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Tent Camping near Highland, UT

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    The Wasatch Mountains surrounding Highland, Utah provide several backcountry tent camping options with alpine lakes and forested terrain. Silver Lake Backcountry and Red Pine Lake offer highly-rated tent-only sites accessible via walk-in trails. Both require permits and feature pristine alpine settings with mountain views. Kimball Campground, located just northeast of Highland, provides both walk-in tent sites and drive-in access, though roads can be challenging without proper clearance vehicles.

    Most primitive tent camping areas near Highland require preparation for minimal amenities. Tent campsites typically feature unimproved dirt or forest duff surfaces with limited or no facilities. Water sources are scarce at most locations, with campers needing to bring their own supply or filter from streams when available. Fire restrictions vary seasonally, with complete bans common during dry summer months. Many backcountry tent sites require permits and enforce strict regulations about camping at least 200 feet from water sources, particularly in watershed areas like Little Cottonwood Canyon. Vault toilets exist at some trailheads but are absent at most remote tent-only camping areas.

    Weekday visits provide the best experience for backcountry tent camping. According to one camper at Red Pine Lake, "The weekend can get very busy so during the week is the best time to camp as it's likely you'll be the only overnight camper." Silver Lake visitors note the need for 4WD vehicles after rainstorms, with a required half-mile minimum hike from the trailhead to reach legal camping areas. The alpine settings offer excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, with campers frequently reporting moose and deer sightings. Millcreek Canyon provides additional walk-in tent sites with the requirement to camp at least half a mile from any road. Fall brings cooler temperatures and spectacular foliage, making it an ideal season for tent campers seeking both comfort and scenery.

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    Best Tent Campgrounds near Highland (31)

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      1. Silver Lake Backcountry

      4.8(8)10mi from HighlandTents

      "An amazing spot to drive to and spend the day or backpack in and spend a night or two.  Be warned you will need a 4wd vehicle if trying to go up the road after a rain storm. "

      "You can’t drive to the coordinates, you have to park at the uppermost parking lot for Silver Flat and hike up to a camping spot. Camping anywhere along that road will give you gorgeous views, though!"

      2. Red Pine Lake

      4.7(7)9mi from HighlandTents

      "Red Pine Lake is located up Little Cottonwood Canyon, on the south side of the road."

      "wonderful place to backpack up to during the week. can access 3 different beautiful lakes from this drainage and 2 beautiful peaks!"

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      3. Anderson Park

      3.7(3)6mi from HighlandTents, Glamping

      "Several fire pits, large covered lighted pavillion with three rows of picnic tables.  Large grassy field, two wooded areas, boarders a residential neighborhood, flushing toilets."

      4. Kimball Campground

      4.7(3)9mi from HighlandTents

      "It was just off the road and basically no privacy but I was just looking for a safe place to sleep and that’s what I got!"

      "These campground spots are hidden within trees up the dirt road just past Silver Lake flats on the dirt road. The dirt road gets rough and rocky, but is driveable."

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      5. Lake Blanche Trail - Backcountry Camp

      5.0(2)13mi from HighlandTents

      "It’s a beautiful hike in and there are a lot of open spots not on top of each other. You can just hike back out in the AM or there are a lot of options to explore!"

      "great hike to the lake!"

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      6. Millcreek Canyon Backcountry Camping and Yurts

      3.8(8)19mi from HighlandTents

      "You can backpack in and camp anywhere a 1/2 mile from any road like the other nearby canyons. Good trails to approach from are Church fork and Lambs Canyon Trailhead."

      "Millcreek Canyon is home to some wonderful trails that can be accessed by foot or bike. Although the canyon offers many hiking trails, the main use of the trails seems to be for trail running."

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      7. American Campground

      5.0(1)11mi from HighlandTents

      8. Dutchman Mine Flats

      4.0(1)12mi from HighlandTents

      9. Camp Eagle Mountain

      4.0(1)19mi from HighlandTents

      "It is a dry area and hot mid-summer, but good base for ATV, bike, and hunting areas. No ATV/bike riding or hunting on the campground - just a good base camp for those types of activities."

      from $26 - $38 / night

      10. Hobble Right Fork Dispersed

      5.0(5)28mi from HighlandTents

      "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"

      "There are a few places to go behind growth for more privacy if desired. There is a small fire pit closer to the back. It is at a fairly high elevation so nights will be cold."

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    Recent Tent Camping Photos near Highland, UT

    46 Photos of 31 Highland Campgrounds

    Tent Camping Reviews near Highland, UT

    1279 Reviews of 31 Highland Campgrounds

    • Carrie C.The Dyrt PRO User
      Sep. 23, 2019

      Diamond Fork

      Very clean and super camp host!

