Best Tent Camping near Salt Lake City, UT
The Wasatch Mountains surrounding Salt Lake City, Utah offer diverse tent camping opportunities ranging from alpine lakes to forested canyons. Red Pine Lake, accessible via a 3-4 mile hike up Little Cottonwood Canyon, provides backcountry tent sites with stunning mountain views and nearby fishing opportunities. Millcreek Canyon Backcountry offers walk-in tent camping with a requirement to camp at least half a mile from any road. Silver Lake Backcountry provides primitive tent sites with views of Timpanogos Massif and Box Elder Peak, while Lake Blanche Trail offers secluded hike-in tent camping in a pristine alpine setting.
Many tent-only sites in the region require permits and have specific regulations regarding campfires and waste disposal. Campsites at higher elevations often remain snow-covered until early summer, with late May visitors reporting snow drifts blocking some access roads. Tent pads vary from established dirt areas to natural forest floor depending on location. Most backcountry sites lack amenities, with campers required to pack in water and pack out all trash. Four-wheel drive vehicles with high clearance are recommended for accessing dispersed camping areas like Mill Hollow, where rough, rutted roads can challenge standard passenger vehicles.
During weekdays, tent campers often find greater solitude at backcountry sites. One visitor to Red Pine Lake noted, "The weekend can get very busy so during the week is the best time to camp as it's likely you'll be the only overnight camper." According to reviews, Mill Hollow provides "a great escape from the SLC Valley heat with a short 1.5 hour drive and temperature drops 20 degrees from the valley." Wildlife sightings are common, with campers at Millcreek Canyon frequently reporting moose and deer encounters. Tent campers should maintain the required distance from water sources, as many alpine lakes serve as drinking water reservoirs for the Salt Lake City area and require campsites to be at least 200 feet from shorelines.