Payson Lakes and Camp Maple Dell house exceptional glamping options in the scenic mountains near Salem, Utah. Both destinations feature canvas accommodations among leafy trees and natural surroundings, with Maple Dell offering yurt-style settings just 5 miles up Payson Canyon. Luxury outdoor stays include comfortable pavilions with picnic tables, clean shower facilities, and flushing toilets throughout the properties. One visitor noted, "Camp Maple Dell is a beautiful camp with leafy trees in a great area, making it an idyllic campground for those wanting to unplug without driving hours." These glamping sites provide convenient access to water features, with Payson Lakes boasting safari tents and yurts near fishing waters while Camp Maple Dell includes customizable adventure packages for groups seeking more structured outdoor experiences.
The natural environment surrounding these glamping destinations creates exceptional recreational opportunities. Safari tent guests at Payson Lakes enjoy direct access to a paved trail circling the lake, excellent trout fishing, and hiking opportunities including the nearby Grotto trail. A recent visitor mentioned, "The sunrise is spectacular, especially when you wait for it out by the lake—it's a wonderful place and is family friendly!" Camp Maple Dell glamping accommodations provide daily wildlife viewing opportunities with deer regularly walking through the campsites. Both locations maintain pristine facilities with reliable water access and well-maintained bathroom facilities. The canvas tent camping areas at both properties remain open seasonally, with Payson Lakes operating from May through October while Camp Maple Dell offers customized bookings for groups interested in additional facilities or guided adventure activities including climbing wall access and aerial challenge courses.
$28 - $272 / night
"it is nice to have a lake to walk to for fishing, playing, or just admiring. each campsite really only has room for 1 or 2 tents. it does havw running water and a hole in the ground bathroom to use. i"
"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."
$50 - $100 / night
"This is Utah's biggest fresh water lake. There are lots, and lot of bug so bring bug spray.
Awesome mountain views. Good fishing in the Provo river or lake fishing.""This my 3 stay here at Utah Lake state park. 2x in July and now in September. I’m a single female traveler."
"You are really close to fifth water and the start of the trail to the hot pots. There is lots of big cotton wood trees for shade. The spots are big enough for a tent or RV."
"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."
"This is a great place to pitch a tent or come up and stay for the day. The only bad part about this camp site is all the highway noise."
"The sites are very close together with lots of foot, bike, and skateboarding traffic passing nearby. I was lucky to get a site near the river which drowned out the noise."
$26 - $40 / night
"Ample area for kitchen set up, nice fire pit, water from pump, shower houses, flushing toilets, port-o-potties also available throught the entire camp. Camp store available during summer months."
"Yes, it's set up for Scouts, but when it's not Scout week, the camp is available for others to enjoy. Activities aren't available, it's just a campground outside of Scout weeks."
$28 - $545 / night
"Every site had shade with concrete parking and fire pit. Great place for families. The mountain road ends at the camp so traffic is only of campers coming and going therefore quiet at night."
"Nice campground in Utah County. Not far from town and any services that could be needed. Lots of hiking available, although a bit rocky and steep for my old knees."
"Good views, pavilions, fire pits and pit toilets. Don’t have to have horses to book equestrian and they seem to be more available since I don’t think people k ow this."
"My favorite thing is how secluded it is. Definitely would recommend"
"They have a really nice pavilion and lots of trees. You are close to the golf course and close to Hobble Creek which is fun for the kids."
"This campground was really crowded when we went and we had really loud people right by us which was frustrating but overall it was a good site with a fun playground close by."
$28 - $358 / night
"I stayed on site 58 (tent only). Enough room for 2 medium tents. Next/above stream. Tucked in very back. Long ways to walk from car. Water spout next to car area."
"There is running water and vault toilets throughout the campground. There were some wicked thunderstorms at night (which we liked)."
$28 - $229 / night
"We got a site with access to the river which my kids really enjoyed. There was a fun giant "sliding rock" in the area to climb on. Lots of trees for hammocks."
"Set up my hammock and listen to the running water. Only negative is the site is off the main canyon road and there is some traffic noise during the day."