      I really loved this campground! And I really love Diamond Fork Hotsprings! I can’t wait to visit again! We camped the Thursday after Labor bad and had the entire campground almost all to ourselves! On Labor Day weekend there wasn’t an empty campsite. Cost is $22 for a single site, $44 for a double. We arrived to camp around 7:30 and pitched our tent then headed up the road a few more miles to the parking area for Diamond Fork (5th water) Hot Springs. I recommend visiting the Hotspring at night in the summer to escape the overwhelming crowds. There were only a handful of people at the springs during our evening visit. The trail to the springs is about 2.4 miles in. We returned to camp around 1 AM and slept soundly in the still, quiet nature. You can hear the stream babble nearby. We slept in and as we were breaking down camp, Marc, the camp host stopped by to se how our visit was and if we needed anything. What a wonderful man! We chatted for quite a while about the area and he offered to give us a tour of the campground in his golf cart. This is a pretty leather campground! 3 separate loops. There are some hike in tent sites but they are set up for dual tents and are priced as such so they are $44 which is quite speedy for a pack in tent site. There is a well maintained nature trail the passes through the campground. There are educational kiosks along the trail. There are multiple restrooms throughout the campground. The 2 I used were very clean considering it was post holiday weekend.
      Each campsite had a fire ring, grill, and a picnic table. Tent sites all offered nice level areas for pitching your tent. You can purchase fire wood from the camp host. This is a great place and I can’t wait to return!

    • Jeremy H.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 9, 2019

      Fivemile Pass OHV

      Good for free camping

      Not much out here but you’ll likely see a hawk or a Golden Eagle. You will have to put up with crazy OHVers and drunk partiers in some spots but there are a lot of places to go with a few pit toilets spread about.

      This is the desert and there is no water so come prepared. Please leave no trace and clean up after yourself.

    • Alan B.The Dyrt PRO User
      Oct. 1, 2019

      Lower Narrows Campground

      Beautiful Creek Access w/ Expert Level Climbing Routes a Stones Throw Away

      Let me start off by saying the other review for this CG is about 250 miles off target.  The Narrows CG the other person is talking about is located in Zion National Park near St. George/Springville in southern Utah.  There are no soaring sandstone walls here!  There are however amazing overhanging water sculpted limestone cliffs that contain some of the hardest climbing that the west desert of Utah has to offer!  There are a decent amount of routes on either side of the road with the majority of the routes being near the Upper Narrows CG. 

      This CG is setup in much the same way as the Upper.  There are metal fire rings and picnic tables at each of the campsites with a vault toilet within a couple minutes walk from any of the sites.  There are only 3 sites and there are no water or trash facilities so bring all you need and then pack it all out!  The creek offers a nice respite from the heat in the summer and would probably be decent fishing as well.  I only saw a couple trout while wandering around but I'm sure there are more!

    • MaryAnn The Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 8, 2026

      Diamond Campground

      Great Camping With Kids

      Fun 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.

    • Michael L.
      May. 30, 2021

      Lost Creek Campground

      Mountain Get Away

      Such a beautiful site with site #7 the best access to the lake. Easy in and space to set up camp. Site included fire ring/pit and picnic table.

      At nearly 10000 feet elevation, Temps were coll and air refreshing!

    • Jillian B.The Dyrt PRO User
      Oct. 3, 2022

      Willow Park Campground

      Campground near Provo

      This campground is ok, would expect a little more since you have to pay $25. In a nice little suburban neighborhood. Spots are close together and not much privacy, our site was along the back fence. Each site had fire pit and picnic table. There are two bathrooms, no showers and no electricity. It looks like there are a couple water fill up spigots but not potable.

    • AThe Dyrt PRO User
      Aug. 3, 2025

      Goshen Road Dispersed Camping

      Pretty location

      Site is pretty dirty, some have never heard of leave no trace . It is 7 pm and still extremely hot not much shade up here at this location

    • M
      Mar. 1, 2022

      Currant Creek

      Currant Creek Reservoir and Campground 2021

      Dirt road is washboard hell, but you are rewarded when you arrive to a clean and quiet campground stay. Plenty of trees, flowers and wildlife including hummingbirds, deer, sandhill cranes, moose, beaver, chipmunks, squirrels and fish. Water is cold, but plenty deep for fishing, boating, canoes and paddle boards.  Fishing was steady.  Be prepared to pay to launch your boat and empty your tanks at the dump station.

      This campground has reservation and first come first served sites. There is tent and trailer camping available. Loop B has group sites. There was no water available in the campground the last few times we were here. There are no hook ups-electric, water, sewer at this campground.

      There are restrooms in each loop of the campground. There is a quiet time enforced from 10 PM to 6 AM. No generators after 10 PM.

      Bring cash or check as they do not take credit cards on site.

