Best Dispersed Camping near Heber, UT

Recent Dispersed Reviews near Heber, Utah

221 Reviews of 59 Heber Campgrounds

• 

  Jenny R.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 10, 2018

  Dispersed Camping--Mill Hollow/Utah FR054

  Peaceful National Forest Dispersed Camping

  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. We were planning to stay at the campground but it was closed, so we took advantage of free dispersed camping right outside. 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. All along the road there are open fields that can accommodate trailers and bigger parties then just a single tent. Near the campground (and the site we chose) is an outdoor education center which would be fun to go back and visit later in the summer. We really enjoyed camping here as it was peaceful and private (at least when we visited).  Later in the summer that may not be the case, especially close to the road. The biggest issue may be the road. My Mazda3 was able to make it up, but the road was quite rutted and rough and you had to go through a small runoff stream. If you have a lowered vehicle, you may have a tough time but anything with a higher clearance will do just fine. Overall, I loved exploring a new area that I will definitely return to.

• 

  Spencer L.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 25, 2020

  Moosehorn Dispersed Camping

  Beautiful spot, level ground can be hard to find

  This is a great free camping site on BLM land. It is right across from the Moosehorn campground and is very close to Mirror Lake. Also only 5min drive from the Bald Mountain hime which offers incredible sunsets. There are a number of sites in this area and requires going down a dirt road. RVs can access the majority of sites. There are preexisting firepits and small clearings where tents can go. The prime, level spots are the best. There are a number of other sites that still have fire pits, but it is hard to find level ground for tents. There are lots of trees for those who like hammocking. Services are about 30 min drive from this location. Pack your own water!

• 

  Jenny R.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 21, 2018

  Dispersed Camping Willow Spring (Wasatch)

  Ranger Review: Snapbuds and Dispersed Camping toward Willow Spring

  Campground Review: In my attempt to explore as many areas in Utah as I can, I came across this wonderful dispersed camping off Highway 40, south of Heber City toward Main Canyon. I had the intention of staying in a nearby campground. But when I felt the price was a bit too high for just one night, I sought adventure elsewhere. I randomly turned off toward Main Canyon and followed the dirt road until I found a spot I liked. I knew I was in dispersed national forest camping when there are signs indicating a 14 day limit. So all along this dirt road, which got pretty rocky at times, are spots to pull off and camp for the night. It can accommodate single tents, multiple tents, RVs (obviously no hookups) and trailers.  There are man-made fire pits so if you start a fire, be sure to put it out completely and observe LNT (leave no trace) camping principles. Whatever you bring in with you is what you have as there are no amenities to speak of. The ground was soft and there were lots of trees from which to hang a hammock. I did forget to fill my water jug before I left my house so I had to search out a small run off stream from which I could filter water. But be sure to have a good water filter if you are going to go this route.  The only real negative I have for this site (or area of sites) is that there was a lot of AVT/Side-by-side/dirtbike traffic. If that type of activity was on my list, this area would be first on my list. However, since I chose not to stay in a campground because I wanted the seclusion, the traffic was a little bit of a bummer. But, because the camping was free and everyone who passed waved and was really nice, I didn’t have too much of a problem with it. Also, the site I chose was right off the road (as majority of them are). If I wanted to hike with my stuff a little more, I found a very pretty meadow away from the road that would have been very peaceful. I guess that will have to be my next spot. OI verall, I have a love for free, dispersed camping and this area is large enough to explore for a wide variety of adventures.

  Gear Review: Snapbuds

  As a Ranger for the Dyrt, I get the opportunity to test out gear every so often from our amazing partners. I was given the opportunity to test out a new product called Snapbuds. The premise of this product is to help keep your earbud cords organized or untangled by use of magnets. They come in three different colors—grey, black, and white, so you can make them coordinate with your cords or stand out. The instructions are easy to follow and have a few options for how to set these little magnets into different configurations. It also has a really handy measuring tape/picture to make sure you can get the snapbuds in the right spot. I decided to try the standard configuration on my first pair of earbuds. These are designed to be permanent additions to your cords so be sure to pay attention to what direction you snap the magnets on. Once I got them on, I wrapped them up and threw them around in my bag. The magnets held and when I went to use them, all I had to do was pull the magnets apart and the cord was untangled. It was pretty sweet. I also used them while hiking around with my dog.

