If you're looking for a place to pitch your tent near Park Valley, look no further. With The Dyrt, it's easy to find Park Valley campgrounds for you and your tent. Each tent site offers quick access to one or more of Park Valley, Utah's most popular destinations.
Independence Lake Campground and Picnic Area is a non-fee campground and picnic area where reservations are not required. There are 5 single sites. This area is accessible for a season that varies usually between July through October. Sites are handicapped accessible. Campground amenities include 9 tables and grills, toilets, and livestock facilities. No drinking water or trash service is available. Nearby Independence Lakes Trail (#35) is 3.1 miles to the Lake. Only non-motorized travel is authorized. The first mile is rocky, however the remainder is a reasonable grade with switchbacks to the first of four lakes in the alpine cirque basin.Fish Your National Forests: This site can be accessed by Passenger Car; Fish available include: Trout; Types of fishing available include: Wade, Shore, Non-motorized boat, Float tube, Fly, Spin, Bait;
Group Campsite: up to 25 people, 7 motor vehicles maximum including RVs
Mill Flat Campground is a developed campground composed of 7 individual units located in an open setting within a canyon. This is a non-fee campground and picnic area where reservations are not required. This area is accessible for a season that varies usually between June through October. Campground amenities include restrooms. The campground is well suited for trailer and tent camping. Visitors can fish for trout in the stream and explore the mountains canyon by canyon on the extensive trail system.
Bostetter Campground is composed of 10 individual units and 1 group unit. It is located in a stand of Lodgepole pine and stretches along Cottonwood Creek with one site tucked up above in some Aspen trees. The campground is pack it in and pack it out. The area is suitable for trailer and tent camping. Anglers can take advantage of a nearby stream. Campground amenities toilets.
Traveler
Beautiful sites with many areas to rock climb. Pit houses don’t stink too bad. Good tent sites.
TravelerDry camp that fits for small trailees and tent camping. Larger trailers have limted spots so check dimensions before reserving..Lots of trails nearby. Mountain bike trail as well. Weather can be unpredictable so be prepared for rain and possible storm occasional which makes for amazing skys.
ScoutOne group site and multiple walk in tent sites, each with a good level pad. Dark, quiet and starry at night with long views to the south. Lots to explore in locale. California Trail passed nearby.
GuideBe careful which site you book. Many are walk in tent sites or don’t have room for even a sprinter van. We had site number 29 which was beautiful. Definitely recommend staying in the 1-30 sites. Many back up to rocks but all are very different.
Traveler
New park with nice open spaces w mostly level gravel parking. New trees that will provide shade in the future. Water and power sites available as well as dry and tent sites Free wifi which was good because there was no Verizon cell service. Also available at the ranger station. Walking distance to the ranger station and town. Close to the entrance of the City of Rocks. Onsite informal manager and owner both stopped by to ensure we did not need anything. A great experience.
Legend
There is a large group site that has 2 large tables and a fire pit and most of the other 1 and 2 tent sites have cemented fire rings. Right next to the creek and plenty of Shade make it a perfect place for hammocks. For most of the year this campground is sparsely populated so it's a nice place for solitude. There is also a large ~200' cirque at the end of a 3 mile hike that continues onto the high point of the range and of Box Elder County! Nearby are numerous archaeological sites and the Joshua Tree-esque devils playground
Legend
TTo start off this is an Idaho state park and requires a fee to enter (was $10) This is a great place to go if theres swarms of climbers at the City of Rocks because of the fee which tends to drive away most dirtbag (endearing term for us) climbers haha. There are a multitude of fantastic routes there and some good bouldering to be had as well. Another one of the great things about this park is they have yurt, small house, RV, and tent sites, so no matter how you like to camp theyll be sure to get you into something comfy!
Legend
While there was no climbing on this trip we did get to see the City in a whole new perspective!
The breadloaves has one large group site right next to the bathrooms and parking and numerous dispersed tent sites, some with long approaches so check the map on the Gov website!
The breadloaves are thoroughly catalogued on the mountain project website but some classic to try are Bloody Fingers and Carol's Crack. There is e ough climbing at the Breadloaves alone for a couple weeks of entertainment but the fantastic Morning Glory Spire is nearby as well along with other smaller walls
Scout
We reserved a site at Thompson Flat well in advance last summer. The drive up and into the campground was absolutely exquisite-beautiful meadows with flowers, and tree-covered mountains. You can imagine our surprise when we pulled into the campground and found that the ENTIRE place was completely overrun by large crowds of people. The campsites were all full with multiple vehicles that were spilling out into the road, loud music was playing, and it was almost like a party had rented the entire campground. There were no campground hosts present, and we realized that there was no way that we were going to be able to get a decent night's sleep if we stayed(we were tent-camping). We actually pulled out and left--something that we have never had to do before. I don't know what was actually going on here, and perhaps it was a fluke, but this was so disappointing for a national forest campground. Definitely not the remote, quiet, family camping experience that we enjoy.
