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Best Tent Camping near Sterling, UT

355 Reviews

Public lands surrounding Sterling, Utah offer tent campers several dispersed and established camping options within the Fish Lake National Forest and nearby recreation areas. Willow Creek Road Dispersed Site, located at nearly 8,000 feet elevation, provides primitive tent camping with well-spaced sites offering varying degrees of wind protection. The Fish Lake National Forest Campsite area, approximately 30 minutes west of Sterling, features several tent-only sites accessible by car with existing fire rings. Additional tent camping can be found at Upper Six Mile Ponds (open June to October) and the Sanpete South Recreation Area, both within a short drive of Sterling.

Most tent campsites in the Sterling area feature minimal amenities, requiring campers to be self-sufficient. Gravel roads lead to many sites, with conditions that can deteriorate after rain or snow. Maple Hollow, open May through October, is one of the few established campgrounds offering drinking water and vault toilets suitable for tent camping. Fire rings are common at dispersed sites, though seasonal fire restrictions frequently apply during summer months. Campers should bring their own water, as most primitive tent camping areas have no potable water sources. Sites typically consist of flat dirt or gravel pads with minimal improvements beyond occasional fire rings.

The tent camping experience near Sterling varies significantly by location and elevation. According to reviews, Willow Creek Road sites remain relatively quiet even on weekdays, with one camper noting they "saw only two other people" during their stay. At Maple Hollow, a visitor reported "several fire ring/picnic table spots in the campground" with "maple trees, evergreens and oak trees throughout" providing ample shade. Walk-in tent sites at Fish Lake National Forest offer more seclusion than drive-up areas, with campers reporting "beautiful views" and "really quiet" conditions despite proximity to highways. Wildlife encounters are common, with coyotes frequently heard at night in the Paul Bunyon's Woodpile area. Backcountry tent camping options increase at higher elevations, where summer temperatures remain cooler than in the valleys.

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Best Tent Sites Near Sterling, Utah (30)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Sterling, UT

4 Photos of 30 Sterling Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Sterling, UT

355 Reviews of 30 Sterling Campgrounds

  • Sam D.
    Oct. 15, 2017

    Fishlake National Forest Oak Creek Rec Site

    Oak Creek campground

    Awesome campground at about 8,600’ elevation, has a couple small creeks running through, water and toilets on site as well. Each site has a metal fire ring (crucial for a campfire during burn bans), picnic table, grill, some sites had an extra fire ring and bench seats. It’s nestled on the mountainside surrounded by aspen forests and farm land. Plenty of wildlife in the area, watch for deer and cattle in the road. We had temps dip down into the teens overnight with a dusting of snow in late September, be sure to pack layers. Overall a perfect spot for tent camping, small campers max, no RV parking or hookups. Not too far from Capitol Reef National Park and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Highly recommend staying here and going to Grand Staircase for a hike in the slot canyons.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 3, 2025

    Goshen Road Dispersed Camping

    Pretty location

    Site is pretty dirty, some have never heard of leave no trace . It is 7 pm and still extremely hot not much shade up here at this location

  • Judy T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 26, 2020

    Forsyth Reservoir

    Quiet place to camp along Hwy 72

    We were there 10/11/2020 during hunting season It was around 20° the night we stayed. This is a free campground for hunters or for the few people traveling on highway 72. There was a clean vault toilet and rock fire rings but no water, garbage, or picnic table. There could be fishing there as we saw lots of fish jump.

    It is a scenic quiet place and the night skies are phenomenal. There is mouse infestation there as the first site we stopped at had dead mice everywhere. One got in our camper but we soon chased it out, The USFS person who cleaned the vault toilet confirmed this.

    I rated it 3 stars due to mouse problem otherwise it would be 4 stars.

    It opens in May but their website didn’t say which date. I am assuming this depends on the snow level at 8000’. It was still open when we camped in October.

  • eThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 6, 2025

    Paul Bunyon's Woodpile

    Easy to access, nice primitive sites

    Road was easy enough dry, imagine it would be tough after a storm.  There are a number of well dispersed sites, some with good wind protection, others less so.

  • Russell W.
    Jul. 6, 2022

    Maple Hollow

    Beautiful spot

    Camped overnight. We had the whole place to ourselves. There are several fire ring/picnic table spots in the campground. Maple trees, evergreens and oak trees throughout. Beautiful fresh air. Plenty of shade. Two vault toilets for the whole camp area.

