Dispersed camping options near Howell, Utah include several free primitive sites across Cache National Forest and Bureau of Land Management lands. Green Canyon Dispersed Campground, located approximately 15 minutes outside Logan, features 15-25 first-come, first-served sites during summer months. Franklin Basin Dispersed Camping provides numerous pull-offs along a well-maintained road with sites situated near Logan River. Spiral Jetty offers remote camping on dry lake beds with minimal facilities but unique landscape views.
Most dispersed sites in this region have established fire rings but limited amenities. According to reviews, Green Canyon sites often experience high traffic and occasional litter issues, so sturdy footwear is recommended. Vault toilets are available at Green Canyon's entrance and at points along the main road. No drinking water is available at most sites; campers must bring all necessary supplies. Cell service varies by location and carrier, with Green Canyon offering moderate connectivity through multiple providers.
Road conditions vary significantly between sites. Franklin Basin Road is generally well-maintained but can become washboarded. Several campers noted that Spiral Jetty requires approximately one hour of travel on dirt roads from I-15, with 4WD recommended for accessing shoreline camping areas. Green Canyon's gravel road is navigable by standard passenger vehicles in dry conditions. Winter access is restricted at Green Canyon from December 1 through April 15, with a $10 permit required for three-day stays. The area transforms into a groomed cross-country ski trail during winter months. Summer weekends see high visitation rates, with sites typically filling by early evening, especially near university areas.
"Took close to two hours from Salt Lake City, once you turn off I 15 you’ve still got close to an hour."
"Was a beautiful location for one night, but not much more than that. The Golden Spike park is on the way which is nice to stop by at. Was windy on the night we stayed, no fires."
"About 15 mins outside of Logan up a beautiful canyon. Headed up around 4pm on a Saturday during Memorial Day weekend so didn’t have high hopes but found a spot with a fire ring almost immediately!"
"Easy to find by putting the coordinates provided in Google Maps. Came in after dark and easily found a site about 1/4 mile or so up the road. Road is a bit bumpy but nothing major."
"While there are a lot of disbursed sites along the corridor, they were all completely filled due to a bike race happening at nearby Beaver Mountain."
"Easily accessible spot off FR 006. Found shady, mostly level spot to park van right off the road. Peaceful location. Fire pit in the camp area. No amenities."
"After you've passed the Smithfield campground there are plenty of spots on both sides of the road where you can pull off and have dispersed camping."
"Stayed here for two nights, at the end of a dead end road, close to the creek. Real easy place to be."
"Very easy access off 89. Very large sites with fire rings start about 1/4 off the main road. Only one other site being used that I saw. Pit toilet available at the large parking area."
"Pull in off thr highway you will see a large gravel loop to your left. With bathrooms. This is the big rig area. There are also a few dispersed spots down in this lower area."
"Didn’t stay, it’s right next to the road maybe for a camper van not for a truck and 30’ camper"
"Amazing place to camp right next to the river. The entrance you go across the bridge. It looks low, but a 13.5 RV can make it under no problem."
"The coordinates on the map are not exactly right for this campsite, at least in early may."
TravelerYes the road in is rough but while I was there they graded the first half. I made it with a 20ft bus. Just go slow. The views are beautiful and it was very quiet. Loved walking out to the waters edge.
GuideThis had amazing views, including a cool cave. However, the road is very bumpy and the spots are smaller. It would not be good for a larger RV. The spots fill up very quickly.
RangerVery easy access off 89. Very large sites with fire rings start about 1/4 off the main road. Only one other site being used that I saw. Pit toilet available at the large parking area. Clean and well kept. No cell service. Free range cows.
TravelerPretty far but worth a visit. We got here midnight and IT WAS WINDY!! Was afraid our car gonna tip over (yes, it’s that bad)
To our surprise it snowed in the morning and we had such a long walk around the site, very inspiring, very introspective. Would recommend!!!
ScoutWhile there are a lot of disbursed sites along the corridor, they were all completely filled due to a bike race happening at nearby Beaver Mountain. We continued up and finally found a nice camp site just on the south side of Utah border but it turned out to be on private property. There’s a small stretch of a private property near the state line marked by a sign posted cattle grate. The property owner stopped by, he was super polite, but explained the boundaries and asked us to move along.
In many spots on the road on the way up there were wide open areas where a single camper had claimed a large area, even sites that could comfortably accommodate several rigs, so just a few things to watch out for.
GuideThis spot was in the parking lot of spiral jetty lake in the golden spike national park. It was questionable if we were allowed to camp there, but not one came out to stop us!The parking lot is small and was busy when we first arrived. There is a camp ground within the national park, so it cleared out as the night went on.
The ride to the site was rough as we got closer to the parking lot. The road was heavily washboarded. We drove a class C RV to the spot, and it was a lot drive as we could not go over 10 MPH most of the way. But it’s worth it at the end!
You can walk down the the lake. It was very cool. The beach leading up to it felt like concrete and there was a bunch of salt deposits. When you get down to the water it is pink!
Overall all a good spot for a night!
TravelerEasily accessible spot off FR 006. Found shady, mostly level spot to park van right off the road. Peaceful location. Fire pit in the camp area. No amenities.
ScoutThe drive is doable in any vehicle, the road has many dips/ruts so it is slow going. The area was pretty and green, there are spots available with fire rings.
This campground is extremely busy that it is impossible to enjoy a peaceful time outdoors. From the few hours I was there, there were people constantly walking or biking on the road.