  Overall, these are a pretty cool solution to a long standing annoyance of earbud cords.

• 

  GoWhereYouAreDraw N.

  Legend

  

  May. 21, 2020

  Dispersed Camping on Hobble Creek Road

  If it’s free, it’s for me!

  How to get there: From Springville, Utah, go about 10-12 miles up East Canyon Road, and keep to the right up Hobble Creek Road. We passed a golf course, a couple paid forest service campgrounds, and a shooting range. The road will narrow and as you go over a bridge, the road turns to gravel and that’s where the dispersed camping starts. We went about 2-3 miles up Hobble Road from the bridge to find our spot.

  Pros: Free camping! The view is amazing and we found a few sites toward the top with fire pits. Road was in good condition all the way. Lots of great hiking.

  Cons: No cell service with Verizon, lots of dirt bikers and campsites are close to the road. Very crowded on weekends. Also the road is very narrow and people don’t take the road slowly. Proceed with caution.

  Overall, beautiful view and very peaceful at night.

• 

  Jenny R.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 29, 2018

  Pyramid Lake Dispersed Camping

  Ranger Review: Matador Transit30 Duffle at Pyramid Lake, UT

  Campground Review: Dispersed Camping at Pyramid Lake, UT

  Pyramid Lake is another gem of a mountain lake found in the Uinta Mountains of Utah. It is a small-medium sized lake you can drive to (with a small walk in) and has lots of National Forest dispersed camping. This area, while on National Forest, does require a recreation pass. A three-day pass is $6 which you can get at the various self-serve stations found along the main Mirror Lake Highway or it is free if you have a National Parks pass. It is on the honor system. So before I go into the camp area a few notes on getting there. Once you turn off highway 150 towards Murdock Basin, you have 6 miles of dirt/rock road ahead of you. A car can make it the first four miles, but a vehicle with at least 18” of clearance (and recommended AWD/4WD) is required as the road turns into sections of just really large rocks. You can stop and camp anywhere along that forest service road, but to get to either Pyramid or Echo Lake, you need the higher clearance.

  The camping area and lake: it is dispersed camping so it is very primitive. No running water (either bring your own or a way to filter lake water), no pit toilets (bring a spade to dig a cat hole and bury or pack out your TP), tent or hammock camping (a pull behind trailer won’t make it the last few miles), scattered fire pits (practice extreme fire safety and make sure you fully put out any fire you start), and no garbage service (pack out whatever you pack in), aka typical backcountry camping. I loved it! The lake is beautiful and there is a trail you can walk around it. I did bring my inflatable paddleboard but didn’t end up breaking it out because it was too windy. But I will definitely return to paddle the lake another day. Multiple people were fishing and I could see the fish jumping as well. There is also a large boulder field on the South side of the lake which is fun to scramble around. I have decided my dog is part mountain goat. I chose a small spot about 50 meters from the water—halfway between the lake and where I parked the car. It was small and perfect for just one person and dog.

  Downsides to the lake: While visiting a small mountain lake is always fun, there was a few things that didn’t meet my expectations (which are relatively low). The biggest thing which surprised me was how busy it was considering how rough the road was. It is really fun to see lots of people enjoying the outdoors but there were two larger groups of twenty-somethings that were really loud the whole night. I think one group played music and stayed up all night long and randomly walked down to the lake loudly with flashlights (which was really not necessary considering it was a cloudless, full moon night). They had dogs barking and generally seemed to not take the other people camping at the lake into consideration. Granted it was a killer spot for a group campout but it definitely affected by enjoyment of the evening. Overall, I really enjoyed the area and will return to camp again.

  Gear Review: Matador Transit30 Duffle

  As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get the opportunity to test out gear for our awesome partners from time to time. I was given the privilege of testing out the Matador Transit30 packable duffle bag in grey. This bag, when stuffed is shorter but thicker than my phone but when unpacked is a full 30 liter duffle bag. For those who don’t speak liter size it is about the size of a typical medium Adidas duffle bag. It is made up of water resistant ripstop material, has one seam sealed zippered pocket, and the main pocket is accessed by a two-way seam sealed zipper. 

