Dispersed camping near Grantsville offers varied terrain at elevations between 4,500-8,000 feet with seasonal temperature swings of 30-40 degrees between day and night, particularly at higher elevations. South Willow Canyon road transitions from paved to dirt about 5 miles in, requiring higher clearance vehicles for accessing the more remote camping areas. Summer temperatures at lower elevations regularly exceed 90°F while canyon sites remain 10-15 degrees cooler.
What to do
Mountain biking trails: The areas around Loop Campground provide excellent access to Stansbury range trails. "The loop campground is a great spot to spend the night if you're wanting to explore the Stansbury's from a central location. The main trail leaving the campground is a loop trail for Deseret Peak but you can split off on numerous side trails to follow the range to the north or south," notes Robert G.
Fishing opportunities: Intake Campground offers creek access for fishing. "It is only a couple miles in after the dirt road starts. Surrounding the campground are these amazing looking rock cliffs and outcrops that look like volcanic flows or maybe a pyroclastic flow or tuff," writes Alan B.
Off-road adventures: Several miles down Highway 196 provides access to dispersed camping with off-road potential. "Tons of dispersed camping areas along the 196. We stayed about 12 miles off of the I-80, on the east side of the 196. Beautiful views, wide open spaces and super quiet," reports Rara B.
What campers like
Creekside sites: Cottonwood Campground offers water access that campers appreciate. "This is the very first campground that you come across after transferring from blacktop to dirt road past all the private houses. It lies a little over a mile up the road and is the smallest campground with only 2 campsites," says Alan B., adding that "there was an interesting little dam on the east side of the campground and I scared a bunch of trout out from under it."
Fall colors: Seasonal campers note the changing foliage. "It's unreal that this place is free. The sites are a little close together but there weren't many people there at the end of September and the changing leaves were spectacular!" writes Mariah G. about Cottonwood Campground.
Proximity to mountain views: The area provides dramatic backdrops, especially at sunset. "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," notes Tyler C.
What you should know
Weather preparation: Temperature fluctuations can be significant, especially at higher elevations. "The campground is at a pretty good elevation and will be much cooler than the surrounding desert, especially at night so make sure you're prepared appropriately," advises Robert G. about Loop Campground.
Bug awareness: Several campgrounds experience seasonal insect issues. "So many bugs it was awful, the mosquitoes ate us and our dogs even with bug repellents. The area was pretty flat it looked like on the left, but we had to go to the right as the left was full when we arrived," reports Cyrena P. about Horseshoe Knoll.
Road conditions: Access roads can be challenging for some vehicles. "Dirt road is also real rough, probably not for sedans," warns Tyler C. Similarly, Brittany N. notes, "Road is rough coming in as well."
Seasonal closures: Winter restricts access to some campgrounds. "The road to the campground is closed from late fall to mid spring so check ahead to see if it's open for the season," advises Robert G.
Tips for camping with families
Space considerations: Some dog friendly campgrounds near Grantsville offer more room for families. "We did the dry camping and we were in the location all the way to the back. The only two bad things that we noticed it was there was a lot of trash left over at the campground from the previous occupants. And there is no cell service at all unless you're up near the gate," explains Warren W. about Settlement Canyon, adding that "the dry camping spots are very spacious lots of space for the walk around and play and run."
Water features for children: Some sites have small water access points. "My young son loved the nearby spring, it was very mushy but not horrible in some spots!" shares Cyrena P. about Horseshoe Knoll.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Early mornings often provide wildlife sightings. "We woke up to see cows in the morning which the kids loved," says Carlee G., who stayed at Settlement Canyon.
Midweek camping benefits: For quieter experiences with families, consider non-weekend visits. "I have hiked from the trail head several times mid-week and the campground is usually completely empty so if you're looking for some peace and quiet, try to get here Monday to Thursday," suggests Robert G.
Tips from RVers
Site selection considerations: Many pet-friendly campsites near Grantsville have varying RV accessibility. "Some sites probably required 4WD. Looks like it would be really fun for OHV's. We were car camping, so didn't have to worry to much about space. From what we could tell there were probably only a couple good spots for an RV or tow-behind," explains Sara R. about Horseshoe Knoll.
Full hookup options: For RVers needing amenities, Great Salt Lake State Park offers facilities. "Small RV park at state park with marina right on Great Salt Lake," notes Joseph H. Another visitor, Kim T., mentions about a different location: "Great location to camp for touring Salt Lake City. Full hook-ups at a reasonable price. Sites are tight and busy on the weekends. Limited cell service."
Level site challenges: Terrain can be uneven for larger vehicles. "Not the flatest pullouts but workable and you'll have the area to yourselves," says Alex about dispersed camping options, adding "Probably don't need 4WD but low clearance vehicles might have trouble."