ScoutPaid sites Easy drive up
Keep in mind other campers are near but not right by you depending on site.
We went last summer and cant wait to go back
Running water Hook ups Tent spots
Good for groups or singles
Feel free to book its about 20$ a night Its well worth it and its not to far from home but not to close either.
Stayed at multiple spots looking to get back again this summer.
Please check out my other reviews. More to come. Happy camping.
LegendOne of our all time favorite RV parks. Located in beautiful Heber City, Utah. We felt at home as soon as we arrived and were greeted by a nice man on a golf cart who lead us to where we’d be staying. There is an adult only section if you’re looking for peace and quiet away from kids. The concrete was level and spacious, each with its own picnic table.
They have two dog parks, one of which is the nicest and largest one we’ve seen thus far. The laundry room was sparkling clean and located adjacent to the pickle ball courts and outdoor fire pits. They have an on-site RV wash available and allowed us to borrow an adaptor from them at no charge. We enjoyed an evening in their hot tub/spa. They also have a large pool area near the bathrooms that were the most well maintained bathrooms we’ve ever used on the road. To top it all off, they have a gorgeous fitness center with weights, a treadmill and elliptical available to all guests.
Overall we were extremely impressed with all amenities and the customer service provided at Mountain Valley RV Resort and would recommend it highly to anyone visiting the area.
LegendThis is a great place to pitch a tent or come up and stay for the day. The only bad part about this camp site is all the highway noise. It is close to the Provo river and there is lots of shade so that is nice. Great place to have a camp fire and cook some S'mores. The bike path is close so bring your long board or bike and go for a ride. This is withing walking distance from Bridal Vail Falls so that is a great day hike and see the falls. Also great fly fishing in the Provo river so do yourself a favor and bring your fishing gear.
ScoutQuite area, lot of room. I stayed on site 58 (tent only). Enough room for 2 medium tents. Next/above stream. Tucked in very back. Long ways to walk from car. Water spout next to car area. Will be sharing parking with 2 other sites. 2 lakes nearby. Fire pit with grill gate. Shaded area. Full sun from 10am-4pm.
GuideWe only stayed at Mountain View for one night while passing through, but we enjoyed our stay. The office staff was super friendly. Mark came out on a cart to usher us to our site. He was helpful and provided wonderful advice for the rest of our trip in Utah (Moab). The sites are a bit close, but the campground was quiet and clean.
Our girls enjoyed the pool and hot tub. The laundry facilities were nice and even had a designated machine for pet laundry. The restrooms and showers were private and clean. The water pressure was high and temp was hot. There was a beautiful fire pit near the pool along with pickle ball and basketball courts.
This facility is near the highway but the road noise wasn’t a problem for us.
We would stay here again in a heartbeat.
ScoutMy family and I love camping and have been building our camping arsenal and experience. This campsite gave us a good time and also helped us realized what we needed to add to our “Need to Buy List: Camping Edition.”
First, the Pros of the visit.
Now the Cons.
Overall, it was not a bad campsite! I think our experience wasn’t the best but that’s mainly due our unpreparedness and lack of experience. There’s many things to do in Fruitland area and also places where you can enjoy the peace and quiet! I hope our learning experience can benefit anyone interested in go to this campsite! Happy camping!
ScoutMy family of five enjoyed this campground. We got a site with access to the river which my kids really enjoyed. There was a fun giant "sliding rock" in the area to climb on. Lots of trees for hammocks. Downside is it's right next to a busy highway and picnic areas. Although the campsite has quiet hours, the picnic area across the street stayed loud well past quiet hours. The road noise was a lot more than I expected.. especially at night. Definitely bring ear plugs or plan to stay only a nite or two. We planned on staying three nights, but were so exhausted by lack of sleep we left a day early.
LegendThis is a fun place to stay when you want to go someplace close. There are lots of trees for the summer months and lots of shade. There are a couple good beaches. This is Utah's biggest fresh water lake. There are lots, and lot of bug so bring bug spray.