  Pros:

  • It is super lightweight, which is what Matador is known for, and unstructured. This allows the bag to mold to whatever is inside and be able to fit itself inside another bag. I took this bag filled with my overnight camping stuff when I hiked by paddleboard to another lake and I was able to keep my camping stuff contained while fitting it in my SUP bag.
  • The zippers are seam sealed which help with water resistance, overall durability, and versatility of the bag.
  • It fits so much stuff!
  • It only has hand straps, no shoulder strap (depending on your preferences this is both a pro and con). If you don’t every use shoulder straps why have to keep track of something you never use? The straps are long enough to put over your shoulder and you can wear it as a backpack.
  • The stuff sack is attached to the inside so it is a bonus pocket for small items when the bag is not stuffed inside.
  • There is a front small zippered pocket for important things such as keys, wallet, etc.

  Cons:

  • It is super thin and durable material but I am still nervous about puncture potential. I am really hard on my gear and I guess time will tell if I rip and hole in it or not.
  • I am trying really hard to think of something and I am coming up short.

  Overall, I am very excited to use this bag for quick overnight camping trips and overall general duffle bag usage. I can see myself including this bag when I travel in case I need extra storage space. If you have a slight love obsession with gear bags (as I do), this is a must addition to your packing arsenal. Its versatility and weight are unmatched and time will tell on the durability (but I have a feeling it will hold up just fine!).

• C

  Callie F.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 10, 2024

  Dispersed Camping Willow Spring (Wasatch)

  Rocky Rough Road

  Great dispersed camping area with plenty of room! If going all the way to the marked location on the map, only attempt with a high clearance 4x4 or you will not make it! We have a TRX and overland camper and bottomed out on a culvert that dropped off sharply. We went to the marked location only to find a single camping spot on a moderate slope. Recommend stopping two miles earlier in the “Big Glade” meadow, flat and plenty of camping spots. We ended up a mile before that at a cross roads at 8900’. Concur with the ATv traffic from previous reviews, but overall relatively quiet

• 

  GoWhereYouAreDraw N.

  Legend

  

  May. 21, 2020

  Clyde Creek Dispersed Camping

  Tremendous view 🌄

  Clyde Creek is about 5 miles up a dirt and graveled road about 1 mile south of US 40 on Strawberry Rd, at Strawberry Reservoir. The nearest town is Heber City 21.8 miles. The road is maintained by the forest service and is subject to closure when it becomes too wet.

  This is a fantastic FREE camp site. It was very well kept and clean. There is quite a bit of shade because of the tree line the campsites are backed up to. The view is amazing. There is a nice little trail you can follow into the woods.

  Area activities: OHV, fishing, hiking, and hunting.

• C

  CK M.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 3, 2020

  Millcreek Canyon Dispersed Camping

  Millcreek dispersed camping spot

  1/3 of a mile up the Mt. Aire trail there are a few premade dispersed camping spots. 1 is good for groups of 3 tents with a nice big fire pit and the others are smaller for 1 or 2 people sharing a tent. They are right off the trail but the trail is somewhat busy, you won't be completely alone until after 10pm or before 5 (trail runners are crazy). 

  It's hard to walk in as if you are 'car camping' worth it to backpack everything in one go, there is a creek and it's cool in the canyon, plus you really can't beat a camp spot that is only 20 minutes outside of town and that no one ever goes to. People don't seem to camp in Millcreek that often, I'm not sure why. 

  I would recommend setting up at Mt. Aire, and then camping to the summit (45 minute uphill trek) for sunset or sunrise, both are beautiful.

• 

  Ethan H.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 17, 2020

  Hobble Right Fork Dispersed

  Hobble Fork

  stunning views of the surrounding mountains. hardly any light pollution, so the stars were amazing. the dirt road in was pretty rough, but manageable. make sure you have a spare tire on you just in case. lots of free ranges cows along the roads so be cautious. plenty of dispersed camp sites with flat spots to pitch a tent. There was a burn ban when I was there 10/10/20, but there were fire pits at each site.

