Best Tent Camping near Hinckley, UT

Dispersed tent camping options surround Hinckley, Utah, with several primitive sites within a short drive of town. Whiskey Creek Road USFS Dispersed, rated 5 stars by campers, offers tent sites accessible by both vehicle and on foot. Fish Lake National Forest Campsite provides another tent camping alternative about 10 miles southeast of Hinckley, with campsites nestled among juniper trees.

Most tent sites in the area feature basic fire rings but lack amenities such as drinking water, picnic tables, or toilets. Campers should bring all necessary water and supplies, as services are not available at these primitive locations. Roads to dispersed camping areas are generally well-maintained dirt or gravel, though some may require higher clearance vehicles after rain. The Dispersed Sandy Lot provides straightforward access from gravel roads for tent campers. Most areas follow standard 14-day stay limits typical of Forest Service and BLM dispersed camping regulations.

Tent camping in this region offers exceptional stargazing opportunities and quiet surroundings away from developed areas. Sites at Fish Lake National Forest Campsite are typically small but provide adequate space for tents with some offering partial shade from juniper trees. Many locations feature open terrain with limited natural windbreaks, so proper tent staking is essential. Backcountry tent campers will find solitude even on weekends, with visitors noting the peacefulness of these primitive sites. According to one camper who stayed at Fish Lake National Forest Campsite, "Easy to find, small spaces, empty on a weekday. The road was pretty doable in our truck, but I think it would be easy in a sedan too."

Best Tent Sites Near Hinckley, Utah (20)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Hinckley, UT

3 Photos of 20 Hinckley Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Hinckley, UT

154 Reviews of 20 Hinckley Campgrounds


  • Sam D.
    Oct. 15, 2017

    Fishlake National Forest Oak Creek Rec Site

    Oak Creek campground

    Awesome campground at about 8,600’ elevation, has a couple small creeks running through, water and toilets on site as well. Each site has a metal fire ring (crucial for a campfire during burn bans), picnic table, grill, some sites had an extra fire ring and bench seats. It’s nestled on the mountainside surrounded by aspen forests and farm land. Plenty of wildlife in the area, watch for deer and cattle in the road. We had temps dip down into the teens overnight with a dusting of snow in late September, be sure to pack layers. Overall a perfect spot for tent camping, small campers max, no RV parking or hookups. Not too far from Capitol Reef National Park and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Highly recommend staying here and going to Grand Staircase for a hike in the slot canyons.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 20, 2019

    Ken's Lake Campground

    Spacious quiet camping near Moab

    Stayed at Ken's Lake Campground in early October, and despite to cool temperatures the campground was¾ full when I arrived just before sunset. Found two of the loops full, ended up staying in site 1. Ken's Lake Campground is a fairly large campground located 10 miles south of Moab. The campground has 48 sites but it did not feel that large. The campground is divided in to three loops in two sections. The first section contains two loops, sites are spread a good distance apart which is good since these two loops are almost entirely in the open with only the occasional small tree or large bush. Being in the open the sites were quiet windy during my stay. While the campground is near Ken's lake there is no direct access to the lake from the campground. The upper section located a short distance up the main road has a little more privacy as it is just inside the tree line and sites are nicely spread out. The sites in the upper section are nicer sites in the campground, and provide some shelter from the wind. Being several miles from the highway made for a nice quiet nights sleep. The campground has great view of the La Sal Mountains to the east and the redrock formations to the west All campsites have a picnic table with metal fire rings. Several vault toilets are available through out the campground. Trash service is available. You will need to bring your own water as there is no water available at the campground. Sites are$20 per night. Ken's Lake campground has two group areas, group site A in the lower section is just to the right when you enter the campground. Group site A has two horse corrals. Group site B is located at the end of the upper section. Both group sites have fire grates, picnic tables, a shade shelter and are near a vault toilet.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 22, 2019

