Grantsville sits at the south end of the Tooele Valley, about 35 miles west of Salt Lake City, and campgrounds in the area are mostly on the flanks of the Stansbury Mountains to the southwest. The Deseret Peak Wilderness access trailhead is one of the draws here, along with dispersed sites on Wasatch-Cache National Forest land that give a quieter alternative to the more heavily used campgrounds east of the city. Grantsville's dispersed camping covers the undeveloped sites on forest land in the Stansbury range.
Developed sites at South Willow Canyon have vault toilets and fire rings with no hookups or water service. Road access into the canyon is paved for the lower section but turns to graded gravel above the developed sites, and high clearance is recommended for anything past the main campground area. Summer weekends draw day hikers and overnight campers from the Salt Lake metro, so sites can fill on Friday afternoons. Grantsville cabin sites are a small but confirmed set for those who want a structure rather than a tent.
Evenings cool off quickly at elevation even in summer. Wind picks up on exposed ridge sites in the afternoon.
"You can see other campers but they are so far away from you, and if you park facing away from them, it's nice and feels pretty private."
"A lot of sites in an open field next to mountains. Sites are pretty spaced out. LOTS of gnats and other bugs, but quite and pretty view of the sunset."
$15 - $40 / night
"We stayed here for one night didn't go past the gate we just camped pretty much on the side of the dirt road next to the reservoir."
"You’ll love sitting around your campfire watching the deer scamper in the mountains. RV camping is a must for me and full hookups are available."
"In fact it represents just as a reference for the highway road off the 80 highway you go along 196 and there are pull off roads leading to either straight up the side of a mountain or along the valley."
"Wind is present and highway is nearby."
$20 - $34 / night
"There was an interesting little dam on the east side of the campground and I scared a bunch of trout out from under it as I walked across so bring your fishing pole or fly rod if you want to!"
$20 - $60 / night
"We really enjoyed our one night stay on the beach at the Great Salt Lake State Park. Beach sites are primitive, however, the park also offers 5 RV sites with hook-ups. Free showers. Helpful staff."
"Nice campground next to the great salt lake. Only complaint was sand gets just about everywhere so be prepared."
$20 / night
"Surrounding the campground are these amazing looking rock cliffs and outcrops that look like volcanic flows or maybe a pyroclastic flow or tuff. "
"Was worth the slight detour off the highway to have a nice spot while nearing SLC. Intake was a great surprise, creekside, private, and cool rock formations."
$20 - $62 / night
"The campsites in this campground have all the same amenities as the other campgrounds in the canyon which includes a picnic table, metal fire ring, and vault toilets withing walking distance. "
"The loop campground is a great spot to spend the night if you're wanting to explore the Stansbury's from a central location."
TravelerCleanest vault toilets. Nice trees area right by the water and a short walk to bridal veil falls. Tactic noise in the morning was louder than I’d expected. If you are in a tent site 6 has a little path down to the creek, otherwise it’s just a couple feet of plants and then you are there.
ScoutFree to camp wherever but it’s out in a range area, trash is everywhere and the roads are quite rough. Wind is present and highway is nearby.
GuideBeautiful view of the great salt lake. Very few camp sites for RVs. Looks like there are some long termers. It is a marina. But as for a beautiful sunset... awesome. You can walk down to the waters edge. Was a walk in site for this stay. 20 mins to any restaurants.
ScoutWe pulled in and were a bit nervous because it’s off the freeway and we thought it be would be loud BUT it was actually surprisingly not. The grounds are very well kept & the staff was amazing! We stayed for 2 nights & would stay again if we were in the area.
GuideLocated just inside east gate. Visitors are required to get a pass prior to entry. Camp is adjacent to a park and a busy road. Bathrooms were adequate. We dry camped on a gravel lot. No frills but absolutely adequate and located just off the interstate.
