11 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Mirror Lake Campground accommodates horses in a dedicated section of the campground near the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. The horse-friendly area provides space for equestrians to camp with their animals while accessing nearby trails. No motorized watercraft are permitted on the lake, creating a peaceful environment for riders and their horses. Vault toilets are available throughout the campground, though no showers are provided. The campground fills quickly during summer months, especially on weekends, requiring early arrival or advance reservations.
Trail access from Mirror Lake connects riders to the Highline Trail, which spans the entire spine of the Uintas from west to east. This unique trail system traverses the tallest east-west mountain range in the Lower 48 states, offering extensive riding opportunities. Water access for horses is available at the lake and several small streams in the area. The Swift Creek trail provides another option for equestrians, ascending quickly with access to multiple alpine lakes within a short riding distance. During summer months, the higher elevation provides pleasant, cool conditions for both horses and riders. The campground is typically open from July through early September, with seasonal closures due to snow at other times.
"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 Availabilityfrom $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"Plan to keep them nearby then. Horses and ATVs use is heavy on trails so keep them close then as well. Ground was safe for their paws (no foxtails, goat heads, or stickers). Potential for ticks."
"No bathrooms, primitive and huge families with atvs and dirt bikes everywhere nearby. They were polite and had reasonable time for no noise."
"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!"
"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."
"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."
"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."
"Nice campsites near a creek. It is a little close to the highway but there wasn’t much traffic. The shingle creek trailhead was close and the hiking is beautiful."
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.
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
ScoutFor you dog adventurists: This is a great place for wide open views to let them play (with excellent recall or a long lead). Wildlife was seen at dusk and dawn. Plan to keep them nearby then. Horses and ATVs use is heavy on trails so keep them close then as well. Ground was safe for their paws (no foxtails, goat heads, or stickers). Potential for ticks. Bring an orange vest for them if you’ve got one, it’s almost that time of year. Lots of mud puddles if it rains, great for dogs, hard on the camper.
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.
TravelerWe 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. We went up over Labor Day weekend so it was chilly and we did get some rain but nothing that dampened our spirits. The fishing was good even though I only went one day due to crowds and considering how many people were near the lake it was actually quiet and we didn't get a lot of traffic through our campground. We camped in an ADA camp spot for my husband and even though it was close to the bathrooms, we never got that nasty pit toilet aroma that you tend to smell with pit toilets and the hosts kept it very clean! Our camp site was on the edge and we had a small cliff at the back of it so that was nice for added privacy, deterring bigger animals and my son loved exploring it. We can't wait to go back and visit again. Great area!
ScoutThis was a short weekend getaway for us. Nice campsites near a creek. It is a little close to the highway but there wasn’t much traffic. The shingle creek trailhead was close and the hiking is beautiful. We saw a moose about 30 feet from our campsite drinking from the creek. Clean but minimal restrooms.
The Uinta Mountains near Duchesne, Utah provide equestrian camping options in high alpine settings, with elevations ranging from 7,000-10,000 feet. Riders can access trails through forests of lodgepole pine, spruce, and aspen groves. Summer temperatures typically reach 70-85°F during the day but drop to 40-50°F at night.
Trail exploration with horses: Shingle Creek ATV Campground offers access to trails for both horse riders and ATV enthusiasts. "The shingle creek trailhead was close and the hiking is beautiful. We saw a moose about 30 feet from our campsite drinking from the creek," notes camper Kristy M.
Alpine lake fishing: Several campgrounds provide access to alpine lakes stocked with trout. Currant Creek offers good fishing opportunities, as one camper explains: "Good fishing especially if you can get out on any kind of watercraft. FireWood available at host."
Backpacking access: For equestrians seeking multi-day adventures, use campgrounds as starting points for longer backcountry journeys. "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," shares Alan B. about his experience at Swift Creek campground.
Cooler temperatures: Horse campgrounds near Duchesne, Utah provide relief from summer heat due to their elevation. "Higher elevation so you escape some of the summer heat," notes Charles W. about Currant Creek Campground.
Wildlife viewing: The Uinta mountains offer excellent wildlife spotting opportunities for equestrians. "I've seen plenty of chipmunks and even had two elk run past my campsite," reports Belinda H., who frequents the dispersed camping areas near Mill Hollow.
Night skies: The remote location of many equestrian campgrounds results in exceptional stargazing. "From what I've seen and experienced, most if not all spots are accessible by truck/suv/towing a trailer. My favorite part of this spot is the beautiful views and the breathtaking sunsets. And of course the stars," shares connor P. about his experience at Mill Hollow dispersed camping.
Road conditions: Many horse-friendly campsites require traveling on rough roads. "The dirt road in is kinda brutal so be patient. It seems to deter some of the crowd which is great," explains Mike D. about accessing Currant Creek.
Reservation planning: For established campgrounds with designated equestrian sites, early reservations are crucial. "Got lucky!! 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!" reports Casey M. about their experience at Mirror Lake.
Limited facilities: Most dispersed horse camping areas lack amenities. "This is LNT (leave no trace) camping so be sure to pack out what you pack in. There are no amenities but you are along a water source so if you have a filter, you have water," explains Jenny R. about the Mill Hollow area.
Lake activities: Dollar Lake Campsites provide family-friendly spaces for camping with horses. "We stayed here while backpacking king's peak. It's the best camping spot to do so. It's a beautiful area and you have access to shade and water," notes Connor O.
Wildlife education: Teach children about respecting wildlife while camping with horses. "I've heard bears pulsing...didn't see them though. I carry my bear spray at all times and I hope I never have to use it," shares Belinda H. about dispersed camping at Mill Hollow.
Plan for variable weather: Even in summer, the high elevation means temperature fluctuations. "Great fishing and clean camping sites. Super cold at night so pack warm clothes!" advises LaDell G. about their stay at Currant Creek.
Site selection for horse trailers: When bringing horses and RVs, look for adequate parking space. "Our sites (62) were really nice. Plenty of space for parking and tents, and every spot had a picnic table and fire pit," mentions Julie A. about Soapstone Basin Dispersed Camping areas.
Water access planning: Many equestrian campgrounds have limited or no water hookups. "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," reports Taylor I. about Soapstone Basin.
Elevation considerations: Horse trailers and RVs may struggle with steep mountain roads. "The 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," warns Rick W. about the busy conditions at Currant Creek dispersed camping areas during peak season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Duchesne, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Duchesne, UT is Currant Creek with a 4.1-star rating from 15 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Duchesne, UT?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Duchesne, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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