Best Tent Camping near Uintah, UT

Tent campgrounds near Uintah, Utah offer diverse options from established sites to remote backcountry locations in nearby canyons and forests. Dispersed camping near Monte Cristo provides free tent sites with drive-in and walk-in access, while Silver Lake Backcountry offers more established options with picturesque mountain views. Curtis Creek and Arbs Basin feature primitive tent camping areas where campers can find secluded spots away from developed areas.

Most backcountry tent camping areas require permits and have specific regulations regarding campfires and waste disposal. Campers should bring all necessary supplies as drinking water is rarely available at dispersed sites. Areas like Red Pine Lake prohibit fires and pets due to watershed protection rules, while Curtis Creek allows both fires and pets. Many tent-only areas feature unofficial fire rings built from rocks by previous visitors. High-clearance vehicles are often needed to access more remote tent campsites, particularly after rain when dirt roads become difficult to navigate.

In early summer, tent campers at higher elevations enjoy cooler temperatures and alpine views, though mosquitoes can be abundant near water sources. The terrain varies significantly between camping areas - Silver Lake Backcountry provides open spaces with mountain vistas, while sites near Millcreek Canyon offer more wooded surroundings. Many locations require hikers to camp at least half a mile from trailheads and lakes, ensuring a true backcountry experience. According to one visitor at Red Pine Lake, "The hike up to the lake starts off pretty easily, and since it follows the stream coming down, clean drinking water is always at hand." Another camper noted that Curtis Creek is "very quiet, barely any people" with "nice views of the sunset" from primitive tent sites.

Best Tent Sites Near Uintah, Utah (21)

    1. Port Ramp Marina

    2 Reviews
    Huntsville, UT
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 625-5112

    $650 / night

    "Not only is it more beautiful (IMO) in the winter, but it gets loads of snow for snow sports, and it is right next to Powder Mountain and Snow Basin!"

    "Beautiful lake, nice beaches, but only if you go in the late summer or fall."

    2. Cook Campsite

    1 Review
    Fruit Heights, UT
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 544-1788

    "Aside from the excessive litter in a few places, This was a great place to give my 5 year old a taste of backpacking."

    3. Hobble

    1 Review
    Huntsville, UT
    17 miles

    4. Split Rock Bay Backcountry Campsites — Antelope Island State Park

    3 Reviews
    Syracuse, UT
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 773-2941

    $20 / night

    "Good hiking trails with great views and lots if animals to see."

    5. Dispersed camping near Monte Cristo

    8 Reviews
    Eden, UT
    30 miles

    "Two nice boondocking spots just a short drive on a tight dirt road off the highway. The campsite on the right is bigger, the one on the left is very small."

    6. Millcreek Canyon Backcountry Camping and Yurts

    8 Reviews
    Mounthaven, UT
    33 miles
    Website

    "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."

    7. closed

    1 Review
    Wanship, UT
    32 miles
    +1 (801) 513-1583

    $59 - $64 / night

    8. Silver Lake Backcountry

    8 Reviews
    Alta, UT
    45 miles

    "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!"

    9. Red Pine Lake

    7 Reviews
    Alta, UT
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 733-2660

    "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!"

    10. Curtis Creek / Arbs Basin

    2 Reviews
    Woodruff, UT
    35 miles
    Website

    "We stayed here for the night on our rooftop tent. It’s very quiet, barely any people. There’s man made firepits made out of rocks of people who have stayed here. It’s chilly and very pretty around."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Uintah, UT

790 Reviews of 21 Uintah Campgrounds


  • Tommy C.
    Aug. 29, 2020

    South Fork (UT)

    AWESOME spot

    Absolutely awesome spot. Hosts were really friendly. Stayed in my pop up camper for a night and there was tons of space for pop up and our site (A1) was the best in the campground, I think. It was secluded with tons of trees. Not all sites had a lot of tree cover. It wasn’t right off the river but it was still only a 30 second walk to the river. There were fire bans in Utah but because of the type of fire set up on concrete and built in fire places, we were able to have a fire all night which was awesome. Also my buddy is a professional singer and brought his guitar so I’m impartial. We had such a great time!!

  • K
    Aug. 16, 2021

    Magpie Campground

    Got the job done

    We were road tripping through with no reservations. The whole South Fork area has many campgrounds. Magpie is the first and one of the smaller of the campgrounds as you drive up the canyon. We drove through all the campgrounds and didn’t find any hosts to talk with to find out if we could occupy a spot. We thought it would be ok but weren’t sure if we could stay in a spot that had a weekend reservation posted. Plus there was simultaneously not very much shade and lots of overgrown vegetation that made tent camping not very feasible. All the sites with actual river frontage were occupied and most folks had campers. This was especially true at South Fork, Lower Meadows, Upper Meadows & Perception Park campgrounds. We finally found a host at Willows campground who explained the process but we didn’t see any sites we liked there. Magpie actually had some shaded sites so we headed back down there. We grabbed a spot that had no obvious river access but good shade right next to the host site. It was pretty overgrown but had enough of a flat spot to set up our tent and a big concrete pad for the picnic table and huge fire ring. Midweek it was only half full. Campground is literally mere feet from the road. Lots of road noise. Bathrooms were good enough. The host when he finally came around was very nice. The adjacent site was vacant (a double site that cost more $$) and we were able to get to the river there. We stayed two nights mid week and it never filled up but all the sites had weekend reservations. There isn’t a lot of hiking but if you like river recreation or we saw lots of paddle boarders headed up to the reservoir. We drove up Monte Cristo which was still closed for the season but probably would have been more our style. Birding was good around the campground probably due to the river. Again, road noise was annoying but expected. Also note that the forest service’s website was out of date as far as all the campgrounds in this area being open.

