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The Wasatch Front foothills near Highland, Utah feature several established campgrounds surrounded by mountains and canyons. Granite Flat and Little Mill campgrounds in American Fork Canyon provide developed sites suitable for tent and RV camping, while areas around Utah Lake State Park offer waterfront options. Most campsites in the region accommodate both tent and RV setups, though amenities vary considerably between locations. The campground selection includes options ranging from fully developed sites with electric hookups and showers to more primitive locations with basic vault toilets and fire rings.
The camping season in this region typically runs from April through October, with most mountain campgrounds closing during winter months. "We LOVED Little Mill! It's the perfect campground. It has the smell of pine trees, a babbling brook, and it is just down the road from Timpanogos Cave National Monument," noted one visitor about a popular camping area. Many campgrounds require advance reservations through Recreation.gov, particularly during summer weekends when sites fill quickly. Road access to higher elevation sites can be limited by snow until late spring, while canyon campgrounds like Little Mill remain accessible earlier in the season. Weather conditions vary significantly with elevation, with mountain campgrounds experiencing cooler temperatures even during summer months. Cell phone coverage is generally available near major roads but becomes spotty in more remote areas and deep canyons.
Campgrounds with creek or river access receive particularly positive reviews, with campers highlighting opportunities for fishing, wading, and the pleasant ambient sound of running water. Several visitors mentioned road noise as a potential drawback at Little Mill Campground despite its scenic setting. American Fork Canyon provides convenient access to popular attractions like Timpanogos Cave National Monument and Tibble Fork Reservoir, making the nearby campgrounds excellent base camps for exploration. The proximity to urban areas means many campgrounds fill quickly on weekends, with visitors recommending mid-week stays for those seeking more solitude. Wildlife sightings including deer, elk, and wild turkeys are frequently mentioned in visitor reviews, adding to the outdoor experience while remaining close to urban amenities in the nearby Utah Valley.
"Tucked in very back. Long ways to walk from car. Water spout next to car area. Will be sharing parking with 2 other sites. 2 lakes nearby. Fire pit with grill gate. Shaded area."
"Utah is such an amazing place to visit for the outdoors. My family and I come here once a year because we love hiking and being in the outdoors."
from $27 - $355 / night
Check Availability"We got a site with access to the river which my kids really enjoyed. There was a fun giant "sliding rock" in the area to climb on. Lots of trees for hammocks."
"The site we stayed at had many trees around to hang hammocks and also eat and picnic in the shade. There are brand new camp fires in all sites."
from $27 - $227 / night
Check Availability"The only bad part about this camp site is all the highway noise. It is close to the Provo river and there is lots of shade so that is nice. Great place to have a camp fire and cook some S'mores. "
"Close in to town, very pretty with Provo river next to it. Bike path and highway noise can be distracting."
"This campground was nestled in the middle of Lehi Utah and it was a great place for us to swing in for one night."
"We were able to get a spot next to the Jordan River under a beautiful tree. We brought our 16ft camper and didn’t need to back it in or anything."
from $25 - $175 / night
Check Availability"Lakeside was our home for 3 nights while we were in town for Provo’s annual Colonial Festival."
"You're super close to amenities and anything you could want to see in town, as well as Utah Lake."
from $31 - $48 / night
Check Availability"It was quiet, tucked away from anyone. Didn't really see anyone for the three days we are there. Our site was next to the river, which really helped drown out all other sounds! "
"We had site 11 close to the bathroom and in a flat, sunny clearing surrounded by trees. You could hear the nearby road a bit and see the mountains a little bit."
from $29 - $215 / night
Check Availability"I love how it is near a river. You can hear it at night. It's so nice to get to a cool area out of the hot valley and into the cool scenic back country of Utah county."
"While there are many campgrounds in Utah that rival it, this one is special because it's such a short drive after work."
from $27 - $204 / night
Check Availability"Bathrooms always close by, no showers. All sites have a picnic table and fire pit. If you’re lucky, you can get a site close to the creek. Nice, cool nights in the summer."
"Right up Big Cottonwood Canyon, this campground has the advantage of being up the canyon so you feel far away from the city, but close enough that you could go on a work night and still make it to the"
from $29 - $327 / night
Check Availability"Gorgeous view across the lake. Quiet. Electricity worked well. Extremely clean. Camp hosts were nowhere to be found and another rig had claimed the end lake-adjacent site I paid for."
"There are mountain views on every side, lake to one side, and wetlands and fields with cows on the other. Very clean, nice campground host. Only 2 showers but they were clean."
from $50 - $100 / night
Check Availability"This campground is within 40 minutes of town, but feels like you are far away from your worries. There is a stream that runs thru it and a lot of trees that provide plenty of shade."
