Franklin Basin Dispersed Camping offers free access for riders seeking primitive camping with horses near Smithfield, Utah. The campground features multiple pull-in spots suitable for horse trailers along a well-maintained gravel road that extends into Idaho. Trail access connects directly to forest service routes with varied terrain for day rides. The camping areas spread out along the road with sites that accommodate both tents and RVs with sufficient space for horses. Spots near the Logan River provide water access for horses after rides. The rough road becomes increasingly bumpy deeper into the basin but remains passable for most vehicles pulling horse trailers.
Riders frequently encounter wildlife including golden eagles while exploring the extensive network of old logging trails and forest routes. Water crossings are available at various points along the Logan River for cooling horses during summer months when temperatures climb. Many campsites can accommodate multiple trailers, making this location suitable for group rides and family outings with horses. No reservations are required for camping, though summer weekends see higher traffic from both equestrians and OHV users sharing the area. Morning rides offer the best conditions before afternoon heat intensifies, particularly in July and August when the meadows showcase wildflowers but mosquitoes can be problematic near water sources.
$40 - $400 / night
"The only thing that was annoying is that they lock the front gate at 10PM so if you are out after that time, you have to park your car on the street and walk to your campsite."
"Got in late around 2100. Plenty of spots available in the back without electric. I did get a spot right next to the lake. Has picnic table, firepit, and charcoal grill available."
"Amazing location especially because it’s close to bear lake! I heard it’s better in August, but if you camp way further down the mosquitos are absolutely miserable."
"Absolutely beautiful location off highway 89. A popular place especially for ohv-ers."
$30 - $40 / night
"Before we had kids, we would bike and hike along the different trails. There’s a short waterfall hike, but also a long hike that will take you up to Ben Lomond Peak & cut across to Willard Peak."
"Arrived around 2pm on a Friday and stayed at Cutler Flats. Didn't look at the other campgrounds so can't speak to them in particular. Drove up and down the loop and most were available at that time."
$60 - $150 / night
"This park is a great stopover on your way through Utah or weekend visit. The lake is clean and still very natural. The swans circling the water are something to see."
"This campground is right next to the I-15, and a set of train tracks that seem to see daily use."
$35 - $305 / night
"If you want to camp at Bear Lake, this is a good spot. Electricity and water hookups are included at each campsite for those of you with RVs."
"The location is beautiful, and full of deer. My partner and I are just starting out full time rv life and this was the first spot we stayed at."
$17 - $100 / night
"The campground was in great shape, the drive up to our site was amazingly beautiful, and the campground hosts were very attentive and thoughtful."
"I chose the site near the Paris spring Trailhead. The trail to the spring is about 1/4 mile in and is very beautiful. There were hummingbirds everywhere! And dragon flies too!"
"Near city limits where there is places to buy groceries, gas, or go out to a restaurant. They have about 20 spots with electrical outlets."
$60 / night
"It is close to the reservoir of you need to cool off and there is also the creek which runs right next to it! It has picnic tables and a bbq grill and sleeping space inside for a few people"
"My family and I were driving through and needed a place to stay for the night. We camped the first night that lot camping was allowed (9/10) so it was quiet and peaceful."
GuideThis park is a great stopover on your way through Utah or weekend visit. The lake is clean and still very natural. The swans circling the water are something to see. Lots of shade rustic but serviceable showed. A bit pricy at 30 a night but right off the highway and no real traffic noise.
ScoutWe booked this campsite later into the season so we were lucky to get a spot. We have a pop up and although we didn't get a spot with electricity, it ended up being a great stay! The campground is also a day use area for boats so there is beach access which is great. Facilities are nice and well maintained. The only thing that was annoying is that they lock the front gate at 10PM so if you are out after that time, you have to park your car on the street and walk to your campsite. It's a residential area and a lot of the street parking is restricted since it's close to the boat ramp. You'd think they would at least have a code you could use after hours! Seems strange it would close that early when it's so close to Logan, a college town. Our site, number 7 had lots of shade, close to the restrooms but was close to the road and away from the lake.
TravelerThis campground has been a friends and family favorite for many years.