      We will camp here again.

    Guide to Highland

    Tent camping opportunities near Highland, Utah extend beyond the popular alpine lakes of the Wasatch Mountains to include less-crowded dispersed camping areas with distinctive terrain features. The region encompasses elevations ranging from 4,500 to 10,000 feet, creating diverse camping microclimates. Most dispersed camping requires vehicles with high clearance, with many access roads becoming impassable after rainfall.

    What to do

    Paddleboarding and kayaking at Silver Lake: Silver Lake Reservoir permits light watercraft with easy shoreline access. "We spent our afternoons paddleboarding on Silver Lake Reservoir," reports one camper at Silver Lake Backcountry.

    Fishing in stocked alpine lakes: Multiple camping areas provide fishing opportunities in well-stocked waters. "Both lakes were loaded with large trout, but I didn't have a fishing rod, so all I could do was look at them this time," notes a visitor to Red Pine Lake.

    Hiking to upper lakes: For more adventurous campers, secondary trails lead to less-visited upper lakes. "I also hiked up to the upper red pine lake, which is a very steep climb. The trail is unmarked and nearly impossible to follow, so it requires some creativity and bushwacking/rock hopping to get up there, which was fun for me."

    Trail running network: The canyons contain extensive trail networks perfect for running. "Millcreek Canyon is home to some wonderful trails that can be accessed by foot or bike. Although the canyon offers many hiking trails, the main use of the trails seems to be for trail running."

    What campers like

    Multiple lake access points: Many camping areas provide different water features within short hiking distance. "Nearby are the upper and lower red pine lakes in addition to a couple smaller ponds in the red pine drainage," reports a camper.

    Weekday solitude: Mid-week visits dramatically reduce crowds at even popular destinations. "This can be done in a short 4 hour 7 mile out and back day hike but can be fully enjoyed as a backpacking trip," notes a camper at Red Pine Lake.

    Wildlife viewing: The area supports diverse wildlife populations. "Everytime we come here we also see moose and deer. Best time is definitely fall," mentions a camper at Millcreek Canyon Backcountry Camping and Yurts.

    Variety of terrain: Camping areas range from wooded settings to alpine clearings. "These campground spots are hidden within trees up the dirt road just past Silver Lake flats on the dirt road," describes a visitor to Kimball Campground.

    What you should know

    Road condition challenges: Many camping areas require high-clearance vehicles. "You're definitely going to need 4WD and high clearance because the roads leading up to the campsite are filled with ruts and holes," warns a visitor at Silver Lake Backcountry.

    Camping distance regulations: Most watershed areas require minimum distances from water sources. "To the south you have a fantastic view of the Timpanogos Massif looming over the lake. Remember that you do have to hike in at least a 0.5 mile from the trailhead."

    Limited flat tent sites: Finding level ground can be challenging at some locations. "Unfortunately, the majority of the ground camping is relatively rocky and uneven, but there are some gems," notes a camper at Dutchman Mine Flats.

    Canyon entry fees: Some canyons charge per-vehicle access fees. "Be careful there is a 5$ per car fee sneaking at the entrance."

    Tips for camping with families

    Park-based camping alternatives: Families seeking easier access can use developed parks. "This park allows for camping and accommodates small or large groups. Several fire pits, large covered lighted pavilion with three rows of picnic tables," explains a visitor to Anderson Park.

    Kid-friendly water play: Some areas offer safe water recreation for children. "We take tubes and float in areas of the river. The kids play in the river. Just a fun time."

    Early arrival essential: Family camping areas fill quickly during peak season. "Make sure to get here early on summer weekends because this place fills up. If you manage to get a spot in a beautiful area next to a river."

    Pack for dusty conditions: Some of the best tent camping near Highland, Utah has challenging ground conditions. "The only complaint is the dirt is very chalky and dusty, and keeping your gear clean is not really an option here."

    Tips from RVers

    Length restrictions: Most forest roads limit RV size. "The camp spots are narrow, the road in/out is narrow. Our 25ft trailer seemed to be a max length, but there were some 32 ft goosenecks and motor homes there," notes a visitor to Wasatch National Forest Sulphur Campground.

    Water access strategies: Many campgrounds lack hookups but provide water sources. "Great tasting water, we used a 5 gallon bucket and a water transfer pump from Harbor Freight to fill up our fresh tank."

    Solo RV camping safety: Solo travelers can find security in certain areas. "The campsites are hidden but close together which I loved being a solo female traveler it made me feel so safe knowing people were on both sides of me."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular tent campsite near Highland, UT?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Highland, UT is Silver Lake Backcountry with a 4.8-star rating from 8 reviews.

    What is the best site to find tent camping near Highland, UT?

    TheDyrt.com has all 31 tent camping locations near Highland, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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