"This area, really all of American Fork Canyon is among the prettiest places in Utah Valley. Go! Camp! Hike Timp!"
from $27 / night
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ScoutI love driving through Middle Canyon. Its 5 dollars for a day pass and it's beautiful. I have never failed to see deer on the drive. I love to drive through it when the leaves change in Fall.
GuideThis is a lovely RV park, sites are really spacious and views are beautiful- staff are friendly and extremely helpful
ScoutBeautiful, quiet for the most part. I parked at one of many, large, open spaces on the East main Canyon Road, A little traffic people going I and down, but nothing bothersome. The main highway is close, but I can barely hear it. From what I can tell, there are many options along the highway as well, including one pay to use campground. There’s also several ways to access this main road.
ScoutThis place has it all. Clean bathrooms, hot showers, washers n dryers, basketball court, playground, fenced in dog park, a clubhouse building that has arcade games, pool tables, full kitchen, skee ball, dart boards, recliners so comfy you won't wanna get up, all set up around a huge tv screen similar to being at a movie theater, BOWLING, yes bowling, an outdoor swimming pool, awesome friendly happy helpful staff and matience, green sites with power water sewer, pull thru and back in sites, picnic tables, BBQ grills, very family friendly there! And they seem to do cute things throughout the week inviting everyone to join, like free hotdogs and hangout at main pavilion, movie nights, game nights, like they actually care about you as people and not just a payment! Its a nice park for sure!
TravelerFun campground with a discovery walking nature trail. Dry camping with easy river/creek access. Stayed in loop A - lots of trees, birds and insects. Clean and close to the Salt Lake Valley. Fun place to camp with family. Limited cell service, clean vault toilets, great fire rings, picnic tables.
ScoutSuper cute little campground with decent pit toilets. Got a lovely corner spot & it was super quiet and peaceful. Be warned that it is mosquito season!
GuideEasy check in process. Fire pit is awesome with plenty of room for wood. All spots were flat enough for the rooftop tent. My spot was 59 and had the most slope. Showers/bathrooms are a short walk away. Showers do take a minute to warm up. Play ground and lake access for all visitors
GuideI am comparing this campground to Valley View RV park in Layton since we were there for a week before we stayed here- there is a stark difference for the exact same price. The sites at Sun Outdoors are extremely tight, the grounds themselves are not nearly as well maintained- dog park while bigger is just stone and not well maintained- smaller dog park mostly weeds.
ScoutHost: Justin was great. When we arrived he was walking around and checking the sites for any fallen trees because there’s a storm that brought in 50mph winds. He also gave us an update on the weather and what t expect. Campground: Cottonwood was great. The best part was the vault toilets. They were clean and did not smell AT ALL. Shout out to the camp host. There are two toilets and one of them the door does not lock. Hopefully that’s fixed by the time you arrive. Sites are spaced out nicely. Camp site C016: Was perfect, with more than enough room for our 9x14 10 person tent. There was a trail that led straight to the river about 30 yards away. The site is close to the entrance of the park so you will hear vehicles coming in and out. It wasn’t bad at all just the occasional diesel trucks and loud exhaust. The flagpole that’s located by the guard station did make a loud metal on metal tapping sound but didn’t bother us much. Overall experience: It was great experience, aside from the storm that rolled through(not the parks fault) if tent camping is your jam, stop worrying and book this place. Blessed travels my friend.
The Highland, Utah area offers rugged canyon camping experiences with elevations ranging from 4,600 to 7,400 feet. Dispersed camping opportunities in American Fork Canyon transition from scrub oak at lower elevations to dense pine forests at higher altitudes. Temperature fluctuations between day and night can exceed 30°F even during summer months, requiring campers to pack appropriate gear for variable conditions.
Hiking to mountain lakes: From Timpooneke Campground, visitors can access the Mount Timpanogos trail system. "There are a couple of nearby trails and amazing views all around. It can get cold at night - high elevation," notes Angee D. The campground provides "easy access to one of the best hikes. Mt Timpanogous provides some stellar views of the backcountry and the valley below," according to Shad G.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple reservoirs and streams offer diverse fishing options near camping areas. "Great small reservoirs nearby for fishing, or canoeing - no motor sports allowed," writes Andrea P. about Granite Flat Campground. The Jordan River at Willow Park Campground provides accessible fishing for families, with one visitor mentioning "a nice little walking trail" along the river.
Water recreation: Several lakes and reservoirs permit non-motorized watercraft. "We were able to paddle board which was a blast! I loves being so close and having access to so many beautiful hikes and Rick climbing," shares Kaitlin R. about her experience at Granite Flat. Another camper notes that Tibble Fork Reservoir, accessible from multiple campgrounds, offers "beautiful" water recreation opportunities.
