Granite Flat Campground lies within American Fork Canyon at 6,400 feet elevation, offering campers mature forest surroundings with clean mountain air. Located about 25 miles southeast of South Jordan, this established campground provides natural settings with access to alpine recreation from May through mid-October. Many sites sit adjacent to flowing creeks that create ambient sound throughout the night.
What to do
Hiking to Scout Falls: Follow the 1-mile trail near Timpooneke Campground for waterfall views. "Each camping area is nice, however, it is very very busy and pretty tight quarters. If you're looking for a little more privacy from neighbors this may not be your best bet," notes Sydney Z., who still gave the nearby trails high marks.
Snowshoe winter camping: Experience winter wilderness at Spruces Campground during off-season months. "Wonderful winter wonder land you can snowshoe into in the winter and camp at," reports Shilah M., highlighting a less-known option for cold-weather glamping near South Jordan.
Paragliding observation: Watch adventure sports take-offs from Flight Park State Recreation Area, where camping spots provide front-row seats. "We stayed here and we went at night. Very hard to find. When we woke up there were paragliders ready to glide. Which was cool," explains Santiago V. about this unique vantage point.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Tanners Flat receives consistent praise for maintenance. "I booked a double site here for the first time, and they are beautiful. I enjoyed the location, the space, and my whole family did as well! There was some garbage in the fire pit when we arrived, but other than that it was fantastic. Soap and water with flushing toilets, etc," shares Heather K.
Late season access: Alpine Loop locations stay open longer than expected. "Just returned from an overnight stay at Little Mill with amazing American Fork Creek right beside my sites. The campground is clean, no water, trash or electric and vault toilets. The camp hosts were so friendly gave us suggestions on where to hike in the area," reports Myrna G.
Wildlife viewing: Multiple campers report close encounters with animals at higher elevations. "Very nice campground with water running in multiple places, clean multiple bathrooms and incredible wildlife coming right into your site. In Addison to numerous deer, we had two moose munching away at the willow at the adjacent site," writes a Redman Campground reviewer.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Book early for summer weekends at popular sites. "Be aware that this campsite reservations for the weekend fill up quick. I checked in late may and every weekend until September was already booked," warns Ash S. about Granite Flat.
Noise factors: Road sounds can impact some camping locations. "My only reason this campground didn't get 5 stars is due to the horrible road noise. I seriously thought I was at a truck stop off the interstate. Honking and racing cars until 3am just ruined it," notes Myrna G. about Little Mill.
Wind conditions: Settlement Canyon sites experience varying wind patterns. "VERY windy and hard to drive stakes in also. But it did work," comments Santiago V., a consideration for those planning to set up tents or canopies.
Tips for camping with families
Space for activities: Look for sites with open play areas. "I took the scouts up to this spot and it is a great place to camp with lots of room. There is a huge spot of grass that you can play sports or baseball on," advises Brad B. about his Granite Flat experience.
River-adjacent sites: Request creek-side spots when available. "I loved camping here! My husband and I recently moved to Oklahoma where there isn't much camping. We were able to paddle board which was a blast! I loves being so close and having access to so many beautiful hikes and rock climbing. We were right next to a beautiful river and it was pretty quiet," shares Kaitlin R.
Off-season visits: Consider September camping for fewer crowds. "Given how close it is to the city, Tanners Flat has always been a little too busy for our family during the full swing of summer. September/early October gives cooler temperatures and less crowds, and we got to see some lovely fall colors," recommends Sara M.
Tips from RVers
Tight spacing: Most glamping sites near South Jordan have limited room between units. "If you're looking for a place that is convenient, full hook up, level concrete pads, subdivision desperate house wife's camping addition this is the place to be!" notes Cole A. about commercial RV parks.
Amenities priorities: Consider what facilities matter most for your trip. "We have a small 21' travel trailer and the pull through spots are perfect! The playground is clean, a good sized one, but overrun with unsupervised kids," observes Amy at Pony Express RV Resort.
Camping without dogs: Note the pet restrictions in watershed areas. "We had planned to camp here but dogs are not allowed. This campground looked like an awesome spot. Location is right off the hwy close to Solitude and trails. Old growth trees surround the spacious campsites," cautions Natalie B. about Redman Campground.