    Ken's Lake Campground

    Quiet camping and a Lake to cool off in

    Ken's Lake Recreation Area located just 10 south of Moab is a nice place to cool off or camp during the hot summer months, but not in October. Visited in early October and did not spend time in the nice day area as it was in the low 40's and I was not trying to avoid the heat. That being said the lake looks like a great place to spend part of your day to cool off or do a little fishing. I spent my visit at the campground just down the toad from the day use turn off. Their are two turn offs for the campground. The first turn leads to two camping loops and a group use shelter with horse corrals. The campsite in these two loop are out in the open as only a few small trees are in the area. This area was windy during my stay, not what I wanted on a cold day and night. The wind would be nice to keep bugs away or keep things a little cooler in the summer. While you are in direct full of all the other campers in the loop you do have plenty of room as these sites are spacious and spread apart with lots of room between sites. A little further up the road is the other section of the campground. This section is just inside the tree line and provide a bit more privacy with all the trees and bushes. Site are a little closer together but still nicely spread apart. Their is another group use site with a shelter at the end of this section. All site have picnic tables and a metal fire ring. Vault toilets are found in the day use area and through out the campground. Their is trash bins at the campground but no water so be sure to fill us in town before arriving at your camp. You can not directly access the lake from the campground, there are trails that lead down to the lake.

  • eThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 6, 2025

    Paul Bunyon's Woodpile

    Easy to access, nice primitive sites

    Road was easy enough dry, imagine it would be tough after a storm.  There are a number of well dispersed sites, some with good wind protection, others less so.

  • Russell W.
    Jul. 6, 2022

    Maple Hollow

    Beautiful spot

    Camped overnight. We had the whole place to ourselves. There are several fire ring/picnic table spots in the campground. Maple trees, evergreens and oak trees throughout. Beautiful fresh air. Plenty of shade. Two vault toilets for the whole camp area.

  • J
    Sep. 14, 2022

    Ken's Lake Campground

    Tent sites open

    Came in before dark and set up tent on stone drive in open field. Very difficult to hammer in pegs. It was quiet and easy to get to.

  • Greg L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 5, 2021

    Ken's Lake Campground

    Close to Moab butt ugly

    This BLM campground is all reserved, 1-48 sites in three loops. The first two loops for sites 1-38 are bigger and best for larger RVs and TTos. Loop 39-48 is more shorter back in spots and best for vans, trucks, tenters. In addition there is a v-shaped dip in road to access loop 39-48 and group site B that will take off the bumpers n bikes on a long RV, so beware. Cell signal is good for loop 1-38 but not so good for 39-48. Sites are $20/$10 senior, and there are vault toilets, dumpster, tables, metal fire rings and tent pads. However...NO water! In addition the campground vegetation has been infested with dense Russian thistle..ugh.

  • Ean P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 20, 2025

    Fish Lake National Forest Campsite

    Great Spot Just Don’t Camp Here Alone in a Tent

    Great spot for camping with a group. Quite a few spots accessible by car. A couple fireplaces here and there too. A fair amount of fallen pine and juniper wood there to use for building fires. Just remember to drown out your fires with water (there’s a sign).

    I do not recommend tent camping here solo though. This wasn’t my first time tent camping solo either. As I was laying in my sleeping bag inside my tent around 11pm, some creature started stalking me around midnight. I could hear it moving and breathing outside my tent. I managed to scare it off by hitting my car’s “panic button” on the keys. I then packed up immediately and left.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 22, 2023

    Maple Hollow

    Great for tents and campervans

    Much bigger climb than expected, so if towing a heavier trailer be aware. Gravel road is well maintained with minimal washboard.

    Looks like there was a flood in the past - destroyed site #1. Remaining 11 sites are nicely shaded among the trees. Limited space for small trailers/campers. Good for campervans or tent campers.

    Water supply is turned off at all water sites - unsure whether this is related to flood damage or something else.

    11 sites with nice fireplaces, fire rings and picnic tables/benches.


Guide to Hinckley

Dispersed tent campsites near Hinckley, Utah, typically experience hot summer days with cooler nights due to the desert climate at approximately 4,600 feet elevation. The surrounding Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service lands feature juniper woodlands and sagebrush terrain. During peak summer months, daytime temperatures often exceed 90°F while dropping into the 50s overnight.

