Top 10+ Dispersed Free Camping near Salt Lake City, UT
The mountains around Salt Lake City have numerous dispersed camping spots on national forest land, though none within the city itself. Most free camping sites sit 30-45 minutes from downtown, requiring you to bring everything you need. The Forest Service roads leading to these areas vary from well-graded to quite rough, with many requiring high clearance vehicles after spring runoff or heavy rain. You'll need to haul out all trash and waste since these areas have no facilities or garbage service. Finding drinking water can be challenging, so plan to bring at least a gallon per person per day from the city. Fire bans frequently affect the Wasatch and Uinta Mountains during summer and fall, so pack a camp stove as backup. Spring and fall camping works best in this region, as summer brings intense heat to lower elevations. While camping, you can easily take day trips to Salt Lake's urban amenities or drive further to Utah's national parks like Arches or Zion.