My husband and I recently took our toddler and infant here and had a blast. They found joy in simply throwing pebbles in the creek and making mud. Before we had kids, we would bike and hike along the different trails. There’s a short waterfall hike, but also a long hike that will take you up to Ben Lomond Peak & cut across to Willard Peak. Go when there’s no smoke and you’ll have breathtaking views (I’d say May & June are your best bet).
Back to camping: there’s a tiny-creek front, meadow, shaded and unshaded, and a specific area for if you bring horses. You choose what you want.
You can reserve a spot (we did this and were very grateful since we had to keep leaving and coming back). We had service this last time too in July 2021 for the first time (T-Mobile). Hubby was able to work remotely just fine.
ScoutNice facilities, paved pull-thru and back in spots. I checked in around 8 pm and found no one at the entrance booths but there are provisions to leave a cash payment in an envelope and drop into a slot. The traffic noise from I-15 is quite present. It's very distracting and probably the loudest I've experienced. On the bright side, it is easy to access being right off the exit.
GuideThis park is beautiful. Arrived around 2pm on a Friday and stayed at Cutler Flats. Didn't look at the other campgrounds so can't speak to them in particular. Drove up and down the loop and most were available at that time. All but one site was taken by night time. Stayed in site 12 which was a great spot. It's next to the bathroom, but didn't notice any smell. Felt pretty private, lots of trees and brush between sites. This spot in particular had a large open space with beautiful views of the mountains. Great spot if you need solar. Sun was on us more than other spots that were tucked into the trees. Lots of beautiful hiking trails where we only passed one other party. Would love to come back.
ScoutI've never seen so many shooting stars before. The sites were plenty big, each had a fire pit and picnic table and were close to legit toilets. It was beautiful. Worth the drive to get a little further off the beaten path.
RangerStayed for Memorial Day weekend in the cottonwood campground. With citronella candles, bug sprays and bug deterrent bracelets, the mosquitoes and other bugs were relentless. That’s the only bad thing I have to say about camping here.
This campground is right next to the I-15, and a set of train tracks that seem to see daily use. We didn’t lose any sleep from noise, though, with our AC running at night, and during the day, the freeway was like white noise.
I loved that the sites were spacious, the grounds were clean and there were some great amenities.
There’s a nature trail through the grounds, a nice playground, and a 5 min walk to the beach.
We got about a dozen channels with our little antenna and our T-Mobile service was 3 bars of 5G.
Recommendations from a Utahn:
Maddox Fine Food (Dinner)
Call’s Drive In (Delicious Burgers)
Smith & Edwards (Attraction / Grocer / Shopping—Must See)
GuideWe did not have reservations and with two long back to back travel days heading home, we needed an easy place to land close to the interstate. $60 for one night electric and water which we did not need for our teardrop, but all sites were the same price which included park fees.
Very nice staff and host found us a spot with which even had a limited view of the lake. Site was brand new with pull through that would easily accommodate a larger rig. Had a nice pavilion type cover over the picnic table, fire ring, and restrooms and showers were new in the section we were staying in.
As sun went down the mosquitos started to swarm and chased us inside. Haven't experienced that level of bugginess outside of several of the swamps we camped at in the southeast. Middle of the night a skunk visited our campsite and hung around for quite a while. Traffic noise from I-15 was excessive.
Don't let the pictures fool you. Views were ok in most directions but what I did not show was the large commercial storage yard used by the park service which was directly next door to our campsite. Fee's should have been much lower given the location but we did not have reservations and were fortunate to get a site.
If camping in a traditional RV this is an ok option, and it is cheaper than some of the commercial campgrounds nearby. Would stay here again if we needed an easy overnight stopover as the location is terrific.
LegendThis cabin needs to be reserved first and foremost. The # can be found in the pictures. It is close to the reservoir of you need to cool off and there is also the creek which runs right next to it! It has picnic tables and a bbq grill and sleeping space inside for a few people
Franklin Basin offers free, primitive dispersed camping along a maintained gravel road that extends into Idaho. Camping sites accommodate both tent and RV setups with ample space for horse trailers. The area sits at elevations between 6,800-7,200 feet with alpine meadows and forest terrain. Temperature shifts between day and night can exceed 30°F even in summer months.