While I was sleeping, I was woken up by a police officer questioning me. Police will come and question you; be prepared to speak to the police and explain what you are doing there, how long you are there for, and any other questions they have for you.
This was the absolute worst campground I’ve ever been to; do not recommend this to anyone who is looking for a peaceful and pleasant experience.
You may find a spot that looks nice, but be prepared for vehicles, lots of people, and to be questioned by the police.
ScoutThe app said that overnight camping would be allowed in the parking lot and within a third of the mile, the parking area from the second there's a sign that expressly prohibits this exact thing. Saturday of April through September 9th. This is incorrect. There's a sign that expressly prohibits this exact thing.
Primitive camping near Howell, Utah provides access to remote canyon and forest environments within Cache National Forest. Elevations in this area range from 4,700 to 8,500 feet, creating distinct seasonal conditions where summer temperatures can drop to 40°F at night even when daytime highs reach 85°F. Most dispersed sites in this region require campers to pack out all waste, as garbage facilities are extremely limited.
Hiking nearby mountain trails: Franklin Basin Road area connects to several trail systems where campers can explore dense forest and meadow terrain. "I have grown up camping in the Franklin Basin area. It is the perfect location for anyone looking for places to hike or ride. There are many different places to visit throughout the area such as the 'Plane Crash' site, Beaver Creek, old logging trails, and more," notes a camper at Franklin Basin Dispersed Camping.
Mountain biking: Green Canyon offers popular mountain biking trails accessed directly from camping areas. A visitor mentioned, "Plenty great dispersed sites for car camping. Tons of little spots along a gravel road. Fire rings and multiple clean bathrooms are available... Also tons of trails and mountain bikers. Met some climbers working on a sketch little project on one of the many many boulders."
Stargazing: The remote nature of Spiral Jetty provides exceptional dark sky viewing with minimal light pollution. "Was a beautiful location for one night, but not much more than that. The Golden Spike park is on the way which is nice to stop by at," reported one visitor who stayed overnight.
River access: Multiple campsites along Franklin Basin feature proximity to water. As one camper observed, "Tons of dispersed spots all up and down Franklin Basin Rd. Road is very well maintained, sites are easily accessible and close to Logan river if not on it! Also good hike or two on the same road."
Peace and quiet: For those seeking solitude, traveling deeper into dispersed areas often yields more isolated sites. A camper at Smithfield Dispersed Campsite shared, "Stayed here for two nights, at the end of a dead end road, close to the creek. Real easy place to be."
Spacious group camping: Many areas accommodate larger gatherings. One visitor noted about Franklin Basin, "Ended up driving this road up to Idaho to find a bigger spot and some solitude. Took the dirt road for about 30 minutes and got the most perfect spot. Nobody was near us and the view was amazing. We went at the beginning of June, it was a bit chilly some mornings and at night, so come prepared."
Road conditions vary significantly: Many sites require traveling on unmaintained roads. A camper at Heart Mountain Spring warned, "This was a very amazing experience. The hot springs were absolutely amazing... It's worth the drive if you have 4WD or very good shocks and suspension."
Weekend crowding: Sites fill quickly, especially those closest to Logan. "About 15 mins outside of Logan up a beautiful canyon. Headed up around 4pm on a Saturday during Memorial Day weekend so didn't have high hopes but found a spot with a fire ring almost immediately! There was also another spot open down the road. Lots of people camping, hiking, mountain biking, and ATVs, so some traffic on the road, even after dark," reported a Green Canyon visitor.
"Claimed" sites issue: Empty equipment sometimes occupies prime locations. One camper noted, "Absolutely beautiful location off highway 89. A popular place especially for ohv-ers. Lots of places to park but most of them seemed to be 'claimed' (tents or trailers with no vehicles) for the upcoming weekend."
Site selection timing: Arrive early for family-friendly spots during peak season. A visitor to Green Canyon observed, "Perhaps a little too close to the university in Logan Utah it was busy that Friday night. I think all the spots filled by 7pm some 50 people there that night. There is close spots for small couples and large groups and also more private spacious spots for people with pets like me."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Several areas offer chances to observe local fauna. One camper mentioned, "Birds in caves in side of valley. Well loved trail starts a short distance up the road. Looks like a beloved student hang out in the area with picnic tables so you may want drive further in if visit in summer."
Prepare for temperature swings: Elevation changes mean significant day-to-night variations. "We went at the beginning of June, it was a bit chilly some mornings and at night, so come prepared," advised a Franklin Basin camper.
Size limitations: Many primitive camping sites near Howell cannot accommodate larger vehicles. A Franklin Basin Road visitor advised, "This is just the lower section! Pull in off the highway you will see a large gravel loop to your left. With bathrooms. This is the big rig area. There are also a few dispersed spots down in this lower area. NO cell phone signal at all."
Road narrowing concerns: Some roads become unsuitable for RVs without warning. A recent visitor to Smithfield noted, "No warning that the road narrows with no turn around about a mile into the campground, or the trees are overgrown which scratched up my sides. The only spaces large enough for my 23 ft RV were occupied, and all of the car-sized spots were also taken."
Washboarded roads: Many access routes require slow travel due to rough conditions. "2wd friendly road for MILES. You can drive well into Idaho. You can drive for about 1.5 hours up in here and see amazing river meadow mountain views... Beware of cows! They will be in several sections of the road but are friendly to cars and move out of the way," noted one Franklin Basin camper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Howell, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Howell, UT is Spiral Jetty with a 4.4-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Howell, UT?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 dispersed camping locations near Howell, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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