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.

Best Tent Sites Near Laketown, Utah (22)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Laketown, UT

424 Reviews of 22 Laketown Campgrounds


  • Pat S.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 28, 2019

    Sunrise Campground

    Good campground, easily accessable

    Sunrise CG is located right of hwy 89 about 10 minutes west of Garden City.  The CG sits above Bear Lake. The sites are pretty spacious, heavily wooded with good shade. There are picnic tables and fire rings at each site. There are 27 sites available. There are no hooks or dump stations. There a vault toilets and no showers. there is drinking wager available. This CG can accommodate walk in tent camping to RVs. You can reserve some sites on rec.gov. 

    This was a good stop that was convenient on the way through northern Utah. The camp host was awesome and funny.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 18, 2022

    Allred Flat

    Peaceful, and Lots of Beaver Dams!

     Beautiful, quiet campground. We could hardly hear the road noise, especially from our spot at the furthest end of the loop at #18. We just showed up on a Wednesday and the entire place was empty but many people came throughout the evening. Some hiking trails along the creek where beavers have made extensive dams.

     Several sites are pull through sites, and we only saw a few random sites that had bear boxes. Each site had a picnic table and a fire pit, and was nicely separated from neighboring sites. Each site had a different configuration as well as parking pad length. 

    Anyone from tent campers to large trailers can easily find a spot, larger fifth wheels and class A rigs may have a bit of trouble finding a suitable campsite here. Sites, however are not very level. 3 sets of gendered handicap accessible vault toilets. At least one had a trash bag hanging inside. Otherwise no other trash bins at this campground. There are hand pump water faucets, but a sign said that water is not tested and water should be boiled or treated prior to drinking. We did not try the water but another camper said he pumped for about 30 times and no water came out. 

    Zero cell service for any of the 3 major carriers.

  • Carrie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 23, 2018

    Lake Alice

    Ranger Review: ICEMULE at Lake Alice Campground

    Disclosure: It is NOT 3.5 miles to the campground, it is 1.5 to the lake and another to .25 or so to the camping area on the east side of the lake. The app on my phone was screwy. Sorry for the confusion in my videos.

    Campground Review: For a primitive camping area this place is pretty sweet! They have metal fire rings with grills and there is an outhouse as well. The picnic tables are built of of half hewn logs. I did see that one of the tables at a site was badly broken, so everything is not in the best repair. There was also garbage left behind by the previous visitors which we packed out for them. The views more than make up for it, though! This lake is the most beautiful blue-green color. Lake Alice is home to the only pure lake strain of Bonneville Cutthroat Trout in Wyoming. We caught about 4 this trip but I wasn't quick enough with the camera to share any shots. We had to leave just as the fishing was getting good in the evening. Fish AM/PM, the wind can pick up in the afternoons, and temps rise making fishing not so great in the afternoon. Horseback riders are frequently in the area, so make way for them on the trail. We passed a string of about 8 riders going in further. You can trail ride through all the way to La Barge Creek Road. The campsite at the very beginning of the lake has a primitive corral for the horses. There are a few ambitious folks who have packed canoes into the lake. There are also some forest service water crafts locked away. Maybe if you had the right connections…It would be so fun to canoe this lake!

    If you continue along Poker Creek Trail that follows the east side of the lake, you can visit Mount Isabel which is 5 miles from the start of Lake Alice. Poker Creek Trail will reach LaBarge Creek Road at mile 9.

    Don'f forget to leave no trace! Picking up after others is frustrating.

    Gear Review: ICEMULE Coolers https://icemulecoolers.com/collections/pro-coolers/products/the-icemule-pro-large Occasionally the Dyrt will provide gear to demo on camping trips. I had the opportunity to demo the ICEMULE Pro Large Soft cooler. I have been using this cooler for a little over a month now and it has come along on a variety of adventures and has not failed! This was the longest trek I've carried the cooler. We went for a day trip into Lake Alice. The trail to the lake is 1.5 miles. I was able to pack the fully loaded cooler with lunch, drinks, and snacks for 4, into the lake comfortably. I loved that this cooler has the crisscross bungee cord to hold additional gear. It held my fly rod case snugly as we packed in. The cooler has a vent on the side, you can inflate the side walls to help extend the insulating factor of the cooler. It also helps it float! The bag rolls closed like a dry bag and clips closed. The shoulder straps are adjustable and there is a chest strop for a good fit. It worked just as good as a garbage receptacle as we packed out trash we found in the campground. #leaveitbetterthanyoufoundit

  • 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!!