  • GoWhereYouAreDraw N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 20, 2021

    Wood Camp Campground (Ut) — Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest

    First come, first serve!

    Great area and very clean. The noise from the road isn't very noticeable as you sit along a beautiful creek. It's super relaxing and very afforable! 

    Vault toilets, no water but lots of shade. Each site has a picnic table, tent, and fire pits. Dumpster available when leaving the campground. I would consider this campground more on the primitive side of things.

  • Alan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 23, 2019

    South Fork (UT)

    Big Campground by the Creek!

    This campground much like the others in this canyon is situated along the banks of the South Fork of the Ogden River.  Before you get to Causey Reservoir and Weber Memorial Park, this is the biggest campground you'll encounter.  There are 35 single sites @23$ and 8 double sites @46$.  Some campsites are reservable and some are walk in sites.  A picnic table and metal fire ring is at each site along with vault toilets and drinking water scattered throughout the campground.  The campsites in the teens seemed to be the closest to the creek

    As for activities to do in the area, there are plenty of options!  Right by most of the campsites you can fly fish or set off on a tubing adventure down the Ogden River!  It is required that you have a life jacket before setting off.  If you're looking for bigger accumulations of water you can either head back down canyon to the huge Pineview Reservoir or head up canyon to the steep walled Causey Reservoir!

  • Mary S.
    Jul. 30, 2018

    Tanners Flat

    Good location for exploring Wasatch Mountains and Salt Lake City

    You really need to know this: No dogs are allowed because this campground is in the Salt Lake City watershed.

    And this: As inviting as the water running through the campground may look, you are not allowed to swim, wade or wash in it.

    One more thing: Gate closes at 10 pm although that didn't stop some partiers at the next site in from us. They partied and left around 11 or so. There was no payment tag on the post. The exit is open but has tire shredders if you enter over them.

    A pleasant surprise at a Forest Service campground: 10 lbs of ice for $2! (There was also the usual bundle of firewood for $6.)

    An unpleasant surprise: Old, dirty bathrooms. I've seen cleaner vault toilets elsewhere than these flush toilets.

    There is no water for now (July 2018) in bathroom sinks or at spigots. The host said something about a pipe issue and water needing to be tested. That covers the amenities other than dumpsters.

    What about the sites? We arrived on a Sunday morning when the host was putting up signs indictating which sites were reserved. We had 3 possible sites among 1 through 19 and grabbed #9, a pull through site with a buffer between the road in the parking/small RV area.

    Sites in the other area (higher numbers) were becoming available, but that area's host said many of the sites were only appropriate for tents.

    Our site #9: There are a few steps down to the picnic table, fire ring and grill plus a separate area to the left for a tent. See photos.

    General site info:

    • Some sites have a concrete pad for the picnic table, etc.

    • Many sites have an area for the tent that is away from the picnic table and concealed from the road.

  • A
    Aug. 17, 2020

    Echo Island RV Resort

    Perfect for an overnight stay

    Nicely managed campground, good website, efficient reservation process. Management very helpful and friendly. The campsites are nicely spaced, good tree cover, green well kept lawn at all sites. Gravel slots, picnic tables and fire pits at each site. Good park design for the back up sites to get a large trailer situated no problem. Seems like a large and very nice pool, although I did not us those facilities. Bath and restrooms clean and plenty of them for the size of the campground.

  • Myrna G.
    May. 19, 2020

    Little Mill

    Beautiful Campground

    Just returned from an overnight stay at Little Mill with amazing American Fork Creek right beside my sites The campground is clean, no water, trash or electric and vault toilets. The camp host were so friendly gave us suggestions on where to hike in the area. My only reason this campground didn’t get 5 stars is due to the horrible road noise. I seriously thought I was at a truck stop off the interstate. Honking and racing cars until 3am just ruined it. If noise doesn’t bother you head on over.

  • Gracie W.
    Jun. 13, 2023

    Twin Coves — Rockport State Park

    Nice Campground

    Campground was clean and had vault toilets. Water spicket was available but no showers (I believe there were only showers at the entrance of the park). Be aware that there are tons of bugs here, an overwhelming amount. Pack your bug spray if you’re tent camping!! Amazing views of the lake, beautiful birds, and the weather was phenomenal. Happy trails!