  • Sarah S.The Dyrt ADMIN User
    Aug. 31, 2015

    Millsite State Park Campground

    Nice Campground located on reservoir and mouth of Ferron Canyon

    We stayed here twice this summer and really liked it both times. All the tenting campsites are on the Millsite Reservoir but if you go higher than site number 17 you are a bit further from the water. The campground is open, so not totally private, but it was so quiet it didn't really matter. We went for a couple of hikes in the Ferron Canyon which you can walk to, and they have paddle boarding on the reservoir which we didn't have time to do. They don't have typical fire rings on the ground - they are up off the ground. See photo.

  • Mary S.
    Jul. 13, 2018

    Joes Valley Reservoir

    The reservoir and OHV trails are the attractions ; don't expect quiet

    Joe's Valley Reservoir Campground is in the Manti-La Sal Forest about 22 miles off the main road (Route 10). The water and OHV trails outside the campground are what draw people here. 

    No campsites are close to the water, but you can find a path to the water from the campground and there are nice views from many sites. The marina and boat launch are past the campground entrance. This is not the type of place for a quiet camping experience, but I didn't expect that at a reservoir campground with nearby OHV trails. (Trail maps are on the back of the information board as you enter.)

    Sites 1 through 7 are the only non-reservation sites, but we had no problem on a Thursday afternoon choosing a site for one night among the reservable sites. Based on the reservation placards on the posts, the campground was filling up on Friday.

    Site notes:

    • Our site (23) was wide and deep and had lots of trees. We enjoyed the privacy as we couldn't see sites on either side, and we were far enough back that we couldn't see the site across the road.

    • As you enter, sites 7 up through the 20s have many tall trees. The other side of the campground is more open, and the trees are not as tall.

    • Double sites (D on the post, 17 out of 48 sites) cost $18 instead of $10. A double site has two picnic tables and a pad that is double in width. There are no discounts on double sites with a pass such as the America the Beautiful Senior Pass.

    • Tenters, this doesn't look like the best place for tents, but people were managing to find relatively flat spots.

    • Pads on single sites for back in or pullthrough easily accommodate large trailers and fifth wheel campers. That translates to many generators which can be run from 6 am to 10 pm.

    • ATVs and larger OHVs are popular. People were riding the smaller ones on the campground loops...fast.

    This is a no frills Forest Service campground with vault toilets and drinking water. Be prepared to take your trash home because there are no dumpsters.

  • Ean P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 20, 2025

    Fish Lake National Forest Campsite

    Great Spot Just Don’t Camp Here Alone in a Tent

    Great spot for camping with a group. Quite a few spots accessible by car. A couple fireplaces here and there too. A fair amount of fallen pine and juniper wood there to use for building fires. Just remember to drown out your fires with water (there’s a sign).

    I do not recommend tent camping here solo though. This wasn’t my first time tent camping solo either. As I was laying in my sleeping bag inside my tent around 11pm, some creature started stalking me around midnight. I could hear it moving and breathing outside my tent. I managed to scare it off by hitting my car’s “panic button” on the keys. I then packed up immediately and left.

  • Sarah W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 26, 2020

    Maple Canyon

    A Climbers dream!!

    You are WALKING distance from sport climbs of all grades.

    Verizon service just outside the campground, where the pavement ends we parked at a turnout. We work out of our van and it was amazing to be 15 minutes from multiple crags for post work climbing.

    Quite primitive camping, but there are vault toilets and fire rings.

    If you are interested in geology, this place is worth at least a hike. Some canyons have pictographs too!

    We also have dogs, so the small creek (August was a dry time to be here) was nice for the to cool down in.

    Worth the visit for $10 a night.

Guide to Sterling

Nestled in the stunning landscapes of Utah, Sterling offers a variety of tent camping options that cater to outdoor enthusiasts seeking adventure and tranquility.

Tips for tent camping near Sterling

Tent campers should check out Fish Lake National Forest

  • The Fish Lake National Forest is a great choice for those who enjoy solitude, with ample space and stunning scenery.
  • Cows wandering nearby add a unique charm to your camping experience at Fish Lake National Forest, making it feel like a true escape into nature.
  • This location is easily accessible, allowing for a hassle-free drive to your campsite at Fish Lake National Forest.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Sterling, UT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Sterling, UT is Willow Creek Road - Dispersed Site with a 5-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Sterling, UT?

TheDyrt.com has all 30 tent camping locations near Sterling, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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