It wasn’t right off the river but it was still only a 30 second walk to the river. There were fire bans in Utah but because of the type of fire set up on concrete and built in fire places, we were able to have a fire all night which was awesome. Also my buddy is a professional singer and brought his guitar so I’m impartial. We had such a great time!!

  • Jeremy H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 9, 2019

    Fivemile Pass OHV

    Good for free camping

    Not much out here but you’ll likely see a hawk or a Golden Eagle. You will have to put up with crazy OHVers and drunk partiers in some spots but there are a lot of places to go with a few pit toilets spread about.

    This is the desert and there is no water so come prepared. Please leave no trace and clean up after yourself.

  • Carrie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 23, 2019

    Diamond Fork

    Very clean and super camp host!

    I really loved this campground! And I really love Diamond Fork Hotsprings! I can’t wait to visit again! We camped the Thursday after Labor bad and had the entire campground almost all to ourselves! On Labor Day weekend there wasn’t an empty campsite. Cost is $22 for a single site, $44 for a double. We arrived to camp around 7:30 and pitched our tent then headed up the road a few more miles to the parking area for Diamond Fork (5th water) Hot Springs. I recommend visiting the Hotspring at night in the summer to escape the overwhelming crowds. There were only a handful of people at the springs during our evening visit. The trail to the springs is about 2.4 miles in. We returned to camp around 1 AM and slept soundly in the still, quiet nature. You can hear the stream babble nearby. We slept in and as we were breaking down camp, Marc, the camp host stopped by to se how our visit was and if we needed anything. What a wonderful man! We chatted for quite a while about the area and he offered to give us a tour of the campground in his golf cart. This is a pretty leather campground! 3 separate loops. There are some hike in tent sites but they are set up for dual tents and are priced as such so they are $44 which is quite speedy for a pack in tent site. There is a well maintained nature trail the passes through the campground. There are educational kiosks along the trail. There are multiple restrooms throughout the campground. The 2 I used were very clean considering it was post holiday weekend.
    Each campsite had a fire ring, grill, and a picnic table. Tent sites all offered nice level areas for pitching your tent. You can purchase fire wood from the camp host. This is a great place and I can’t wait to return!

  • K
    Aug. 16, 2021

    Magpie Campground

    Got the job done

    We were road tripping through with no reservations. The whole South Fork area has many campgrounds. Magpie is the first and one of the smaller of the campgrounds as you drive up the canyon. We drove through all the campgrounds and didn’t find any hosts to talk with to find out if we could occupy a spot. We thought it would be ok but weren’t sure if we could stay in a spot that had a weekend reservation posted. Plus there was simultaneously not very much shade and lots of overgrown vegetation that made tent camping not very feasible. All the sites with actual river frontage were occupied and most folks had campers. This was especially true at South Fork, Lower Meadows, Upper Meadows & Perception Park campgrounds. We finally found a host at Willows campground who explained the process but we didn’t see any sites we liked there. Magpie actually had some shaded sites so we headed back down there. We grabbed a spot that had no obvious river access but good shade right next to the host site. It was pretty overgrown but had enough of a flat spot to set up our tent and a big concrete pad for the picnic table and huge fire ring. Midweek it was only half full. Campground is literally mere feet from the road. Lots of road noise. Bathrooms were good enough. The host when he finally came around was very nice. The adjacent site was vacant (a double site that cost more $$) and we were able to get to the river there. We stayed two nights mid week and it never filled up but all the sites had weekend reservations. There isn’t a lot of hiking but if you like river recreation or we saw lots of paddle boarders headed up to the reservoir. We drove up Monte Cristo which was still closed for the season but probably would have been more our style. Birding was good around the campground probably due to the river. Again, road noise was annoying but expected. Also note that the forest service’s website was out of date as far as all the campgrounds in this area being open.

  • Alan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2019

    Lower Narrows Campground

    Beautiful Creek Access w/ Expert Level Climbing Routes a Stones Throw Away

    Let me start off by saying the other review for this CG is about 250 miles off target.  The Narrows CG the other person is talking about is located in Zion National Park near St. George/Springville in southern Utah.  There are no soaring sandstone walls here!  There are however amazing overhanging water sculpted limestone cliffs that contain some of the hardest climbing that the west desert of Utah has to offer!  There are a decent amount of routes on either side of the road with the majority of the routes being near the Upper Narrows CG. 

    This CG is setup in much the same way as the Upper.  There are metal fire rings and picnic tables at each of the campsites with a vault toilet within a couple minutes walk from any of the sites.  There are only 3 sites and there are no water or trash facilities so bring all you need and then pack it all out!  The creek offers a nice respite from the heat in the summer and would probably be decent fishing as well.  I only saw a couple trout while wandering around but I'm sure there are more!

  • Michael L.
    May. 30, 2021

    Lost Creek Campground

    Mountain Get Away

    Such a beautiful site with site #7 the best access to the lake. Easy in and space to set up camp. Site included fire ring/pit and picnic table.

    At nearly 10000 feet elevation, Temps were coll and air refreshing!

