Best Tent Camping near South Jordan, UT
Tent campsites near South Jordan, Utah range from backcountry sites requiring permits to established forest service campgrounds with basic amenities. Red Pine Lake offers tent-only backcountry camping at higher elevations in the Wasatch National Forest, while Millcreek Canyon provides dispersed walk-in tent sites that must be at least a half-mile from any road. Silver Lake Backcountry camping area provides alpine settings with mountain views, though visitors should note the requirement for 4WD vehicles after rain.
Most tent campgrounds in the area operate without drinking water facilities, requiring campers to bring their own supply or filter from nearby streams when available. Access roads to higher-elevation sites like Silver Lake Backcountry can become difficult after rainfall, with some requiring high-clearance vehicles. Fire regulations vary significantly by location—Red Pine Lake and Lake Blanche Trail prohibit fires entirely, while sites in Millcreek Canyon allow fires with restrictions. Permits are required for backcountry camping at several locations, including Red Pine Lake and sites along the Lake Blanche Trail. Sites typically feature minimal development, though some established areas include fire rings and picnic tables.
The mountainous terrain surrounding South Jordan provides tent campers with exceptional scenic views and wildlife observation opportunities. Many backcountry tent sites offer solitude, particularly midweek when day hikers are fewer. Higher elevation walk-in tent sites like those at Red Pine Lake provide both fishing opportunities and cooler temperatures during summer months. A visitor commented that Red Pine Lake is "a gorgeous hike and even more gorgeous lake" where backcountry tent campers can access three different alpine lakes from one drainage. Tent campers should be prepared for rapid weather changes, particularly at higher elevations where one camper noted it "got pretty windy" during overnight storms. Dispersed camping areas like those in Mill Hollow feature open fields at higher elevations that offer temperature drops of up to 20 degrees cooler than the Salt Lake Valley.