Creek-side campsites: Many visitors specifically request sites adjacent to flowing water. "We had a great tent site that was on the side near the mountain and across from us were campsites next to the road and the river. We did not hear any road noise at all, just the sound of wind in the trees and the water flowing," writes Stacy R. about her stay at Little Mill Campground.
Proximity to climbing areas: The American Fork Canyon area features significant climbing history and routes. "This canyon holds some of the most historic sport routes in America as some of the hardest routes in the country, at the time, were established here in the late 80's and early 90's," explains Alan B. who stayed at Little Mill. "A place of particular interest if you're looking for hard routes is the infamous Hell Cave with all routes being 5.13 and up."
Cool mountain temperatures: Higher elevation sites provide relief from summer valley heat. At Spruces Campground in Big Cottonwood Canyon, campers appreciate the climate difference. "We live in the Valley but need a getaway for a weekend and this was perfect. Not only was it less than 20 min from our house we felt as if we were lost in the wilderness," shares Andy M.
Reservation requirements: Most popular campgrounds fill completely during peak season. "Be aware that this campsite reservations for the weekend fill up quick. I checked in late May and every weekend until September was already booked," warns Ash S. about Granite Flat. For Tanners Flat Campground, Alan B. advises, "be sure to make your reservation early as you are unlikely to get a walk in."
Wildlife encounters: The mountain environments support diverse wildlife populations. "Wildlife sightings including deer, elk, and wild turkeys are frequently mentioned in visitor reviews," and campers at Spruces report, "I have almost always seen moose and deer in the camp ground."
Bug preparedness: Insects can be problematic depending on location and season. At lakeside sites, mosquitoes are particularly abundant. "The mosquitoes here are terrible. I came here early on a holiday to get a good spot and was ambushed by swarms of mosquitoes," reports Bren M.
Playgrounds and open spaces: Several campgrounds include recreational facilities for children. At Willow Park Campground, families appreciate that it "has a playground, sand volleyball, boat launch as you're near the Jordan River." Another reviewer mentions there are "lots of space to spread out" making it ideal for families.
Accessibility for young children: Some campgrounds are better suited for families with small children. "This is a really easy-access campground so it's great for little kids. Beautiful canyon, lots of spots, and just a great time!" recommends Caden W. about Little Mill Campground.
Water features for kids: Stream and creek access provides natural entertainment. "The camp spots here are super nice. The best part is how close it is to Provo. Super convenient," notes Joshua C. about Nunns Park, adding "The river is right there and makes some beautiful yet subtle white noise."
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain for RVs. "The one downside was that the tent spot was not flat, and had quite a few large rocks," reports Justin J. about Granite Flat. For larger rigs, site selection becomes critical.
Full hookup options: Limited full-service sites exist in the area. At Lakeside RV Campground, campers appreciate that "Pull through sites with grass between" are available, and the campground offers full hookups for extended stays.
Loop road considerations: Many canyon campgrounds feature tight access roads. "Little Mill campground is a quick trip up American Fork Canyon. Runs parallel to the popular alpine loop road and the creek," notes Andrea P., explaining the campground's layout which can be challenging for larger rigs to navigate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any free places to camp in Highland?
Yes, there are several free dispersed camping options near Highland. Soldier's Pass Utah Backcountry offers no-cost camping without amenities, requiring you to bring your own water. The area is popular with off-road enthusiasts, with established fire rings at common camping spots. Skyline Drive is another free option, featuring a dirt road with multiple pull-offs near a creek and interesting rock formations. Just be aware that dispersed areas generally lack facilities and sometimes suffer from trash problems.
Where are the best camping spots in Highland?
For scenic views and outdoor recreation, Cascade Springs Dispersed Site stands out with panoramic vistas of Mt. Timpanogos, though it requires a vehicle capable of handling rougher terrain. Families might prefer Payson Lakes, about 45 minutes from Payson, offering excellent fishing, swimming, and kayaking opportunities in a no-motorized-boat environment. For those seeking more amenities, Mountain Valley RV Resort in Heber City provides a premium experience with concrete pads and even an adults-only section for those seeking quiet.
What campgrounds are available in Highland?
The Highland area offers several developed campgrounds including Rock Cliff Area Campground — Jordanelle State Park, which features full RV hookups and clean facilities. For a traditional camping experience, Pine Creek Campground — Wasatch Mountain State Park provides established sites, though they accommodate smaller rigs better than large ones. Additional options include Payson Lakes, a family-friendly destination with fishing and non-motorized boating, and Mountain Valley RV Resort in nearby Heber City for those wanting more amenities.
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