  • Jillian B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 3, 2022

    Willow Park Campground

    Campground near Provo

    This campground is ok, would expect a little more since you have to pay $25. In a nice little suburban neighborhood. Spots are close together and not much privacy, our site was along the back fence. Each site had fire pit and picnic table. There are two bathrooms, no showers and no electricity. It looks like there are a couple water fill up spigots but not potable.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 3, 2025

    Goshen Road Dispersed Camping

    Pretty location

    Site is pretty dirty, some have never heard of leave no trace . It is 7 pm and still extremely hot not much shade up here at this location


Guide to Cottonwood Heights

The Wasatch Mountains provide tent campers near Cottonwood Heights with alpine camping opportunities ranging from 7,000 to over 10,000 feet in elevation. Summer temperatures typically range from 40-80°F at higher elevations, offering cooler alternatives to the Salt Lake Valley heat. Many tent sites require campers to hike in with all necessary supplies and follow strict watershed protection rules.

What to do

Fishing at alpine lakes: Silver Lake Backcountry offers excellent trout fishing opportunities. According to one camper, "Both lakes were loaded with large trout, but I didn't have a fishing rod, so all I could do was look at them this time."

Hiking to multiple destinations: From Red Pine Lake, you can access several alpine features. One visitor noted, "can access 3 different beautiful lakes from this drainage and 2 beautiful peaks!" The trail system allows for day trips to explore beyond your basecamp.

Paddleboarding and kayaking: Silver Lake Backcountry provides water recreation options beyond just fishing. A camper shared, "Lots of hikes to do nearby, beautiful views, and place to paddle board, kayak, etc." Another visitor mentioned, "We spent our afternoons paddleboarding on Silver Lake Reservoir."

Trail running: The canyons offer extensive trail networks for runners. A reviewer of Millcreek Canyon Backcountry Camping and Yurts observed, "Although the canyon offers many hiking trails, the main use of the trails seems to be for trail running."

What campers like

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Camping in these canyons often includes animal sightings. A camper at Millcreek Canyon reported, "Everytime we come here we also see moose and deer." Wildlife encounters add to the natural experience.

Weekday solitude: For campers seeking quiet, timing matters significantly. A Red Pine Lake visitor advised, "The weekend can get very busy so during the week is the best time to camp as it's likely you'll be the only overnight camper."

Easy access to water sources: Many trails in the area follow streams, providing convenient water access. As one Lake Blanche Trail - Backcountry Camp visitor mentioned, "The hike up to the lake starts off pretty easily, and since it follows the stream coming down, clean drinking water is always at hand."

Fall colors and stargazing: The mountains offer seasonal visual attractions. A visitor to Silver Lake Backcountry noted, "the fall colors during the day and the stars during the night were spectacular!"

What you should know

Road conditions and vehicle requirements: Many camping areas require appropriate vehicles. A Silver Lake camper warned, "you're definitely going to need 4WD and high clearance because the roads leading up to the campsite are filled with ruts and holes."

Fire restrictions: Several camping areas prohibit fires entirely. A Red Pine Lake visitor explained, "It stormed pretty hard in the middle of the night, and since the lake is up near the top of the mountain, it got pretty windy. Be prepared for significant foul weather."

Camping distance regulations: Most dispersed camping areas have specific rules about campsite locations. At Dutchman Mine Flats, "You cannot car-camp as there is wooden fence blocking off the parking area." Similarly, Silver Lake requires you to "stay at least 1/2 mile away from the lake to camp."

Seasonal access limitations: Canyon access varies throughout the year. A visitor to Millcreek Canyon warned, "Camping doesn't open until July 1st so take that into account." Always check current conditions before planning your trip.

Tips for camping with families

Consider park campgrounds: Anderson Park offers more amenities for family camping. A visitor noted, "This park allows for camping and accommodates small or large groups. Several fire pits, large covered lighted pavilion with three rows of picnic tables."

River play areas: Families with children enjoy water features. A Millcreek Canyon camper shared, "We take tubes and float in areas of the river. The kids play in the river. Just a fun time."

Early arrival strategy: Popular spots fill quickly, especially during peak season. A camper at Kimball Campground advised, "Make sure to get here early on summer weekends because this place fills up."

Dusty conditions preparation: Some sites have specific terrain challenges. One camper at Kimball Campground noted, "The campsites are beautiful, and within walking distance to the trailhead to hike the 2.2 mile hike up to Silver Lake. Loved camping here, only complaint is the dirt is very chalky and dusty, and keeping your gear clean is not really an option here."

Tips from RVers

Limited RV options: Most of the best tent camping near Cottonwood Heights, Utah is backcountry or walk-in only, with limited options for RVs. One visitor to American Campground noted its simplicity as a "Great place to relax!" but most tent-focused areas prohibit larger vehicles.

Consider tent camping instead: For RV travelers wanting to experience the best camping spots near Cottonwood Heights, consider parking at designated areas and backpacking to tent sites. As one camper at Red Pine Lake described, "I was looking for a quick, one night out and back backpacking trip while visiting family in Utah this summer."

Staging areas: Some locations provide parking areas where RVs can stay while tent camping nearby. At Kimball Campground, a visitor noted, "These campground spots are hidden within trees up the dirt road just past Silver Lake flats on the dirt road."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Cottonwood Heights, UT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Cottonwood Heights, UT is Red Pine Lake with a 4.7-star rating from 7 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Cottonwood Heights, UT?

TheDyrt.com has all 28 tent camping locations near Cottonwood Heights, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.