Best Dispersed Camping near Vernon, UT

Dispersed camping near Vernon, Utah features several free BLM sites with varying terrain and amenities. Seven Mile Pass offers open desert camping with established fire rings and is popular for off-road vehicles. Miner's Canyon Dispersed provides lakeside camping with mountain views, though several campers report significant trash issues. According to one visitor, "the beautiful lakeside camp site is ruined by people who dump their trash and throw glass bottles everywhere." Cherry Creek Campsites and Soldier's Pass provide additional primitive camping options with drive-in access.

These sites require complete self-sufficiency. No drinking water, toilets, or trash services exist at any location. Visitors must pack in all supplies and pack out all waste. Fire restrictions vary seasonally; always check current regulations before travel. Most sites have existing fire rings, but firewood is not provided. Cell service is generally available but varies by carrier and specific location.

Road conditions present challenges at many sites. High-clearance vehicles are recommended for accessing the more remote areas. Some roads become impassable after rain. Seasonal considerations include strong winds, particularly in open areas near the salt flats. Summer brings intense heat with minimal shade, while winters can be extremely cold. Insect activity increases significantly during warmer months. One camper noted, "Lots of horse flies during the day, and evening/dusk swarms of mosquitoes." Wildlife encounters are possible; proper food storage is essential.

The 14-day stay limit applies to all BLM dispersed camping in the area. Sites closest to access points often fill quickly on weekends and holidays. More secluded spots require additional travel on rougher roads but provide greater privacy. The surrounding public lands permit recreational shooting in designated areas, which may create noise at certain campsites.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Vernon, Utah (29)

    1. Seven Mile Pass

    3 Reviews
    Eagle Mountain, UT
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 977-4300

    "This is a large area in the west desert available for disperse camping. No services and no water, and not particularly scenic. It's fun to ride ATVs and go shooting. There is no shade so be prepared."

    2. Miner's Canyon Dispersed

    22 Reviews
    Saratoga Springs, UT
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 977-4300

    "Very easy access public land right on Utah Lake. Packed gravel and dirt road going in is lumpy from use but smooths out a bit farther in. Side roads to sites are anyones guess."

    "Great option just south of salt lake. The lake and Mountain View are beautiful! Pretty flat, the road in is fairly easy."

    3. Cherry Creek Campsites

    2 Reviews
    Lynndyl, UT
    22 miles

    "Came out here because the road washed out at Paul Bunyan's log pile. Wide open, easy to find a secluded spot. No hiking, no services, decent cell reception."

    "Remote spot right next to a creek. Listening to the creek flow is great. Surprisingly busier area for the first week of April, and there were a lot of people riding ATVs and dirt bikes."

    4. Miners Canyon BLM

    11 Reviews
    Saratoga Springs, UT
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 977-4300

    "Tents, pillows, sleeping bags, glass, etc."

    "I arrived in the evening and was greeted with an incredible view: a vast lake backed by snowcapped mountains glowing in the light from the setting sun; the lights from Provo, the city across the lake,"

    5. Soldier's Pass Utah Backcountry

    6 Reviews
    Eagle Mountain, UT
    28 miles

    "Set up was easy, drove past the BLM sign about half a mile and stayed on a flat open area. Mosquitos were terrible, bring bug spray! Happy camping!"

    7. White Rocks Dispersed Camping

    3 Reviews
    Dugway, UT
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 320-8300

    "This is such a cool spot and one of the many reasons I can’t get Utah out of my outdoorsy heart."

    "The view from the top of the rock is really pretty, you can see the whole valley with the mountains in the distance."

    8. Horseshoe Knoll - Dispersed Camping

    12 Reviews
    Grantsville, UT
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 977-4300

    "Good dispersed campsite, especially if you’re on a road trip along I-80 (which we were, evacuating from a wildfire in CA). There are no hookups or services."

    "The coordinates have been updated (originally wrong when I tried to find it)- the map is correct now. I arrived after dark on Jan 10th."

    9. Squaw Peak Road Dispersed

    17 Reviews
    Provo, UT
    47 miles

    "Getting here can be challenging, very steep incline , tight corners , and some spots have bumpy dirt roads."