• 

  Tayler S.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 25, 2023

  Soapstone Basin Dispersed Camping

  Our favorite

  We go several times a year. You have to be willing to “rough it”. There are no facilities and no toilets. But it’s gorgeous. Wildflowers as far as you can see. Wide open spaces. Dispersed camp sites.

• 

  Spencer L.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 11, 2020

  Wall Lake Dispersed Campground

  Stunning but check the weather

  Beautiful spot up in the Uinta National Forest. The only fee is the recreation day pass which costs about $5 for 3 days. That's just to park your car. The trailhead begins about 50 yards to the right of the info kiosk. You hike in about 1.5 miles and the lake is surrounded by camping sites. Many firepits exist around the area and are all within 100-200 yards of the lake. You can hike around the lake which is very scenic. Mountain weather changes quick and we got caught in snow with a sudden drop in temp. Gear worked well and it turned out great.  Make sure you sign the hiking log so rangers know you're out there. Can be found at the Wall Lake trail head. Cross over the little bridge at the lake and hike a little behind the trees to find some amazing camping spots!

• C

  Carol B.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 11, 2020

  Soapstone Basin Dispersed Camping

  Dispersed camping

  Soapstone basin is dispersed camping at its best! I stayed here for three nights in July, it was quiet and secluded. The road at times was a bit rough for my little Ford escape and tab camper however the sunsets were amazing as was the dark moonless night. one night while falling asleep I hear a few little sneezes outside. It was a squirrel. Later I was told female squirrels will sneeze after mating! Not sure that's entirely true but the sneezing part was pretty cute!

• 

  Geoff P.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 26, 2021

  Wolf Creek Pass Primitive Areas

  Correct coordinates

  40.47015, -111.06317 Lots of dispersed camping up here.

• C

  Cheri C.

  Traveler

  

  Nov. 18, 2020

  Sheep Creek Dispersed Camping Area

  Great area

  Easy to get to dispersed camping site.

• T

  Tiffany P.

  Traveler

  

  Apr. 14, 2024

  Trial Lake Road Dispersed Camping

  Trial Lake Road Dispersed Camping

  Dispersed camping all along the road past the Washington Lake established campgrounds

• 

  Clayton M.

  Traveler

  

  Feb. 23, 2019

  Dispersed Camping--Mill Hollow/Utah FR054

  Great Place To Camp With Right Equipment

  Our family really likes dispersed camping near Mill hollow reservoir. It’s very peaceful and scenic! The main road in is fairly easy to navigate but if you venture off the main path you’ll want a vehicle with clearance and possibly 4X4. We cherish the ability to camp like this so we always take out everything we brought in “leave no trace” unfortunately not everyone has the same respect so we typically end up taking out any trash we find from the previous campers. Overall a great place to camp if you’re equipped for dispersed camping!

• 

  Preston G.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 22, 2020

  Soapstone Basin Dispersed Camping

  All-time favorite place to camp

  The Wasatch National Forrest is beautiful. There are many hidden lakes to explore and lots of big trees to help keep cool in the summer. Lots of dispersed camping sites.

• 

  Honeymooners O.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 21, 2021

  Dispersed Camping Willow Spring (Wasatch)

  Lots of dispersed camping available

  Open dispersed camping with lots of places to camp. Can get pretty crowded and noisy at times but worth not having to pay for. Can accommodate larger groups and single families. No amenities except for porta potties.

• 

  Shon H.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 24, 2021

  Christmas Meadows

  A great dispersed place

  A great place to do some dispersed camping without being bothered. Right off the creek, and beautiful views. Easy to drive in with a smallish trailer. No defined camp rings to build a fire in

• 

  Ben H.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 17, 2024

  Squaw Peak Road Dispersed

  Bumpy road

  The road leading here is very bumpy. There are two specific spots that are really bad. 4x4 is almost a requirement. I did however see some people make it up in a van so it is possible. The coordinates lead to an open field with a lot of campsites. I would suggest parking in the lot a little further ahead on the left. This road is a popular destination so people ride up and down it a lot. The views are well worth it and there is also some hiking trails around here as well. There are more dispersed camping sites further along this road. I was able to get a very spotty one bar signal of Verizon while near the coordinates.