GuideWe generally like this area, because it's one of the few spots in northern Utah that can accommodate our 36' motorhome. The downsides are that the roads are really rutted, so take it very slow and make sure that your rig can make it into a spot and, most importantly, OUT of the spot. As mentioned in other reviews, there's broken glass and ammunition scattered over all of the campsites, but they're big, and every site has a view of the beautiful lake and surrounding mountains. It gets down into the low 30s at night during the spring, so be sure to be prepared for cold nights. It's late May when I'm writing this, and it's JUST NOW getting out of the 30s at night and into the 40s. Daytime temps are pretty mild during the spring, at 65-80 degrees every day. I recommend this spot if you don't mind being in what's basically a free RV park (with much better spacing - most spots are at least 20-30 feet apart), because it gets so busy here. Also, a Provo Sheriff's deputy knocked on everyone's door on our second day there to ask how long they'd/we'd been there, and then, after 12 days, we moved to another nearby spot up the road, and on our second day here, he knocked on our door again to ask questions about our stay. We're rule-followers, and he was very professional and nice, but if you don't like getting "the knock," this may not be the place for you, as he seems to go through the sites regularly. All in all, I'd recommend this place, as it's mostly peaceful, even being as busy as it is.
TravelerFantastic BLM spot surrounded by the Great Salt Lake. No services but good internet service. Very quiet. Watch out for the cow patties. This area allows shooters so you may hear them. Suggestion is to not stray too far from the paved road.
ScoutDrove all the way out here and not allowed to park overnight
GuideThere are mountain views on every side, lake to one side, and wetlands and fields with cows on the other. Very clean, nice campground host. Only 2 showers but they were clean. Airport nearby but it didn’t bother us. Walking trail next to the campground and a paved pier to walk down as well. It seriously blows my mind that so many people had bad things to say about this place, we really enjoyed it!
Dispersed camping options near Grantsville, Utah provide access to both desert landscapes and alpine environments, with elevation ranges from 4,300 feet in the valley to over 10,000 feet in the nearby Stansbury Mountains. Summer temperatures often exceed 90°F in the valley while staying 10-15 degrees cooler at higher elevations. Winter access becomes limited as snow accumulates, with many forest service roads closing completely from November through April.
Fishing opportunities: The Grantsville Reservoir offers stocked trout fishing from spring through fall. According to one visitor, "The reservoir is stocked with trout almost 1 a month during the spring though fall. The reservoir is also completely man made so you get the feeling that you're in a bowl within a bowl!" Grantsville Reservoir
Hiking trails: Access mountain trails from Loop Campground that connect throughout the Stansbury range. "The main trail leaving the campground is a loop trail for Deseret Peak but you can split off on numerous side trails to follow the range to the north or south," notes one regular visitor to Loop Campground.
Rock exploration: The canyon areas feature unusual rock formations worth exploring. At Intake Campground, "Surrounding the campground are these amazing looking rock cliffs and outcrops that look like volcanic flows or maybe a pyroclastic flow or tuff. Its really crumbly and doesn't make for good climbing but forms pretty 'melting mud' walls."
Privacy and quiet: Campsites at Horseshoe Knoll Dispersed Camping provide considerable separation between sites. One camper noted, "It was fairly quiet though at night since you're very spread out from each other which is nice." Horseshoe Knoll - Dispersed Camping
Fall colors: The mountainside campgrounds offer spectacular autumn displays. "The sites are a little close together but there weren't many people there at the end of September and the changing leaves were spectacular!" reports a visitor to Cottonwood Campground.
Creek access: Several canyon campsites offer streamside locations. At Intake Campground, "There are 5 single sites all aligned in a row next to the creek. 2 of the sites are on the opposite side of the road, however, away from the creek." A recent visitor described it as "Surprisingly beautiful/secluded... creekside, private, and cool rock formations."
Weather considerations: The canyon areas can be significantly cooler than surrounding valleys. "The campground is at a pretty good elevation and will be much cooler than the surrounding desert, especially at night so make sure you're prepared appropriately."
