Best Tent Camping near Payson, UT

I really loved this campground! And I really love Diamond Fork Hotsprings! I can’t wait to visit again! We camped the Thursday after Labor bad and had the entire campground almost all to ourselves! On Labor Day weekend there wasn’t an empty campsite. Cost is $22 for a single site, $44 for a double. We arrived to camp around 7:30 and pitched our tent then headed up the road a few more miles to the parking area for Diamond Fork (5th water) Hot Springs. I recommend visiting the Hotspring at night in the summer to escape the overwhelming crowds. There were only a handful of people at the springs during our evening visit. The trail to the springs is about 2.4 miles in. We returned to camp around 1 AM and slept soundly in the still, quiet nature. You can hear the stream babble nearby. We slept in and as we were breaking down camp, Marc, the camp host stopped by to se how our visit was and if we needed anything. What a wonderful man! We chatted for quite a while about the area and he offered to give us a tour of the campground in his golf cart. This is a pretty leather campground! 3 separate loops. There are some hike in tent sites but they are set up for dual tents and are priced as such so they are $44 which is quite speedy for a pack in tent site. There is a well maintained nature trail the passes through the campground. There are educational kiosks along the trail. There are multiple restrooms throughout the campground. The 2 I used were very clean considering it was post holiday weekend.
Each campsite had a fire ring, grill, and a picnic table. Tent sites all offered nice level areas for pitching your tent. You can purchase fire wood from the camp host. This is a great place and I can’t wait to return!

Dirt road is washboard hell, but you are rewarded when you arrive to a clean and quiet campground stay. Plenty of trees, flowers and wildlife including hummingbirds, deer, sandhill cranes, moose, beaver, chipmunks, squirrels and fish. Water is cold, but plenty deep for fishing, boating, canoes and paddle boards.  Fishing was steady.  Be prepared to pay to launch your boat and empty your tanks at the dump station.

This campground has reservation and first come first served sites. There is tent and trailer camping available. Loop B has group sites. There was no water available in the campground the last few times we were here. There are no hook ups-electric, water, sewer at this campground.

There are restrooms in each loop of the campground. There is a quiet time enforced from 10 PM to 6 AM. No generators after 10 PM.

Bring cash or check as they do not take credit cards on site.

We will camp here again.

You really need to know this: No dogs are allowed because this campground is in the Salt Lake City watershed.

And this: As inviting as the water running through the campground may look, you are not allowed to swim, wade or wash in it.

One more thing: Gate closes at 10 pm although that didn't stop some partiers at the next site in from us. They partied and left around 11 or so. There was no payment tag on the post. The exit is open but has tire shredders if you enter over them.

A pleasant surprise at a Forest Service campground: 10 lbs of ice for $2! (There was also the usual bundle of firewood for $6.)

An unpleasant surprise: Old, dirty bathrooms. I've seen cleaner vault toilets elsewhere than these flush toilets.

There is no water for now (July 2018) in bathroom sinks or at spigots. The host said something about a pipe issue and water needing to be tested. That covers the amenities other than dumpsters.

What about the sites? We arrived on a Sunday morning when the host was putting up signs indictating which sites were reserved. We had 3 possible sites among 1 through 19 and grabbed #9, a pull through site with a buffer between the road in the parking/small RV area.

Sites in the other area (higher numbers) were becoming available, but that area's host said many of the sites were only appropriate for tents.

Our site #9: There are a few steps down to the picnic table, fire ring and grill plus a separate area to the left for a tent. See photos.

General site info:

• Some sites have a concrete pad for the picnic table, etc.

• Many sites have an area for the tent that is away from the picnic table and concealed from the road.

Arrived late afternoon on a Wednesday in mid September after trying some of the dispersed spots and not finding quite the right fit. Several of the loops were closed for the season, but we found several good sites right on the bluff above the water. Great views, and a little path down to the waters edge (which we made use of right away with the pups, who enjoyed a good romp in and out of the water). Be forewarned, though: the sand is the dark red variety and a wet dog will need a shower to get this off.

Plenty of potable water spouts and restrooms. Most of the campers were in RVs or trailers, but a tent would be fine here. The sites each had two picnic tables, metal fire rings and three sided, roofed shelters in case of rain or wind. They aren’t the largest sites, but there is decent spacing between sites. Some have some tree cover, but most are exposed.

We had a visit from a herd of cows right after sunset on the beach in front of our site. They looked at us curiously for a few minutes before moving on, but we could hear them mooing periodically throughout the evening so I don’t think they went far.

Good one night spot or longer if you have a boat with you for the lake. It was quite warm in the afternoon when we got here, though it cooled off quickly when the sun went down. Comfortable sleeping.