Best Tent Camping near Laketown, UT
Multiple tent campgrounds offer access to the distinct blue waters of Bear Lake near Laketown, Utah. Bear Lake State Park Campground maintains tent sites with boat-in, drive-in, and walk-in access near the eastern shore. Tent campers can also find designated sites at Cottonwood Campground within Bear Lake State Park on the western shore. For those seeking more rustic options, Smithfield Dispersed Campsite provides free primitive tent camping approximately 20 miles west of Laketown.
Most tent sites in the Bear Lake region feature basic amenities with picnic tables and fire rings at established campgrounds, while dispersed areas provide minimal facilities. Walk-in tent locations at Bear Lake State Park offer beach proximity with pit toilets nearby but no showers. According to feedback on The Dyrt, "the bathrooms were kept clean and smell free especially for pit toilets." Tent campers should note that dispersed sites like Smithfield require a permit and have strict fire regulations but allow pets. Water access varies significantly between locations, with most primitive sites requiring campers to bring their own supply.
Areas farther from developed campgrounds provide better opportunities for backcountry tent camping with greater solitude. At Smithfield Dispersed Campsite, one visitor reported that spots "are pretty small and would only work for one or two tents or maybe a couple of hammocks." Tent campers frequenting the Bear Lake area often appreciate the direct lake access, with several tent-only sites offering immediate beach proximity. Most backcountry tent sites in the mountains west of Laketown provide creek access and cooler temperatures during summer months. The canyon terrain surrounding Smithfield offers secluded tent camping with natural sound barriers created by the surrounding forest and flowing water. Winter access is severely limited at higher elevations, making summer and early fall the prime seasons for backcountry tent exploration.