• 

  Madison M.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 12, 2020

  Uinta Dispersed Campsites

  Sulphur Campground dispersed camping

  Based on the review above, we stayed at the dispersed camping site just past sulphur campground and we were not disappointed. There was a little stream in walking distance across the meadow and we even saw a moose go through the campground in the morning!

• 

  Ray & Terri F.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 10, 2023

  Sheep Creek Dispersed Camping Area

  Open field with several fire rings, fair bit of road noise

  We are full-timers and have a 36 ft Class A with a Cherokee Trailhawk tow. We stayed here for 3 days in early June over the weekend. The dispersed camping area pretty much fills up overnight, with 7 or 8 of us staying longer. There were a few day users as well. The entire area was clean and free of trash. The sites are a little wonky, but we were able to get level. While the CG is far enough from US 6 to not be bothered with road noise, Sheep Creek Rd sees a lot of traffic and hence a fair bit of road noise. AT&T coverage was quite good, with 3 bars of 5G and speeds up to 16 MB/s.

• 

  Casey W.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 26, 2020

  Dispersed Camping Willow Spring (Wasatch)

  Rough Path but Isolated

  I went through Wallsburg and entered the canyon on the west side and couldn't actually go too far up the path, it's definitely 4x4 required for the entirety of the path, but the first bit can be handled by most vehicles, but have loads of pull offs for dispersed camping pretty much as soon as you enter the canyon.

• 

  Taylor S.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 5, 2023

  Soapstone Basin Dispersed Camping

  Cooler weather

  Headed up this way to escape the valley heat. Temps are significantly cooler. Decent dispersed camping sites, but coming in on a Friday afternoon a lot of sites already filled. There is a lot of road traffic in the area, keep an eye out for side by sides, motorcycles and 4 wheelers because a lot of them aren’t.

• N

  Nora S.

  Ranger

  

  Aug. 4, 2020

  Mineral Basin Dispersed

  A foresty safe haven!

  So this campsite we ended up finding last minute in a desperate attempt to find somewhere close as night fell. And let me just say, we couldn’t have asked for a better campsite. The area was very easy to find, although the directions don’t exactly lead you to the right spot. It’s actually a turn farther up the road where you take a right instead of a left, the left leads you to an area where camping is forbidden and is used as a horse trail. Luckily as we had arrived so late and it was dark, a couple of horseback riders just pointed us farther down the road and we quickly found a spot. However, you have to make sure to self-pay at the little turnout before the campsite for a US pass, I think the fee was about $6 but our annual pass was an acceptable form of payment. The campsite was well maintained (as much as you can expect from dispersed camping) with a little fire pit and a flat space clear of rocks. We woke up to the noises of the wildlife around us, and the beautiful sunrise over the mountains. A very enjoyable stay, and would recommend to anyone!

• 

  Jessica

  Guide

  

  Apr. 8, 2021

  Sheep Creek Dispersed Camping Area

  Gorgeous view

  There is the dispersed camping right when you turn in, however if you keep going up the mountain there is a super small turn off to the right then brings you up a little hill and there’s a few more sites I would have missed if I want so nosey. The view is amazing but the sites up here have so much trash. It’s not hard to clean up after yourself!