    "This site is deep past the meadows near square peak. You continue to follow the dirt road in and on your left is a small depression in the land with a fire pit and ample space for tents or hammocks."

    10. Eagle Mountain Dispersed

    1 Review
    Eagle Mountain, UT
    30 miles

    "This is BLM. A couple of different camping sites. Most have fire rings but no water or bathrooms. You will need a 4x4 with high clearance to get up the mountain (the road is rough)."

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Vernon, UT

107 Reviews of 29 Vernon Campgrounds


  • Bethany W.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 19, 2025

    Miners Canyon BLM

    A lot of trash

    As beautiful as the view was, I felt it was ruined with all of the trash that people have left behind in the dispersed camping area as well as along the lakeshore. Tents, pillows, sleeping bags, glass, etc. There also seems to be majority long term campers who have a lot of stuff everywhere around their campsites, as well as 2-3 permanent residents living on the private property that backs up against the public lands. While there are 10-12 spots that are easily accessible, they’re being utilized by the long-term campers. Our first night here we arrived around 8 pm, right before sunset so we didn’t have a lot of time to explore so we just parked in the larger area near the public access area to the lake by 3 other campers. Luckily the next morning a camper van left so we were able to move without being on top of so many people since the people we were around all had dogs barking almost every time we let ours out to go to the bathroom. Overall, I felt like this campsite left more to be desired and took away from the beauty of the area.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 19, 2025

    Miner's Canyon Dispersed

    Many Sites of Varying Sizes

    Very easy access public land right on Utah Lake. Packed gravel and dirt road going in is lumpy from use but smooths out a bit farther in. Side roads to sites are anyones guess. Some are pretty reasonable, others are like mine fields. Suggest you park on the road and walk in. Many sites are “pull-throughs” so one entrance can be better than the other. Some great spots up the hill but you’ll need high clearance and 4wd. Bugs weren’t bad on this warm mid-September day. Some trash but I’ve been to more formal places with more trash than this. Access to the lake and lots of space to hike. Nice view of lights from the Provo side of the lake at night.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 21, 2022

    Horseshoe Knoll - Dispersed Camping

    Remote and spacious

    The GPS coordinates appear to be a bit further north from the accessible camping and it seems like a solar farm was built there recently. We kept driving south on the 196 for a few miles and took some washed out roads in closer to the mountains to find some campsites. Probably don’t need 4WD but low clearance vehicles might have trouble. Not the flatest pullouts but workable and you’ll have the area to yourselves. Lots of biting bugs and moths. Not much shade to be found.

  • Sara R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 10, 2020

    Horseshoe Knoll - Dispersed Camping

    Good primitive stop for an I-80 trip

    Good dispersed campsite, especially if you’re on a road trip along I-80 (which we were, evacuating from a wildfire in CA). There are no hookups or services. This is really just a spot of BLM land that has some fairly level sites cleared. Some sites probably required 4WD. Looks like it would be really fun for OHV’s. We were car camping, so didn’t have to worry to much about space. From what we could tell there were probably only a couple good spots for an RV or tow-behind. There are no reservations, just find a place where your car fits and park it.

    Rumor has it there’s a neat stream nearby, but we didn’t get a chance to check it out.

  • 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

  • rThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 15, 2024

    Eagle Mountain Dispersed

    Remote but hard to get to

    This is BLM. A couple of different camping sites. Most have fire rings but no water or bathrooms. You will need a 4x4 with high clearance to get up the mountain (the road is rough). There are sites at the bottom of the mountain that you can get an RV or car in but those are crowded and around the shooting range. We had a great time at the top with beautiful views and quiet. Nobody else around. oHV area too.

  • Bill M.
    Sep. 4, 2021

    Soldier's Pass Utah Backcountry

    Easy and quiet

    Set up was easy, drove past the BLM sign about half a mile and stayed on a flat open area. Mosquitos were terrible, bring bug spray! Happy camping!

  • Michelle B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 20, 2019

    Soldier's Pass Utah Backcountry

    Near Utah Lake Backcountry

    FREE! No amenities! Must carry in all water.  Shooting Range nearby. Great for ATVs and off road vehicles. Hiking is easy to moderate in abilty. Fire ring established in most common camp areas. Animals allowed. Close to Utah Lake.

  • jThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Squaw Peak Road Dispersed

    Great spot near the cities

    Getting here can be challenging, very steep incline , tight corners , and some spots have bumpy dirt roads. Perfect for tent camping and small trailers , spots are not big enough for bigger RVs and and trailers


Guide to Vernon

Primitive camping near Vernon, Utah offers opportunities across diverse desert and mountain terrain. The elevation ranges from 4,800 to 5,500 feet, creating temperature variations between sites near the salt flats and those at higher elevations. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 95°F with nighttime lows dropping to the 40s even in July and August, making layered clothing essential for overnight stays.

What to do

Off-road exploration: Many dispersed camping areas near Vernon connect to extensive OHV trail systems. At Seven Mile Pass, visitors appreciate the varied terrain: "I taught my boys to ride motorcycles here. It's not spectacular and heavily used by the ATV crowd but you can easily find a decent place for an overnight. The deeper you go, the fewer the people."

Rock climbing and exploration: At White Rocks Dispersed Camping, campers can explore unusual rock formations. A visitor notes, "The rock formations out here are magnificent and so much fun for all ages. The camping area down below has soft soil to make for easy staking and is protected and shaded by leafy trees."

Sunset viewing: Many sites offer unobstructed western views. From the higher elevation sites at Squaw Peak Road Dispersed, the evening light creates memorable scenes. One camper shared: "We camped towards to the top. It had plenty of room for tents amongst the trees and in the field."

What campers like

Solitude at higher elevations: For campers willing to drive further on rougher roads, greater privacy awaits. A visitor to Cherry Creek Campsites noted: "Wide open, easy to find a secluded spot. No hiking, no services, decent cell reception. It would be a great spot if you have ATVs, dirt bikes, etc."

Mountain panoramas: Several primitive camping areas near Vernon offer mountain views in multiple directions. One camper at Chimney Rock Dispersed described the site as having "Many Camping Spots, Tons of Rocks for Fire Pits, Great Spot for Large Bonfires, There are some Juniper Trees for Privacy and Shade."

Night sky viewing: The remote location and limited light pollution create excellent stargazing conditions. A camper at White Rocks Dispersed remarked: "I drove out to watch the meteor shower and photograph the milky way. It's a very quiet area and scenery is beautiful."

What you should know

Vehicle requirements: Most primitive camping areas near Vernon require appropriate vehicles. At Horseshoe Knoll - Dispersed Camping, a camper advised: "Some sites are very accessible, others need 4x4. Road is rough coming in as well."

Seasonal insects: Different sites experience varying levels of insect activity. At Horseshoe Knoll, campers report: "LOTS of gnats and other bugs, but quite and pretty view of the sunset." Another camper noted: "The mosquitoes ate us and our dogs even with bug repellents."

Limited shade options: Most primitive campsites near Vernon have minimal natural shade. At Seven Mile Pass, a visitor cautioned: "There is no shade so be prepared. It's fun to ride ATVs and go shooting."

Tips for camping with families

Site selection: Choose locations with natural play features. At White Rocks Dispersed, "The rock formations out here are magnificent and so much fun for all ages."

Timing considerations: For families, spring and fall typically offer the most comfortable temperatures. A Chimney Rock camper advised: "Not bad for desert camping. It's a good spot for winter camping."

Wildlife awareness: Prepare children for potential wildlife encounters. At Chimney Rock, one camper noted: "Coyotes are very active at night." Keep food secured and pets supervised at all times.

Tips from RVers

Stabilization: Bring leveling blocks as most sites have uneven ground. At Miner's Canyon Dispersed, an RVer shared: "With 5th wheel, took a couple sites before we were happy. Landed with large windows facing lake, lovely."

Site availability: Larger rigs should arrive early to secure suitable spots. A camper at Horseshoe Knoll observed: "From what we could tell there were probably only a couple good spots for an RV or tow-behind."

Road considerations: Always check recent reviews for current road conditions. At Miner's Canyon, a reviewer cautioned: "Road was rough into the sites and were hard to determine specific sites. Ended up pulling into edge of field."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Vernon, UT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Vernon, UT is Seven Mile Pass with a 3-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Vernon, UT?

TheDyrt.com has all 29 dispersed camping locations near Vernon, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.