Traveler
The campsites are a little on the small side if you have more than one huge tent. We went with friends and got lucky with the last two spots being next to each other so we took them both. We have a huge tent and they had a big one as well. We had spot 26 and 27. The spots are first come first serve. We took a hike and got some amazing photos and had a blast fishing. There are rainbow trout and cutthroat in the lake. There is a bathroom but make sure you bring your own toilet paper. It’s also dog friendly and our dogs had a blast as well. It’s been our favorite camping destination so far. There is also cell phone reception which was surprising.
Scout
Basic BLM land, dispersed camping about 2mi outside the City of Rocks on the Bread Loaves side, perfect for rock climbers. At least 3 rock fire pits spaced out for several different groups with plenty of room and flat areas for tents. Appears to be a similar area on the other side of the road too
TravelerGreat camp ground close to castle rock and city of rock climbing areas. We were only able to get a reservation for two nights but would have stayed longer. Nice spread out sites with medium size trees that provide privacy and some shade. The weather was great (late July) cooling down in the evening for comfortable tent sleeping. The showers were a huge bonus with 3 young kids and the paved roads were great for bike riding.
Guide
This is a beautiful Campsite right on Lake Cleveland. The East side is great for RV's while the West end is better for Tents. It is hard to get a spot here as the locals tend to camp here during the holiday weekends. You can reserve a spot online, but have to do it well in advance. There are other areas to stay nearby if this campsite is backed up. The lake is great for fishing, swimming or just relaxing. I always enjoy my stays at Lake Cleveland.
GuideWent down to go climbing. Wasn't able to get the guidebook due to the visitor center closure (just as the COVID-19 stuff started) but was able to take a nice lap around the main spire and on-sight a few routes for us. Camped at the main campground for the park (short drive from the climbing). Campground was surprisingly full for mid-March so we set up the tent at one of the unused "equine sites" away from everybody else so that the dogs could roam a bit. There is a $5 entry fee and a camping fee as well. Would definitely go back.
Guide
Seven miles off the freeway. Not many sites like five or six. Grassy and flat with a picnic shade. Just needed a place to sleep on our way to Utah. Be aware...bathrooms are locked and water is turned off after 10/1. We did find a open bathroom over by the boat launch.
ScoutWe camped here in October during an unseasonably hot few days. We brought a camper and just parked it at the parking lot....I slept in it with my little ones....the rest of the group set up tents and hammocks down at the actual campsite which is a short distance downhill. If you have a ton to pack...you may not like this site. It has great shade for City of Rocks. It was such a great location for climbing and mountain biking. A trail started right at the parking lot, which is where the bathroom is too. We hope to go again!
LegendWe camped at site 58 that can be accessed from the parking lot for the Breadloaves group site. Withing 100' of the site are ~20 routes and one of the mega classics of the City, Bloody Fingers on the east side of the loaves.
The site is a little bit of a walk from the parking lot so bring something to haul your stuff in. The walls nearby face east and provide an excellent opportunity for some night or moonlight climbing. It also provides a good respite from the wind even if tents in nearby sites are getting blown around and has the best shade in the area!
Traveler
We found this site on the Dyrt in looking for a stopover between Park city Utah and Boise Idaho. Wow, Bennet Springs is a hidden gem! We took the site at the eastern end and felt like we had the place to ourselves. Nice trail along the creek and wildflowers everywhere. The road is visible from camp but it it little traveled.
Scout
Road is a little rough to get here. We set up camp in the early evening. Hot and the flies were pretty thick. Evening came and it was perfect! Only two other tents that we could barely even see from our campsite. Felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. Loved hearing the creek as we tucked in for the night. The hike the next morning to the lake was a great challenge! There is an unmarked fork at about a mile and half in... go right! We hiked to the second lake. My son fished with hopes of catching a grayling. He took the winning photo of the lake!
GuideAnother amazing April camping trip down at City of Rocks. Spent four glorious days hanging out with the old rocks. Head down to the City if you’re looking for some wide open space and solitude, the campground is SO spread out you will never notice if it’s full. City of Rocks is…well rocky, so definitely be prepared to use rocks or other heavy things to help stake out your tents/ezups, which trust me, you’ll want to—the wind and lack of shade make those extra shelters a must! They have water and bathrooms spread throughout the reserve, we were about .25 miles away from the bathroom and .50 from water-no big deal. They have trash and recycling by the bathrooms (which are pit toilets but were clean and stocked while we visited!)
LegendCity Of Rocks National Reserve, Idaho
Fascinating, desolate, historical State Park. The visitors center is out on the main road and has a short informational trail with some authentic pioneer wagons. The signage is good, if you need water go to the dump site on the way in, there are no spigots at the campsites. When we visited the water was turned off so I was glad I always carry water with me. The sites are well spaced out, intermixed with the rock formations. Our site was huge, with a picnic table, tent pad and fire ring. There was a rock formation on the back side that you can walk up on and see the surrounding area. There were several rock climbers on Practice Rock across from our site. The dogs were permitted , on leash, on the trails however I was concerned about the numerous cactus so we stayed to the dirt roads mostly.