  • skoerber@moscow.com The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 2, 2025

    Maple Grove Campground

    small campground by the lake

    Stayed one night at the end of May. The road along Oneida Narrows is good graded gravel. At the base of the dam, a sign recommends against large RVs and towed vehicles so I scouted it first, but it's ok, just a little rutted in places. The campground is small, 12 spaces. I suggest not towing a camper that's longer than 20 ft or so, due to the general smallness of the pull ins and the narrowness of the road. Sites have picnic table and fire ring. Vault toilets that were reasonably clean. No water or trash service. There is access to the reservoir shore, but it has a lot of aquatic growth near the shore, which i don't like. So many fish jumping, big ones! I don't know what they were. It was about half full when I was there mid week. Quiet except when the neighbor was playing his trumpet -- are you kidding me?!?! No cell service, Verizon.  Nice shade from the maples. Surrounding ridges are scenic.

  • 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.

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

    North Fork Campground - St. Charles Canyon

    Beautiful Scenery in Idaho Mountains

    This beautiful campground lies close to the end of St Charles Canyon near the Minnetonka Cave.  It has 2 sections one of which is mainly for rvs and the 2nd which is for tents and camper Van's.  The RV spots seemed kind of close but the tent sites had ample room along with metal fire rings and picnic tables.  There was a vault toilet up near the rvs  and down by the tent sites

  • 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!


Guide to Laketown

Tent camping near Laketown, Utah offers diverse terrain ranging from lakeside beaches to forested mountain settings. The region sits at approximately 5,900 feet elevation, creating distinct temperature variations between day and night even during summer months. Water levels at Bear Lake fluctuate seasonally, affecting beach accessibility and creating unique camping conditions throughout the year.

What to do

Boat access camping: At Bear Lake State Park Campground, sites provide excellent water recreation options. "Agreat place to go especially if you want to cast your boat off and do some fishing or even some geocaching! If it's too hot on the lake there are some nice forests on the west side of the lake to escape into," notes Alan B.

Cave exploration: North Fork Campground in St. Charles Canyon places campers near Minnetonka Cave. "This beautiful campground lies close to the end of St Charles Canyon near the Minnetonka Cave. It has 2 sections one of which is mainly for rvs and the 2nd which is for tents and camper Van's," explains Alan B.

Mountain biking: Green Canyon Yurt provides winter and summer recreation options for active campers. During warmer months, bikers can access numerous trails, while winter visitors find groomed paths for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: At Cottonwood Campground, campers appreciate the spacing and natural barriers. "It's a beautiful spot, with full hook ups and lovely campgrounds. The beach is spectacular and lots of other things to do around the lake," mentions Danielle and Kamal L.

Gradual beach entries: Bear Lake offers family-friendly swimming conditions with gentle slopes. "The beach has fine sand and the water depth is super gradual - it'll take 50-60 yards to get waist deep. Crystal clear water. I dont normally get into lakes, but this was different," shares Heather C.

Canyon water features: Smithfield Dispersed Campsite campers enjoy creek access. "It's a very pretty canyon with a creek running through it. Would recommend," states Brendan J. Another camper notes, "I first visited this area in the spring, and have since been there around 4-5 times. It's very beautiful with lots of greenery and a river through the whole canyon."

What you should know

Limited spots at dispersed areas: Smithfield Dispersed Campsite fills quickly during peak seasons. "Most of the spots are pretty small and would only work for one or two tents or maybe a couple of hammocks," cautions Brendan J.

Road conditions: Access to Monte Cristo dispersed camping requires preparation. "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," explains Brian C.

Arrival timing matters: Popular dispersed sites fill early, especially during weekends. "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," advises Bryce R.

Tips for camping with families

Shallow swimming areas: Beaches along Bear Lake offer safe swimming for children. "The water depth is super gradual - it'll take 50-60 yards to get waist deep. Crystal clear water," reports Heather C.

Group accommodations: Conestoga Ranch provides unique family options. "Conestoga Ranch offers luxury tents and a chance to stay in a covered wagon... The covered wagons are super unique and can sleep up to six," shares GoWhereYouAreDraw N.

Off-water activities: When weather or crowds make lake access challenging, alternatives exist. "After all that we ended up going towards Garden City area and ended up finding a beach to swim and have lunch at. The water was beautiful and refreshing, dogs were allowed just keep them on a leash," suggests Shani C.

Tips from RVers

Hookup availability: Bear Lake State Park Campground offers various RV services. "Sites are pretty level they have electric some with water and some with 50amps. They all have picnic tables no sewer. They have a dump station for that," explains John M.

Size limitations: Narrow canyon roads restrict vehicle size in some areas. "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," warns Sarah C.

Weather considerations: Mountain camping near Laketown experiences significant seasonal changes. "It can get quite blustery. We weren't able to have a fire when we stayed there," reports Briana about dispersed camping near Monte Cristo.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Laketown, UT is Bear Lake State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 14 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 22 tent camping locations near Laketown, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.