Camping options near Magna, Utah range from high-elevation mountain sites to lakeside areas with elevations varying from 4,300 to 7,400 feet. The region experiences wide temperature fluctuations with summer nights dropping below 50°F in mountain campgrounds, even when daytime temperatures reach 90°F in the valley. Most campgrounds close from mid-September through May due to snowfall, with Pony Express RV Resort being one of the few year-round options.
What to Do
Hiking Timp: Access the Timpooneke trail directly from Timpooneke Campground for the popular Mount Timpanogos hike. "It's a nice site right at the base of the timpooneke trail that leads to summit of my timp. Not free, but a great way to be there for a head start on the sunrise hike," notes Trip A.
Mountain biking: Trails near Redman Campground provide excellent riding opportunities. "This is super close to my favorite mountain bike ride in Northern Utah - The Wasatch Crest Trail. There's nothing like riding a bike through deep dark forests, soaring mountains, and stretching meadows riddled with flowers," says Brendan A.
Wildlife viewing: Watch for animals at several campgrounds. At Redman Campground, "we had two moose munching away at the willow at the adjacent site," reports Outdoor T. "We saw moose, went fishing, and even stopped for icecream at stone hass in the solitude village right up the street," adds Andy M. from Spruces Campground.
Paragliding observation: Flight Park State Recreation Area offers views of paragliders taking off from the hills. "When we woke up there were paragliders ready to glide. Which was cool," writes Santiago V., though he cautions it can be "VERY windy and hard to drive stakes in."
What Campers Like
Clean facilities: Spruces - Big Cottonwood receives high marks for maintenance. "The bathrooms are exceptionally clean with flushing toilets, you are a walk or hike away from Brighton and immersed in some of the most beautiful mountains around," writes Kristin H. Similarly, at Redman, campers appreciate that "there are flush toilets and water spigots. We've used one of the group sites and a double site, and they are very roomy."
Proximity to water: Little Mill Campground parallels a creek that adds ambiance. "We LOVED Little Mill! It's the perfect campground. It has the smell of pine trees, a babbling brook, and it is just down the road from Timpanogos Cave National Monument," writes Stacy R. Another camper notes, "You could hear the river and we had a great time."
Yurt camping options: Seasonal yurt camping near Magna, Utah is available at several locations. Granite Flat Campground offers yurt accommodations from May through October. "I really enjoyed camping here with a group of friends. Each camping area is nice," reports Sydney Z., though she notes "it is very very busy and pretty tight quarters."
Year-round access: Settlement Canyon/Legion Park Campground operates through winter. "The campsites were very open with not many trees but a great view of the lake. We saw fox that came right up to our tent and lots of bison close by," reports Whitney K.
What You Should Know
High elevation challenges: Mountain campgrounds sit at elevations above 6,000 feet. "Timooneke is beautiful. High elevation (7400ft) campground up the popular Alpine Loop. It can get cold at night - high elevation," advises Andrea P.
Wind conditions: Flight Park State Recreation Area experiences extreme wind. "Very windy---20-30mph winds nearly everyday. That's why it's popular for hang gliding. Unless you're coming here to fly then it's a terrible spot!" warns David S. Another camper mentions, "it is also very windy and hard to drive stakes in the ground."
Reservation requirements: Most popular sites fill quickly. "Book EARLY! This campsite is always full," warns Andrea P. about Timpooneke. Another camper notes, "Make sure you get camped and in because they lock the gate coming into campground at 11PM and you have to hike in."
No-dog zones: Several mountain campgrounds prohibit pets. "We had planned to camp here but dogs are not allowed," notes Natalie B. about Redman. "I love the scenery. You can get to donut falls from the camp ground which is awesome. My only complaint is there are no dogs allowed," adds Becky C. about Spruces.
Tips for Camping with Families
Accessible hikes: Tanners Flat Campground offers nearby kid-friendly attractions. "Nearby attractions include Lisa Falls, Cecret Lake and numerous summertime activities at Snowbird and Alta ski resorts. During the summer at Snowbird there are summer slides kind of like dry bobsleds," writes Alan B.
Activity spaces: Little Mill provides open areas for play. "There is a huge spot of grass that you can play sports or baseball on. Can't remember the site we had but there was a huge rock that was fun for the scouts to climb on," notes Brad B.
Wildlife encounters: Children often enjoy the animal sightings. At Settlement Canyon, "we woke up to see cows in the morning which the kids loved. Had some great areas for hiking and is really close to the reservoir for some awesome fishing," shares Carlee G.
Hammock spots: Many campgrounds feature trees perfect for hammocks. "There were lots of great trees for hammocking, fire pits, and bathrooms! Overall this place was beautiful and perfect for what we were doing!" writes Michael B. about Redman Campground.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: White Rock Bay Campground provides RV facilities but comes with challenges. "The campground is very spread out and provides lots of space between you & other campers, so that's a plus. We visited in early May when the No See Ums were at their peak, so forget enjoying a campfire at dusk, or anything at dusk," reports Caroline N.
Site selection: RVers should research specific sites before booking. "I would say 75% or more of the spots are full time rv'ers. Mostly everyone is friendly, sites are clean, but kids and barking dogs everywhere! Spaces aren't as small as I feared they'd be after reading reviews. I guess it depends on your rig size," writes Amy about Pony Express.
Wind protection: Secure equipment in windy locations. "Unless you're coming here to fly then it's a terrible spot! Very windy---20-30mph winds nearly everyday," reports David S. about Flight Park State Recreation Area.
Year-round options: For winter camping, options are limited. "Great location to camp for touring Salt Lake City. Full hook-ups at a reasonable price. Sites are tight and busy on the weekends. Limited cell service," notes Kim T. about Settlement Canyon.