Awesome mountain views. Good fishing in the Provo river or lake fishing. You can build a fire and get firewood from camp host. There is full hook ups and also spots for a tent. Most spots have a pavilion and nice tables. Great bathrooms with running water. I can't remember which spot we stayed at but they are were really nice.
GuideI got a site right by the creek. Set up my hammock and listen to the running water.
Only negative is the site is off the main canyon road and there is some traffic noise during the day.
Camping options near Salem, Utah range from developed sites at 6,400 feet elevation to lakeside accommodations below 5,000 feet. The area experiences warm summer days with temperatures typically reaching 85-90°F while dropping to comfortable 50-60°F at night in mountain campgrounds. The camping season generally runs May through October with most facilities closing during winter months due to snowfall.
Fishing in secluded spots: Payson Lakes provides excellent fishing opportunities where anglers can catch trout in a peaceful setting. "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," notes James B. about Payson Lakes.
Hiking to hot springs: The Diamond Fork area offers access to natural hot springs via moderately challenging trails. "Definitely worth the trip! The Hot Springs were closed due to COVID-19 at the time, but appear beautiful from pictures," writes Zoe S. about her experience at Diamond Fork.
Family-friendly reservoir activities: Multiple small reservoirs in American Fork Canyon provide non-motorized water recreation. "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," explains a visitor about their experience paddle boarding and kayaking.
Natural privacy barriers: Camp Maple Dell features well-spaced sites with natural tree barriers providing seclusion. "Multiple tents fit per site. We had 6 tents, and had room for several more. Covered pavilion with three picnic tables connected end to end," reports Michelle B. about Camp Maple Dell.
Riverside camping options: Little Mill Campground offers sites directly adjacent to flowing water. "We had a great tent site that was on the side near the mountain and across from us were campsites next to the road and the river. We did not hear any road noise at all, just the sound of wind in the trees and the water flowing," shares Stacy R. about Little Mill.
Convenient access to recreation: Many campgrounds provide direct trail access to hiking and fishing. "Great campground. Bathrooms and drinking water available. Lots of shade. Easy walk to the lake. Great fishing. Very fun for kids," notes Courtney S. about her camping experience.
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance booking, especially during peak season. "Book EARLY! This campsite is always full," warns Andrea P. about Granite Flat, a popular camping area.
Insect considerations: Mosquitoes can be problematic at some lakeside locations. "The mosquitoes here are terrible. I came here early on a holiday to get a good spot and was ambushed by swarms of mosquitoes," cautions one reviewer about Utah Lake State Park.
Access limitations: Some campgrounds have seasonal closures or restricted access. "The road to get to this spot is closed indefinitely. The surrounding area is full of closed roads making this spot inaccessible," reports a recent visitor attempting to access Granite Flat.
Educational opportunities: Several campgrounds feature nature trails designed specifically for children. "There are painted bear tracks that tell a story in and around the two loops of the park," explains Channon F. about Diamond Fork.
Playground access: Some sites include dedicated play areas. "This campground was really crowded when we went and we had really loud people right by us which was frustrating but overall it was a good site with a fun playground close by," mentions Lauralee A.
Wildlife viewing potential: Camping areas offer opportunities to see local wildlife. "We enjoyed seeing deer walk through our camp daily," shares a visitor about their glamping experience in Salem, Utah, noting the frequency of wildlife encounters.
Limited hookup availability: Most campgrounds offer partial hookups or none at all. "We had a great tent site that was on the side near the mountain and across from us were campsites next to the road and the river," notes Stacy R. about Little Mill Campground.
Site spacing considerations: RV sites vary significantly in size and proximity. "Our 20' trailer does fine. Close in to town, very pretty with Provo river next to it. Bike path and highway noise can be distracting," explains Michael L. about Nunns Park.
Rental alternatives: For those without camping equipment, glamping options provide comfort with minimal equipment needs. "If you don't want to drive for hours to unplug and enjoy nature, Maple Dell is just 5 miles up the Payson Canyon, has a lot of leafy trees for shade, most campsites have a pavilion and picnic table," explains a visitor about the glamping options near Salem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Salem, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Salem, UT is Payson Lakes with a 4.3-star rating from 17 reviews.
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