Best Tent Camping near Payson, UT

I tent camped in the Great Horned Owl section which does not have hookups, though other sections did for a higher price. There were RVs in the same section and that blocked the views for a lot of the tent sites. I was charged an additional $15 just to have an additional car which I thought was pretty crazy. There are warm showers and reservoir access for boats included (I took my paddle board out and the water was pretty rough but fun) but $40 is a lot for a tent site this close to neighbors with generators who block the views.

The area is so pretty! We tent camped in the Great Horned Owl loop and it was a well kept and tidy. The hosts were friendly and helpful. The sites are a bit close together but that could be a bonus for small groups that want to be near to each other. The day use parking lot is adjacent to sites 20 and 21. Read the descriptions when you book if you are tent camping, not all the sites are suitable for it. Site 20 was okay, but our tent ended up having to be on slight slope. We might try site 4 when the weather is cooler since it was a little more flat for tent camping, but it didn’t have much shade. The flush bathrooms were clean and the showers warm and convenient.

Being that we already live in southern Utah county, this place has become a go to for our family. Only about 45 mins away from Payson Ut. 

Great fishery for children and youth, as well as an amazing area for swimming and kayaking. They do not allow motorized boats, so it is safe. Also the lake isn't too big so if your teen blows across the lake on his kayak or raft he can easily walk it back around the lake. 

We definitely recommend it.

One of my favorite summer get away spots. Lots of fish in the lake, great bike trails and amazing views all around. With it being a 15 minute drive from Payson makes for a great time.

Nice bathrooms, tables, fire pits, and in the trees. This campground can be hard to find a spot on busy weekends because it is so close to town. Amazing mountain views and fun for the whole family.

I tent camped here in Aug. 2020. It was fine. Close to the interstate, for better or worse. I wanted to camp at the SLC KOA but it was closed to tents then.

This place is very cute for established camping. It has lots of trees and a nice little walking trail. They are pet friendly. They have men's and women's restrooms with showers. They also have a pool for the warmer months. There are 2 small dog parks one for large and one for small dogs. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful.

We stayed in a back in spot which was very spacious and we had a good distance from our neighbor.

They have designated tent camping area. If you are tent camping they do not allow you to have pets.

Only downside is you are directly next to the Provo airport which did get active around 6 am.

Utah state recreation area, OHV recreation area along with beach side camping. Year round access. Campground is RV only (I think) beach tent camping along the whole lake, vault toilets around the lake, Occasionally there are trees but mostly not, can get dusty if people are driving thier off road toys. Only 1 vehicle per reservation extra car can be paid for. Nice beautiful, relaxing.

Nothing special. RV park type camp ground. Tent sites right on top of each other. Expect people walking though your site all day.

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!

Beautiful spot to stop on our route. The day we arrived was very windy. The view is serene and it’s very quiet. There are showers and bathrooms. Most campsites have water and electric and there are tent sites with great views of the lake. They have a couple cabins and on site kayak rentals.

We planned to tent camp here, but our friends rented the cabin next to our site and couldn’t make it last minute. So we got the cabin! Great spot. Lake is cool and an easy walk down from the sites. Shade is at a premium, so we were very happy to get the cabin because it was crazy hot. Clean bathrooms with nice showers for rinsing off after splashing in the lake all day.

This is a hike in area of camping. Luckily the park provides free wagons so that you can pack up and hike to your area. The hike is about a quarter mile to the general area where there are lots. This area is tent camping only. The views are great and the water is great! It is dog friendly with a leash. Each lot has a paved area with a picnic bench and fire pit. Really enjoyed this place!

We have stayed here before and remember that it was a great campground. The sites are clean and have concrete around the table and cooking area. The tent site was nestled among the trees and was very nice.

We did get a visit from the locals. A herd of cattle came through for dinner. They were escorted away from the campground by the host. Right next to the river, there was a trail to hike and an educational trail for the area.

The pit toilet was available and there was running water next to the site.

Overall, it was a great stay!