• 

  Jenny R.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 13, 2018

  Pittsburg Lake Dispersed

  Ranger Review: Matador Camera Base Layer at Pittsburg Lake UT

  Campground Review: Dispersed camping at Pittsburg Lake, Utah

  Because I am into hiking and exploring national forest camping this summer, I found a fun adventure at Pittsburg Lake in the Uinta National Forest in the Wasatch Mountains. Getting there—the hike is a 1.5 mile hike up to the lake. Getting to the trail head is a dusty, dirt road behind Midway, UT. You are driving on dirt road for approximately 6-7 miles and will encounter at least two stream crossings. One crossing is cobblestoned, the other is driving up the stream for 50 feet right before the trail head. Therefore, a high clearance vehicle is highly recommended, if not necessary. There are a lot of off roading trails back in this area so you will encounter lots of RZRs, dirtbikes, 4-wheelers, jeeps, etc on your way to the trailhead but a non-lowered car can handle the road if the driver is comfortable. The really rocky section is past the trail head. Anyway, long dusty road to the trailhead then then hike is 1.5 miles all uphill with 1500 ft of elevation gain. You are hiking on a very rocky old mining road. My husband and I decided we wanted to really punish ourselves and we hiked up with an inflatable paddle board in addition to my stuff for camping. The hike is totally doable even with a lot of gear, just go slow and be careful of your footing. To be honest, I felt sorer after the hike down then after the hike up. So you make it up the trail and you come to a beautiful, small alpine lake. The lake is approximately .33 miles around and has trout for fishing. There is even an old homestead cabin to explore. The lake has many human-made fire pits scattered all around depending if you want to be right on the lake or if you want to tuck back farther into the woods. I found a spot close to the lake for easy paddle board access where I could hang my hammock. This was my first adventure in hammock camping and I actually enjoyed it. The views are so pretty and you are on the backside of Snowbird Ski Area. The area was beautiful and I wish I saw more wildlife (I have heard rumors of elk and moose sightings).

  I am giving this camping area 4 stars not because of the area itself (it is free, beautiful, relaxing, etc.) but because of the other people who were staying up there made it not the best night for a female solo camper with her dog. There was another group camping about 200 meters away but I don’t think they knew I was there and they were up late making a lot of noise. Every time I was about to fall asleep, I would hear them chop wood or yell for an echo or make some other non-natural noise that would keep me awake (plus my imagination would start to run away from me). There was also another couple who decided to camp up there and needed to borrow a lighter but ended up leaving around 2AM. So whenever they came close to my camp, my wonderful protective dog would growl and raise the alarm, again, inhibiting my ability to fall asleep. The other annoyance was the flies. I am not sure if it is just the spot that I chose that had a lot of flies or they would have followed me wherever I set up camp. They didn’t bite and were more annoying than anything. I think my dog ate a few dozen as they buzzed around her head. So due to those negatives, the spot gets dinged a star.

  Overall, it was worth carrying the paddle board up to the lake as I was able to relax and float and tool around. You can’t go very far but being on the water is always a good time. I could read my book in the hammock and go for exploratory hikes in the area. Final thought, it is National Forest camping so please, please, please follow leave no trace principles to keep the area nice for future visitors.

  Gear Review: Matador Camera Base Layer

  As a Ranger for The Dyrt I get the opportunity to test out gear from our awesome partners once in a while. While I was camping at Pittsburg Lake, I had the opportunity to try out the Matador Camera Base Layer. Because I am a glutton for punishment, I decided to haul a bunch of gear up to Pittsburg Lake and it included by nice DSLR camera. Photography is a fun hobby I have been playing around with for a few years, but I come across the problem of how to safely get my camera places without carrying either an additional camera bag that takes up a lot of space or wrapping my camera up in a sweatshirt or other piece of clothing to protect it with a smaller profile. Well, the Matador camera base layer has officially solved my problem. Hooray! The base layer is basically a padded, contoured, dry sack for my camera. Place the camera lens down, then roll and clip the top like a dry sack. It has holes to allow your camera neck or wrist straps to come through so you can wear your camera while it is being protected. Because it is from Matador, it is super lightweight but it does not feel flimsy, thin, or not durable. I was able to stuff my camera in the top of my paddle board bag while hiking up and down and I felt comfortable that nothing would be broken when I got to the top. It protected it from the dirt and dust that gets on everything when you are camping so it helped to keep things cleaner. I also took my camera for a hike with no additional backpacks and I clipped the base layer around my wrist so it wouldn’t get in the way. Besides being a bit hot, it was a great way to keep track of the base layer. I cannot convey how happy I am to have this piece of equipment in my gear box. While I am no Ansel Adams, being able to take more pictures with my camera and not just my phone while I am out on adventures will add another dimension to my activities and help me develop a new skill. The only thing I might want to improve is a small piece of Velcro on the bottom to help keep the waterproof cover inside its little pocket. But this is so minor in the grand scheme of things. If you are into photography at all, I highly recommend looking into this product.