  • Alan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 22, 2019

    Botts Campground — Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest

    Nice Little CG close tothe Creek but also the Highway

    Is the 2nd campground heading up canyon and is also the smallest campground in the canyon.  While this is the smallest campground in the canyon half of the sites in this little loop are really close to the road and therefore have a lot of noise associated with that.  The ones closer to the river, however, are great and have tent spots nestled away right next to the river.  there are 5 single sites and 1 double site with picnic tables, fire rings, and prep/serving tables at each site.  There is also drinking water and 2 vault toilets at the entrance to the campground.

    For close recreation Pineview and Causey Reservoir are about equal distance and offer great respite from the sun with different experiences to explore!  At the mountain, cliff lined Causey Reservoir, kayaking and deep water free climbing are popular activities.  While at the larger Pineview Reservoir boating and water sports along with relaxing on the beach are more common activities, due to the gentle slopes of the reservoir.


Guide to Uintah

Tent campsites near Uintah, Utah range from primitive backcountry sites at higher elevations to more accessible walk-in options near recreation areas. Most dispersed camping locations sit between 7,000-9,000 feet elevation, creating significant temperature drops at night even in summer months. Camping regulations vary significantly between watershed areas and national forest lands around Uintah.

What to do

Fishing in alpine lakes: Silver Lake Backcountry offers excellent fishing opportunities with "large trout" visible in the water. One visitor noted, "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." Silver Lake Backcountry also provides paddleboarding options, with a camper sharing they "spent our afternoons paddleboarding on Silver Lake Reservoir."

Hiking to upper lakes: The Red Pine Lake area features multiple alpine lakes connected by unofficial trails. A camper explained, "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." Some routes require significant climbing with "one very rocky section where you have to pay attention or you'll easily wander off course."

Wildlife viewing: Many backcountry tent sites offer opportunities to see deer, moose and other wildlife. At Silver Lake Backcountry, a visitor reported, "The scenery is beautiful and we even saw a herd of deer run by our camp."

What campers like

Fall foliage views: Autumn camping provides spectacular views in several camping areas. At Dispersed camping near Monte Cristo, one visitor described, "it was the end of September and all the leaves were changing," while another mentioned "the views were immaculate, the sites were very spread out." The changing aspens create distinctive color patterns visible from many campsites.

Solitude in primitive areas: Curtis Creek offers quiet tent camping with minimal crowds. A camper reported it's "very quiet, barely any people. There's man made firepits made out of rocks of people who have stayed here." Another noted the "Nice view of the sunset" from this area, which has little light pollution for stargazing.

Accessibility to mountain terrain: Many tent camping areas provide quick access to challenging terrain while remaining relatively close to urban areas. Millcreek Canyon Backcountry Camping and Yurts was described by a visitor as "a great escape from the city. All the camping is backcountry so you can pick any trail and just make sure that you are 1/2 mile off the road and at least 200 ft from developed areas and water."

What you should know

High clearance vehicle requirements: Many dispersed tent camping areas require 4WD access. For Silver Lake, a visitor warned "you're definitely going to need 4WD and high clearance because the roads leading up to the campsite are filled with ruts and holes." Another camper noted some sites require crossing water: "Must cross a creek with 12"-18" of water at least once and up to 4 times depending on which camp site you choose."

Seasonal road closures: Many backcountry tent camping areas close early or open late in the season. Millcreek Canyon Backcountry Camping and Yurts has specific seasonal restrictions, with one visitor noting "Camping doesnt open until July 1st so take that into account." Another warned, "road is closed 3.5 miles into the park before where camping spots were indicated. No notice on when it would reopen."

Campfire regulations: Watershed protection areas have strict fire bans. A camper at Red Pine Lake noted: "The signs say no swimming in the lake, again because of their use as drinking water reservoirs" and "No fires or pets are allowed given that Little Cottonwood Canyon is considered Watershed. So plan on cooking with a backpacking stove/cooker."

Tips for camping with families

Beginner backpacking options: Cook Campsite offers easier backpacking for younger children. One visitor shared: "This was a great place to give my 5 year old a taste of backpacking." The short distance makes it manageable for families new to tent camping beyond car camping areas.

Trail-accessible water features: Port Ramp Marina provides beach access in late summer when water levels drop. A visitor noted, "If you hit the season right, it won't be too busy and you'll have very long extended beaches to play on!" The timing matters significantly, as "Spring runoff makes this lake rise significantly, which completely submerged the beach."

Winter recreation options: Some tent camping areas transform into winter recreation zones. One visitor to Port Ramp Marina explained, "This is a fantastic spot to go in the winter. Not only is it more beautiful (IMO) in the winter, but it gets loads of snow for snow sports... Huntsville, which is a ten minute drive away also has an awesome field that they turn into a skating rink."

Tips from RVers

Boondocking site selection: Dispersed camping near Monte Cristo offers RV-accessible options with size limitations. One RVer described "About 1/4 mile down a dirt road from Hwy 39 is a good single boondocking spot with a great view. Not for large RVs. Our 17 ft trailer with 4x4 was tricky to get into the spot because the loop was so small." Early arrival is recommended, as "There are tons of free site all up and down the main road. The only problem is it is busy if you leave on Friday plan to get there by 3 at the latest. Spots fill quick."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Uintah, UT is Port Ramp Marina with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 21 tent camping locations near Uintah, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.