Road conditions: Many access roads require appropriate vehicles. One camper at Skull Valley Rd Dispersed Camping shared, "We brought a 30' RV with a lifted Ram 2500 and had no problem driving over the washouts," while another warned "Dirt road is also real rough, probably not for sedans."
Insect awareness: Bug activity varies significantly by season. A summer visitor to Horseshoe Knoll reported, "So many bugs it was awful, the mosquitoes ate us and our dogs even with bug repellents," while others visiting Skull Valley noted "LOTS of mosquitoes and flies."
Settlement Canyon advantages: The campground offers family-friendly amenities close to town. One visitor shared, "We brought a whole bunch of teenage girls for my daughter's birthday party and they were able to be loud and did not disturb anybody. The dry camping spots are very spacious lots of space for the walk around and play and run." Settlement Canyon/Legion Park Campground
Wildlife viewing: Many campsites offer opportunities to see local animals. "Each one had a fire pit and picnic table. We woke up to see cows in the morning which the kids loved," mentioned a camper who visited Settlement Canyon.
Water recreation: For family swimming, the Great Salt Lake State Park offers unique floating experiences. "From watching the buffalo herds in the distance, to taking a dip in the Great Salt Lake, to the vibrant sunset and then a wild lightning storm, it was just an absolutely beautiful place to camp."
Hookup availability: Full service sites are limited but available. At Settlement Canyon, a regular visitor notes, "RV camping is a must for me and full hookups are available. The price is very reasonable and anything you could ever need is easily accessible in Tooele right outside the gate."
Site selection: The best sites for RVs aren't always obvious. At Oquirrh Mountain Inn & RV Park, one visitor explains, "My wife and I stayed here for about 2 weeks place is pretty nice for an RV hookup spot full hookups water sewer 30 amp power."
Seasonal accessibility: Road conditions determine RV access. "The road to the campground is closed from late fall to mid spring so check ahead to see if it's open for the season," advises a camper familiar with the mountain campsites near Grantsville, Utah.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best camping spots in Grantsville, Utah?
Grantsville offers several excellent camping options. South Willow Canyon features Upper Narrows and Lower Narrows Campground, with the latter boasting amazing overhanging tree canopies and nearby fishing opportunities. For dispersed camping, consider Soldier's Pass Utah Backcountry, which is popular for ATVs and off-road vehicles with established fire rings. The area has easy to moderate hiking trails, though it's located near a shooting range. Each location offers a different experience, from developed campgrounds with amenities to more rugged backcountry options. South Willow Canyon provides a cooler escape during summer months, while dispersed areas offer more privacy and flexibility for larger groups or those with specific recreational interests.
What facilities are available at Grantsville Reservoir Campground?
Grantsville Reservoir offers basic facilities for campers. The campground provides vault toilets for visitors, which is especially convenient for those staying overnight. The area is big-rig friendly, making it accessible for RVs and larger camping vehicles. Water is not provided at individual sites, so campers should bring their own supply. The reservoir itself offers recreational opportunities including fishing and boating. The campground is primarily designed for drive-in access, making it convenient for most vehicles. For campers looking for more amenities, Loop Campground is located further up South Willow Canyon, though be prepared for a long drive on rutted gravel roads to access services like firewood and water.
How much does it cost to camp in Grantsville, Utah?
Camping costs in Grantsville vary by location and amenities. Miner's Canyon Dispersed and other dispersed camping areas are free, offering lakeside views without facilities. For those seeking more amenities, developed campgrounds in the area typically range from $15-25 per night. Riverside RV Resort, a maintained facility with grass sites and river access, charges higher rates reflecting its additional amenities and services. For budget-conscious campers, the best option is dispersed camping on public lands around Grantsville, which remains free but requires packing in all supplies including water. Always check current fee information before your trip, as prices may change seasonally or annually.
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