The Uinta Mountains near Neola, Utah offer primitive tent camping options with elevations between 7,000-11,000 feet, creating significantly cooler summer temperatures than nearby valleys. Most dispersed camping areas require self-sufficiency with no services, while established campgrounds provide limited amenities like vault toilets. Weather can change rapidly with afternoon thunderstorms common from July through September.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Multiple campsites provide access to creeks and rivers stocked with trout. At Riverview Campground, campers report excellent fishing right from their sites. "We didn't fish, but saw a couple of fly fishers catch 4 trout right in front of us," notes one visitor.
Hiking trails: The high-country terrain offers trails for various skill levels. Dollar Lake Campsites serves as a basecamp for Kings Peak expeditions. "The sites are approximately 12 miles from the summit of Kings Peak," explains one hiker who used it as a launching point for Utah's highest peak.
Geocaching: Several campsites contain hidden geocaches for tech-savvy treasure hunters. "If you are a geocacher this is a gold mine!" writes one visitor about the Uinta Canyon area, noting multiple caches throughout the forested terrain.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the spaciousness of sites in the Uinta Mountains. At Forest Service Road 217, visitors mention "plenty of space" and that "though there are a lot of hunters here with their four wheels, no one has bothered me."
Night skies: The remote location creates excellent stargazing conditions. One Riverview Campground visitor explains, "The night sky was amazing, could see the whole milky way galaxy."
Wildlife viewing: The Uinta Mountains support diverse wildlife populations. Campers report seeing "an abundance of wildlife from frogs to Moose and everything in between" in the Uinta Canyon area, with dawn and dusk being prime viewing times.
What you should know
Road conditions: Many dispersed camping areas require navigating rough forest roads. A Forest Road 13 visitor cautions, "FS road #13 has large diameter cobble base and makes for a bumpy road. There are much better dispersed sites across the hwy on FS roads #839 and #838 for RVs and TTs."
Weather preparation: Despite summer visits, nights at higher elevations remain cold. Pack layers and rain gear as afternoon storms develop quickly. "It does get breezy at night," notes one Forest Road 13 camper, even during summer months.
Campfire regulations: Fire restrictions change seasonally based on conditions. When allowed, existing fire rings should be used. "The sites are pretty established with fire pits already made. Finding wood is a little bit harder so plan on hiking a bit to find some," reports a Dollar Lake visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Group sites available: Uinta Canyon offers designated group camping areas for family reunions. One visitor shares, "We held a family reunion here in the group site which is just north of the regular campsites. There were about 150 people, 14 campers and several tents."
Activities for children: Look for sites near shallow creeks for safe water play. "We recently had our family reunion at the group site...It had 2 toilet buildings that were cleaned and stocked daily by DNR, 4 horseshoe pits, the giant fire pit...and was in walking distance to the ponds and river."
Vault toilet availability: Most established campgrounds maintain basic toilet facilities. "The bathrooms were a bit scarce, but overall we would stay there again," notes one Uinta Canyon camper, suggesting families should bring supplemental supplies.
Tips from RVers
High-clearance recommendations: Many forest roads require vehicles with adequate ground clearance. Another Whiterocks visitor explains, "The road to the campsite is well maintained. The campsite itself is nestled in the pines with craggy mountains all around it."
Site dimensions: Most dispersed tent camping sites can accommodate small-to-medium trailers, but turning around may be challenging. "I would not go up this road with a trailer unless you had a turnaround open. This area is best suited to overlander tent and truck camper types," warns a Forest Road 13 visitor.
Camping duration limits: Forest Service regulations limit stays in dispersed camping areas. "FS notes 16 day limit," explains a Forest Road 13 camper, reminding visitors to respect standard Forest Service guidelines.