Nice basic campground just coming out of Heber City, UT on your way to Strawberry Reservoir. This is a fairly large campground with numerous sites. The group site parking was shallow. We could barely fit our 19 ft travel trailer and our truck. Outside of the group site it appears there are deeper sites that could accommodate a long fifth wheel. Parking space is wide enough to park another car next to trailer. There are a few tent sites as around the group site pavilion.

No hookups for RV’s. Dump station on site for $10 fee. RV spots are back in only. There is running water and flushable toilets on site; however, the water line was under repair and not turned on during our stay. It sounds like the repairs have been going on for a long time.

There is cellular service, but it’s a little slow. I have sprint carrier and had service.

Negatives: The campground is close a highway incline/decline which is frequented by Semi’s which bring lots of noise to the campground throughout the day and into the night.

Stinging Nettle: lots of stinging nettle located around group site B, so stay on the paths as much as possible.

Campground Review: Price Canyon Campground

I stayed at the Price Canyon campground on my way for a mountain biking weekend in Moab. This campground was at the top of Price Canyon but the access road was right off the highway. It is a single lane switchback road with the last quarter mile being easy dirt road so longer trailers may have a few challenges. It is a mixture of single and group sites all for the same price. There is a nature trail from the campsite (that is also accessible from the day use area) that takes you higher up the canyon. The hike was nice and I would recommend close toed shoes as the second half/ has a section that is pretty steep around large rocks/boulders, and loose dirt. I didn’t do the whole hike made it to the top of the ridge. There is also a picnic/overlook area not far from the campground that had great views of Price Canyon.

Pros:

• This campground was $8. Which is the cheapest campground I found (unless it was free dispersed).
• Tent sites were tucked back off the road and short walks from the parking spots which made them feel more private. You didn’t have to watch your neighbor the whole time. They are pretty standard with a metal fire ring and picnic table. My spot had a few options for tents but I used the larger (or more designated) one. There were sites for trailers/campers where the tables were closer to the parking spots.
• Typical Forest Service pit toilets that were clean and stocked.

Overall it was very peaceful and I will definitely be staying here again.

Cons:

• No water (or at least there was none when I visited). I visited in May and they hadn’t turned the pipes back on from being shut off for the winter freeze. So be prepared with your own water just in case.

*Lots of buzzing insects around. The bugs weren’t bad but you could hear the buzzing which was quite annoying.

• Tent sites are down short trails and not the flattest so if you have mobility issues it could be a challenge (but there were handicapped designated sites available).

Gear Review: Leatherman Signal Multi-tool

As a ranger for the Dyrt, I get the opportunity to test out gear from our partners once in a while. I have had the privilege of testing out the Leatherman Signal Multi-tool. First off, this tool is the bomb! It has 19 different functions and will pretty much be the go-to tool for camping or outdoor adventure. It is quite large so not ideal for light weight backpacking but great for car camping or any activity where you are not super concerned about weight. For the most part, it lives in the glove compartment of my car so I will always have it for quick use.

Pros:

• Super versatile tool. With 19 different functions/abilities the odds of you being able to complete your task with just this one tool is super high. It has all your basics: knife, saw, pliers, bottle opener and some not so basic: flit/Firestarter, sharpening file, whistle, screwdriver heads, hammer (as well as a boat load of other things)
• The blades are really easy to access and also lock into place so you don’t have to destroy your fingertips getting the out or putting them away. I can flip out and in the knife with one hand.
• It comes with a belt carry case. I probably won’t wear it on my belt but the case does protect it (and the other stuff) in my glove compartment from banging around too much.
• It has become my go to tool for camping and general use because it lives in my car and is easily accessible.

Cons:

• It is a multi-tool so it may not work for all situations. Sometimes it may be a little too big or awkward to use where a more specific tool is what is needed. It is good at a lot of things but not amazing at one or two.
• It is a little bit and heavy so may not be the best backpacking tool but that is a very limited negative.

Summary: The Signal is one of the best multi-tools I have ever had and just having it with me whenever I am exploring outdoors makes me feel more secure in case something happens.