Franklin Basin Dispersed Camping is located 20 miles west of Garden City near the Utah-Idaho border. The area sits at approximately 7,000 feet elevation with alpine terrain characterized by forest meadows and riverside campsites. Free dispersed camping with pet-friendly policies is available along a well-maintained gravel road that follows Logan River, making it accessible for both 2WD vehicles and RVs.
What to do
Hiking nearby trails: From Sunrise Campground, access multiple trails including a short path with spectacular views. "Behind the bathrooms on the South side there is a little trail with a beautiful view of the lake. If you go exploring behind the East bathrooms you'll see a little creek. The trails are no longer maintained which is a bummer so be careful," notes Richelle S.
Fishing in Logan River: Red Banks Campground offers direct river access for fishing cutthroat trout. "Great river access and fishing in the Logan River for Bear River Cutts," explains Zach P., highlighting the productive fishing grounds along the campground's river frontage.
Water activities at Bear Lake: Sun Outdoors Garden City Utah provides direct beach and lake access. According to GoWhereYouAreDraw N., "This campground seems like it is one of the closer campgrounds to the water. It's pet-friendly, has full hookups, picnic tables, and wifi. The nice thing about this campground is it does have a beach as well as water/lake access."
What campers like
Spacious wooded sites: Sunrise Campground offers substantial campsites with natural features. "This campground is beautiful and the sites are huge! The bathrooms were pretty clean. Cell service was decent," reports Jordan H., describing the campground's generous spacing.
Quieter atmosphere: Campers appreciate the peaceful setting at Bear Lake/Trail Side KOA Journey. "Smaller in size and way less amenities than the other KOA but way more quiet. If you're looking to have a more peaceful stay, this is your place," states GoWhereYouAreDraw N., highlighting the tranquility factor.
River sound backdrop: The natural soundscape enhances the camping experience at Franklin Basin. "There is a creek that flows back and forth around the area, we had that for our soundtrack as we slept," shares Erika M., describing the soothing ambient sounds.
What you should know
Elevation and weather considerations: At higher elevations near Garden City, temperatures can drop significantly at night. "We went at the beginning of June, it was a bit chilly some mornings and at night, so come prepared," advises Kennedy F. about their Franklin Basin Dispersed Camping experience.
Weekend crowding issues: Campsite availability can be challenging during peak periods. "When my family showed up Friday August 23rd there was no Camp Host. We arrived at 11pm to claim site 6 which I had reserved 5 weeks prior and there was a large family with all their crap all over our site," reports Michelle H. about a Sunrise Campground incident.
Road conditions for dispersed camping: Accessing some camping areas requires awareness of road conditions. "This road is rough and very bumpy," notes Kaden M. about Franklin Basin Road, while another camper mentions "You can drive well into Idaho. You can drive for about 1.5 hours up in here and see amazing river meadow mountain views."
Tips for camping with families
Yurt options for easier setup: Birch Campground offers alternative accommodations for families seeking convenience. "We really liked that this site was close to the beach where we could tube and kayak as well as is only a couple miles from various trailhead or walking running and biking," says Reames C.
Playground amenities: Bear Lake/Marina Side KOA Holiday includes activities for children. "There is an amazing playground for kids, swimming pool, and jumping pillow," notes JJ V., describing the family-friendly facilities.
Beach proximity for children: Look for campsites close to shallow water access. "Awesome lake for kids because you can walk out in the lake pretty far before it gets deep," explains John M. about South Eden Campground, making it safer for families with young children.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling considerations: Most RV sites at Rendezvous Beach are well-designed. "Birch campground at Rendezvous Beach has nice paved (mostly level) spots. Each site has a covered picnic table in a concrete pad," shares Lori, providing practical information for rig setup.
Hookup availability: Red Banks Campground provides basic amenities for smaller RVs. "They had plenty of room for vehicles in each spot," notes Jamie B., though they also mentioned that some riverside sites might be too small for larger rigs.
Campsite maintenance reality: Some previously well-maintained sites may require extra preparation. "The picnic table at my site and concrete pad were covered in dirt/sand and useless because I don't have a broom. The common areas between sites are overgrown with weeds," explains Lori about Birch Campground, suggesting RVers bring cleaning supplies.
Ranger