GuideStayed last night and I get it was a Saturday but the campers had no respect for quiet hours. There was a large party going until about 1130. The party was further up the campground but a group of three or for came and hung out right next to my tent waking up my wife and I. After 20 minutes I asked them if “they were done” because it was loud and disturbing. A male in the group tried to get me to come outside and fight him. I of course did not but his attempts continued on for sometime. My wife noticed there were multiple loud conversations going on across the campground. I see a previous post about camp hosts. I can only assume they were a part of that party or just failed to keep the peace and quiet I search for when camping.
GuideI spent one night in the City of Rocks National Reserve Campground. Nabbed spot 15 - the best one I saw - which had fantastic views from the front and back of my campervan. Sweeping view of valley and mountains beyond from the front, massive rocks through the window over my bed. There is a picnic table and fire ring on the nearly level site which is also very private, tucked away as it was between large rocks. I camped in February so I could have been the only camper in the park that night, though there are campsites extending up the main road for what must be half a mile, so there is room for many campers both RV and tents. I saw no one other than the ranger during my stay. The bathroom is a pit toilet, very clean and supplied with paper. There are no amenities like power or water at the site. I left my campervan parked and hiked all around the reserve. Million dollar views for dollars a night.
RangerStayed: 5/13/2021
Cost: $14/night plus $10 reservation fee
Site: 61
Vehicle: Volkswagen Atlas
Equipment: Tent
AT&T and T-Mobile: No Service
This is a very unique campground. Sites are dispersed throughout the entire park, as opposed to being condensed into one central location. It makes for some very unique and private sites - no two alike.
We went for site 61 for two reasons. 1) It was the most private that was remaining, even though 2) it was very close to a bathroom. Most of the sites near bathrooms, were more grouped together. The bathroom itself is less than a 1 min walk from the site. We had one neighbor on the other side of us, but you could only see them if you walked by to go to the bathroom. I think that site 61 could be the most private of all, with site 63 having some of the most beautiful sunset views (pictured).
This site was also nice, because it is tucked-in next to a large rock wall, blocking the wind coming from the north. Do be aware, that Area 7 of the campground (sites 61-64), are at a much higher elevation. Driving to the site from the main part of the park, we climbed over 1,000 feet (up a winding, dirt road), ending at 7,000+ feet. So, the temperature is going to be a little different than it is when you’re checking the weather in Almo. It was about a 10º difference when we were there.
Overall, this is a very nice campground with a fire ring and picnic table. All pictures are from Site 61, with the exception of the sunset from Site 63.
#DareToEverywhere
RangerFree NFS campground with 12 well distanced sites along a tiny creek.
The good: Privacy, quiet, free!, babbling brook to fall asleep to, mostly flat sites.
The not so good/things to be aware of: The 9 miles of gravel road to get there are extremely bumpy with washboard surfaces for most of the way. In a small RV, things were bouncing around, shifting in cupboards, and at one point the hood of our engine popped open because of all of the jostling. We ended up needing to go about 10-15 miles per hour most of the way. The pickup trucks whipping around us seemed to have no trouble going a normal speed, even the ones hauling campers and ATVs so this may just be a challenge for RVs and probably regular cars.
The site we ended up at in mid September had two big negatives: 1) cow patties everywhere, and 2) millions of small flying white bugs (not exaggerating) that seemed to be particularly drawn to the cow patties. It actually made it impossible to enjoy spending any time outdoors. There were several sites where they weren’t as bad, but they didn’t work for us due to size or needing to cross a small creek to get to the site. Not sure if its like this all the time, but it was the worst bug situation I’ve ever encountered and I have been camping for more than 40 years. They mostly disappeared after dark and didn’t come back until after 8 am the next morning.
One other thing to be aware of—it is extremely difficult to turn around at the end of the road in an RV or larger vehicle unless you are able to go through a creek that’s above ankle deep. In our jeep, I would not have thought twice, but I wasn’t comfortable in our RV and we had to back out down a windy, narrow road with many encroaching tree branches, making for a very frustrating experience.
All in all, I’m rating the site better than our experience because I think in a tent or in a more heavy duty pickup/trailer combo, this would be a fantastic site. Once we finally got settled and were enjoying dinner, listening to the creek, and drinking a bottle of wine, it was very relaxing and peaceful. Still, if I’d had a crystal ball, I probably would have skipped, given our equipment.
Guidecome here during the week and there’s a very good chance you’ll be the only at the whole campground! there’s fishing and hiking and the world famous City of Rocks for climbing!
GuideLong gravel road to access but worth it. No facilities so bring what you need lots of excellent dispersed sites. Cold streams near sites. Hiking is great
Tent camping near Park Valley, Utah, offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying a variety of well-reviewed sites that cater to outdoor enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Park Valley, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Park Valley, UT is Bread Loaves Group Campsite — City of Rocks National Reserve with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Park Valley, UT?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 tent camping locations near Park Valley, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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