What to do

Explore sand dunes: Little Sahara Recreation Area offers unique camping and recreation opportunities about 30 miles north of Hinckley. A camper at BLM Little Sahara RA - White Sands Campground noted, "The Stars were beautiful and the sand was soft and fun to walk in. We set up two tents and thoroughly enjoyed the visit."

Hiking opportunities: The mountain ranges surrounding Hinckley provide trails with distinctive desert views. At Notch Peak Trailhead, a camper described, "The hike goes up through some dry drainages before finally rising to the saddle east of the summit. This thing is huge! Over 2000' of vertical rise will surely give you vertigo if you're not comfortable with heights!"

Stargazing sessions: The minimal light pollution creates ideal conditions for viewing night skies. "At night the stars were so beautiful while sitting around the campfire and being together while roasting marshmallows," shared a reviewer who camped at Maple Hollow.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Many tent campsites near Hinckley, Utah, offer adequate separation from other campers. A visitor to Fish Lake National Forest Campsite mentioned, "Lots of places to get back in the junipers a little and have a nice private place to sleep."

Quick access from Interstate: Several dispersed camping areas provide convenient overnight stops. According to one camper at Fish Lake National Forest Campsite, "We pulled in after sunset to stop before going all the way north to SLC. The road was pretty doable in our truck, but I think it would be easy in a sedan too."

Shade availability: Despite the desert setting, many sites offer tree cover. A camper at Maple Hollow described, "11 sites with nice fireplaces, fire rings and picnic tables/benches. Maple trees, evergreens and oak trees throughout. Beautiful fresh air. Plenty of shade."

What you should know

Weather preparedness: Strong winds can occur unexpectedly in the open terrain. When camping at Whiskey Creek Road USFS Dispersed, one visitor found that "Camp was relatively flat, good trees for shade and elevated to allow for nice views and a breeze."

Road conditions: Access roads to dispersed sites vary significantly in quality. A camper at Maple Hollow warned, "5 mile rough gravel road for access. Could not find a site in the camp itself, but many pull offs on the way up."

Wildlife encounters: Be prepared for potential wildlife interactions. One camper at Fish Lake National Forest Campsite cautioned, "As I was laying in my sleeping bag inside my tent around 11pm, some creature started stalking me around midnight. I could hear it moving and breathing outside my tent. I managed to scare it off by hitting my car's 'panic button' on the keys."

Tips for camping with families

Bring entertainment: Sand areas provide natural play spaces for children. A visitor to Jericho Picnic & Camping Area shared, "Great recreation area just a couple hours from Salt Lake City. Lots of sand dunes and opportunities for play. Our Boy Scout Troop sand boarded and rolled down the dunes."

Explore nearby forest areas: Juniper woodlands offer child-friendly exploration zones. A camper at Whiskey Creek Road USFS Dispersed remarked, "Kids enjoyed exploring and climbing the small trees. Previous campers made fire pits. No one to be seen for miles."

Check for facilities: Most dispersed sites lack amenities. A reviewer at the Dispersed Sandy Lot observed, "There is a fire pit. Access is easy on and off from a gravel road. Campers, RVs, and people with tents can easily use this site. No facilities."

Tips for RVers

Site selection: Many dispersed areas can accommodate smaller recreational vehicles but have limitations. At Dispersed Sandy Lot, one RVer advised, "We were looking for an easy place away from the interstate to split our drive from Idaho to St George in half. There was no one here at all and found easy place with a tree to set up 26ft tt. Further up are more sites but gets sandier and tighter."

Seasonal considerations: Summer heat affects RV comfort significantly. A camper at Fish Lake National Forest Campsite noted, "Remote but not far. This was a nice place to stop. Not far off the main roadway. Lots of shade. Open fields, so watch out for cows and cowpoo!"

Limited services: Plan for self-sufficiency as hookups are unavailable. One camper at Maple Hollow mentioned, "Water supply is turned off at all water sites - unsure whether this is related to flood damage or something else."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Hinckley, UT is Dispersed Sandy Lot with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 20 tent camping locations near Hinckley, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.