Explore neighboring campgrounds: For campers wanting a change from Franklin Basin, North Fork County Park provides excellent alternatives. "Great place for car camping. Wonderful hikes around as well. Big enough area for family reunions and weddings," notes Jeron E. about North Fork County Park.
Hike to Paris Springs: Located about 40 miles northeast of Smithfield, Paris Springs offers a short hiking trail to a scenic waterfall. "There's a short 5 minute hike right by campground #4 that leads to an cool waterfall. It was a great way to start the morning," shares Jordan K. about Paris Springs Campground.
Beach activities: When temperatures rise, Bear Lake State Park provides relief with water activities. "This is a great campground, the host is really nice, it's clean, has great bathrooms and a great view of the lake!" reports Rachel G. about Hyrum State Park Campground.
Secluded spots: Many campers appreciate the more remote locations when seeking horse campgrounds near Smithfield. "Ended up driving this road up to Idaho to find a bigger spot and some solitude. Took the dirt road for about 30 minutes and got the most perfect spot. Nobody was near us and the view was amazing," says Kennedy F. about Franklin Basin.
Multiple pull-in areas: Equestrian campers value sites with easy trailer access. "Lots of spaces here. Big pull-in spots for camper rigs. And some small side pull outs for sedans who don't mind walk-in tent spots," mentions Robert S. about Franklin Basin Dispersed Camping.
Varied terrain for riders: The diverse landscape offers different riding experiences. "I have grown up camping in the Franklin Basin area. It is the perfect location for anyone looking for places to hike or ride. There are many different places to visit throughout the area such as the 'Plane Crash' site, Beaver Creek, old logging trails, and more," shares Auston T.
Road conditions vary seasonally: The roads into Franklin Basin can change dramatically based on weather and time of year. "2wd friendly road for MILES. You can drive well into Idaho. You can drive for about 1.5 hours up in here and see amazing river meadow mountain views," notes johny R.
Site selection strategy: Arriving early improves your chances for better sites. "I went by myself on a Friday afternoon and it was super busy but there were still some spots for just a car right off the side of the road which worked fine for me since I was car camping, but I would be cautious if you aren't car camping to make sure you show up earlier than I did (6pm)," advises Maddie F.
Campsite availability issues: During peak season, sites can appear occupied without actual campers present. "Tons of land, tons of campsites.. but most are 'occupied' by empty trailers with no other vehicles or people around. There's empty cars parked on top of fire pits, no tents or any sort of life nearby. Felt strange," reports Kaden M. about Dock Flat Campground.
Waterfall excursion: Families enjoy the nearby waterfall hike at Paris Springs. "The campground was in great shape, the drive up to our site was amazingly beautiful, and the campground hosts were very attentive and thoughtful," notes Jordan K.
Choose sites with river access: For families with horses, look for spots along the Logan River. "Tons of dispersed spots all up and down Franklin Basin Rd. Road is very well maintained, sites are easily accessible and close to Logan river if not on it!" recommends Chris A.
Family gathering options: Some areas can accommodate larger family groups with multiple trailers. "All the sites are very private. The Camp hosts are great! There's a hidden waterfall you can hike too, and a river runs through the park. It's a must!" says Debbie P. about North Fork County Park.
Road caution for larger rigs: RVers should be careful about road conditions deeper into the basin. "The road turns to dirt in idaho but is still 2wd safe until you get to a ver clear turn around. Beware of cows! They will be in several sections of the road but are friendly to cars and move out of the way," advises johny R.
Utilities planning: No hookups are available at Franklin Basin, so come prepared. "Not very far from Brigham City at all. Easy to find and some roads are a little rough in the campgrounds. At least 30 established campsites with fire pits and lots of shade. A lot of hiking and star gazing available. No Services whatsoever," explains Steve M.
Campground positioning: RVers seeking equestrian-friendly campgrounds near Smithfield should consider site location carefully. "If you keep driving for maybe 20-30min down the road there's even more beautiful spots, but it's pretty rocky so be careful if you don't trust your car/have low clearance," warns Maddie F.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Smithfield, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Smithfield, UT is Hyrum State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Smithfield, UT?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 equestrian camping locations near Smithfield, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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