Camping options surround Garrison, Utah, with elevations ranging from 5,300 to 8,500 feet creating diverse camping environments. The region experiences significant temperature variations, with summer days reaching 90°F while nights can drop below 50°F even in July and August. Winter access becomes limited as many campgrounds close from October through April due to snow and freezing conditions.
What to do
Star gazing opportunities: Upper Lehman Creek Campground offers exceptional night sky viewing due to minimal light pollution. According to one visitor, "The night sky is perfect for stargazing. High elevation can be a problem but worth it if you can handle it."
Cave exploration: Lehman Caves in Great Basin National Park offers unique subterranean adventures. A visitor recommends: "Lehman caves were amazing. Make sure you make reservations early and purchase your tickets for the tour of the caves before you get there. Several people that just showed up were not able to get tickets."
Creek-side hiking: The Lehman Creek Trail starts directly from Upper Lehman Creek Campground. One camper reported: "We also went on a challenging snowshoe hike up the Lehman Creek trail, which starts right from the campground."
Mountain biking: Trails accessible from Ely KOA provide options for cycling enthusiasts. A reviewer notes: "There are trails right from the grounds for walking, biking, quading."
What campers like
Creekside campsites: Lower Lehman Campground offers sites with running water sounds. One camper shared: "The site for the tent was right by the creek. It was quiet even though the spots weren't that far apart, and you feel like you're alone in a national park campsite."
Covered picnic areas: Sacramento Pass BLM Campground provides sheltered eating areas at no cost. As one visitor described: "Each site is an established site, with a covered picnic table & firepit. Each site is spaced out also. There's 2 bathrooms & a dumpster."
Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the spacing at Grey Cliffs Campground. One reviewer mentioned: "The sites were pretty private and not on top of each other at all. The cliffs here are very pretty and are a nice backdrop."
Clean facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain well-kept bathrooms despite remote locations. A camper at Sacramento Pass noted: "Beautiful and clean dispersed camping. There are many different sites. Even has restrooms."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds in the area fill quickly during peak season. At Grey Cliffs Campground, "It is reservation only, which is why we picked it, but there are several other campgrounds within the park."
Limited services: Most campgrounds have minimal amenities. One reviewer at Upper Lehman noted: "This park is truly in the middle of nowhere, with almost no development close to the entrance. What that means is that you need to come prepared with groceries and supplies."
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies widely between campgrounds. At Border Inn Casino & RV Park, one camper reported: "AT&T coverage was good, with 2 bars of 5G and speeds up to 7 MB/s."
Rocky terrain challenges: At Grey Cliffs, a camper warned: "The ground is so rocky it became very difficult to drive a spike into the ground far enough to work and not bend them. Do not bring a large tent, the pads are small."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Ely KOA offers recreational facilities for children. A family noted: "My daughter (8) loved the playground."
Tent camping surfaces: Some campgrounds provide more comfortable sleeping surfaces. One family mentioned at Ely KOA: "The campsite was padded with grass, which is much more comfortable than sleeping on dirt."
Dog-friendly considerations: Pet policies vary between parks and trails. A visitor to Border Inn Casino & RV Park shared: "If you have a dog, there is a long gravel road leading out from the back to walk it."
Educational opportunities: Great Basin National Park offers ranger-led activities. A visitor to Lower Lehman Campground recommended: "The jewel of this park during the off/shoulder season is Lehman Cave, with fun ranger-led tours starting right from the visitor center."
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Some rv sites near Garrison, Utah present difficulties for stabilizing rigs. One RVer at Upper Lehman reported: "One issue to note is that most of parking pads are not very level (to help with snow melt) in the upper campground, so it made it quite challenging to level our little camper."
Sewer connection planning: At Great Basin Desert Camping & RV, hookups require preparation. An RVer advised: "A heads-up: the sewer drain is at the very back of the site, so you'll need extra long hoses. For our rig, we used three connected hoses to reach, so come prepared!"
Big rig accessibility: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger RVs. A visitor to Great Basin Desert Camping & RV noted: "We recently stayed here in our 39-foot fifth wheel while visiting Great Basin National Park and had a fantastic time. This is the closest full-hookup RV campground to the park, and it's perfect for big rigs."
Seasonal considerations: Weather impacts site conditions significantly. At Whispering Elms, a reviewer observed: "Rustic and a bit dusty, but for a base camp it fit the bill. The weather was in the high 90s so we were so glad we had full hook-ups."
