Tent camping near Vernon, Utah offers primitive desert experiences in the Great Basin region at elevations ranging from 4,500 to 5,500 feet. Most sites sit among sagebrush flats with distant mountain views, where summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F during daylight hours. The camping area spans portions of Tooele County with limited cell service and infrequent ranger patrols.
What to do
Sandboarding opportunities: At BLM Little Sahara RA - White Sands Campground, visitors can try sandboarding on the soft dunes. "The Stars were beautiful and the sand was soft and fun to walk in. We set up two tents and thoroughly enjoyed the visit," reports Carolynn D.
Limestone climbing routes: Near Lower Narrows Campground, experienced climbers can access challenging limestone routes. "There are amazing overhanging water sculpted limestone cliffs that contain some of the hardest climbing that the west desert of Utah has to offer," notes Alan B.
Shooting practice: Several dispersed camping areas double as informal shooting ranges. At Skull Valley Rd Dispersed Camping, one camper mentioned, "This location is also right in an outdoor shooting range with multiple spots so that's a plus if you're looking for entertainment."
What campers like
Night sky viewing: The dark skies above tent sites near Vernon provide excellent stargazing conditions. As one camper at White Sands noted, "The Stars were beautiful," while another at Skull Valley shared, "Nights are quiet and the moon is usually super bright."
Site spacing: Many dispersed camping areas offer good separation between sites. A visitor to Skull Valley Rd Dispersed Camping observed, "Tons of dispersed camping areas along the 196... Beautiful views, wide open spaces and super quiet."
Fishing access: Some tent campsites provide water access for fishing. One camper at White Sands mentioned they "were able to go fishing and hiking," while the creek near Lower Narrows "offers a nice respite from the heat in the summer and would probably be decent fishing as well."
What you should know
Limited facilities: Most tent camping sites near Vernon lack basic amenities. At Loop Campground, one camper warned: "I usually expect a decent drive to find what I need, but this involved a very long drive down a rutted gravel road, out of the canyon, and back to Grantsville. I think it was 40 minutes each way."
Insect pressure: Biting insects can be problematic during warmer months. A camper at Skull Valley reported: "LOTS of mosquitoes and flies."
Weather considerations: Temperature extremes and wind can impact camping comfort. Tyler C. noted at Skull Valley: "Once it does start to go down it gets real windy. All the breeze from the salt flats comes right your way."
Tips for camping with families
Finding shade: With minimal tree cover at most tent camping sites, locate the rare shaded spots when camping with children. At Paul Bunyon's Woodpile, one visitor shared: "We found a great campsite right by the trailhead, the only spot with trees and shade."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Nocturnal wildlife provides educational experiences for children. Carol M. noted Paul Bunyon's Woodpile offers "Good, easy dispersed camping options," while other campers have reported coyote sightings and howling at night.
Water activities: Several campgrounds offer creek access for cooling off. Alan B. mentioned that at Lower Narrows, "The creek offers a nice respite from the heat in the summer."
Tips from RVers
Road conditions: Many access roads to tent campsites near Vernon become challenging for larger vehicles after rain. One visitor to Paul Bunyon's Woodpile noted: "Road was easy enough dry, imagine it would be tough after a storm."
Size limitations: Most tent camping areas have limited space for larger vehicles. At Upper Narrows, sites can accommodate standard-sized RVs, but there's "enough room for 1 car to park off of the dirt road."
High-clearance requirements: Many dispersed tent camping routes require appropriate vehicles. A camper at Skull Valley advised: "Dirt road is also real rough, probably not for sedans," while another noted they "brought a 30' RV with a lifted Ram 2500 and had no problem driving over the washouts."
