Camping near Wanship, Utah offers year-round outdoor recreation opportunities within the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest region. Located in Summit County at around 6,500 feet elevation, the area experiences temperature variations of 30°F between day and night, even during summer months. Winter camping remains available at select locations, with snowmobile access becoming an alternative recreational option during snowy months.
What to do
Fishing year-round: Access Echo Reservoir for productive fishing, especially for smallmouth bass. "Fishing in the lake isn't very good though, which is a bummer. Fishing in the river is a little better. You also have the option of hiking/backpacking up to Round, Sand, & Fish Lakes which have great fishing," notes a visitor to Smith-Morehouse Campground.
Non-motorized water recreation: Echo State Park offers paddling opportunities on calm waters. "I stayed here for a night - very, very clean. Each site has a cement pad, water, electric, and a shelter which is great when it is 90 out with clear skies. You do have Coalville a stone-throw away for some minor conveniences such as ice, snacks, etc," reports a camper at Dry Hollow Campground.
Winter activities: Several campgrounds near Wanship maintain winter accessibility. "Wonderful winter wonder land you can snowshoe into in the winter and camp at! You can also stay here during the summer just be prepared to book a couple months in advance!" explains a visitor at Spruces Campground.
What campers like
Riverside sites: Camp within earshot of flowing water at several locations. "We took a quick weekend trip to Smith and Morehouse. It was our first time camping here and loved the camp sites. The camp hosts were so nice and went out of their way to check on us. This is a beautiful area, surrounded by aspen and pine trees. We had a spot close enough to the river that we could hear it all night long," shares a reviewer.
Proximity to SLC: Most campsites near Wanship are within 60 minutes of Salt Lake City. "You can get to this beautiful campground in under an hour from Salt Lake City and it's my favorite place to go when I want to camp and kayak! The campground and surrounding mountains are very scenic—it doesn't get much prettier!" notes a camper at Smith-Morehouse Campground.
Well-maintained facilities: State park campgrounds feature modern amenities. "Clean, paved shady sites with full hookups. Lots of fun things for kids to do. Friendly staff. Pristine property. The only reason I couldn't give 5 stars is due to the highway noise, but that made it convenient," writes a visitor to Echo Island RV Resort.
What you should know
Seasonal bugs: Early to mid-summer brings increased insect activity. "We were drawn to going to Rockport State Park because of how close it is to SLC (only about 40 minutes). The gate guards at the entrance were super nice and helpful, and guided us to the closest tent-campsite to the water. The campsite was very clean and offered a gazebo with a table, a fire place, and a barbecue. PS. Definitely bring bug spray!" advises a camper at Twin Coves — Rockport State Park.
Reservation windows: Popular sites book up quickly, especially for summer weekends. "We went up pretty early in the season and it was a ton of fun! There was still snow on the ground and we got pretty cold sleeping on the ground, but we would do it again! Fished all night with a couple drinks, caught a couple and even cooked them right up at camp!"
Elevation considerations: Higher elevation campgrounds experience significant temperature drops at night. "In my opinion the worst time to come up here is in early July. We came up for a couple of July 4ths and were astonished at how many horseflies there were all of the sudden. That, and it is terribly hot up there in the summer. We like to go up for Memorial Day and Labor Day. It feels wonderful up there then!"
Tips for camping with families
Swimming access: Look for beaches and water entry points for children. "Our kids had a blast playing on the sandy beach area. We camped on the riverside loop and it was okay. There were not many trees and sites were close to each other but it was fine," comments a family who visited Rockport State Park.
Campground amenities: Some locations offer additional activities beyond camping. "This is such a pretty and accommodating place to stay. They had a small pond for kids to fish in, two swimming pools and two hot tubs, very clean and modern facilities, well maintained campsites with fire pit, a cute little shop with firewood, treats, and other necessities and they have DVDs and sports equipment you can check out. Such a fun place!" explains a visitor to Echo Island RV Resort.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many campgrounds offer wildlife spotting possibilities. "Very nice campground with water running in multiple places, clean multiple bathrooms and incredible wildlife coming right into your site. In addition to numerous deer, we had two moose munching away at the willow at the adjacent site. Lots of buffers to keep make your spot feel cozy," shares a camper at Redman Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Many RV sites require minimal leveling. "We stayed in spot 28 which was good and had view of lake until neighbor pulled in with a giant 5th wheel. Spot 19 is in the middle and seems to have a good view regardless of who is parked in adjacent spots, and spot 32 also seems to have a good view and the advantage of being on the outer edge so no backdoor neighbors," advises an RVer at Dixie Creek Campground.
Road conditions: Campground access roads vary in quality and width. "Road is tight. Our 26ft trailer was a little hard to navigate within the campground," notes an RV camper at Smith-Morehouse Campground.
Hookup availability: Water pressure varies by campground. "Nicely managed campground, good website, efficient reservation process. Management very helpful and friendly. The campsites are nicely spaced, good tree cover, green well kept lawn at all sites. Gravel slots, picnic tables and fire pits at each site. Good park design for the back up sites to get a large trailer situated no problem."
