Tent campgrounds in the vicinity of Vernon, Utah include both established sites and dispersed camping areas, with several options offering primitive experiences in the high desert landscape. BLM Little Sahara Recreation Area's White Sands Campground provides tent camping with toilets and drinking water, while Paul Bunyon's Woodpile offers more secluded tent sites with picnic tables situated near interesting geological formations.
Most tent camping areas near Vernon feature basic amenities, with many sites having fire rings but requiring campers to bring their own water. At White Sands, vault toilets are available but most primitive tent setups in the region lack facilities altogether. The terrain typically consists of sand or desert hardpack, making tent stakes sometimes difficult to secure. Campers should plan for extreme temperature variations, as summer days can exceed 90°F while nights drop significantly cooler. Access to most tent sites requires driving on dirt roads that may become impassable after rain, particularly at Paul Bunyon's Woodpile where the approach road can be challenging in wet conditions.
The tent camping experience near Vernon offers opportunities for solitude and stargazing away from light pollution. White Sands provides a unique experience with soft sand that creates an unusual tent camping surface compared to typical forest or mountain sites. Limited or non-existent cell service is common at most tent camping locations, allowing for genuine disconnection. The area surrounding Vernon experiences minimal tree cover, so shade structures are recommended for summer camping. A camper reviewing Paul Bunyon's Woodpile noted, "We found a great campsite right by the trailhead, the only spot with trees and shade. Easy hike to see the formation, but very hot in July!" During spring and early summer, wildflower blooms can enhance the desert camping experience, while cooler fall temperatures provide more comfortable tent camping conditions.
"The Stars were beautiful and the sand was soft and fun to walk in. We set up two tents and thoroughly enjoyed the visit. Highly recommended!"
"It is a dry area and hot mid-summer, but good base for ATV, bike, and hunting areas. No ATV/bike riding or hunting on the campground - just a good base camp for those types of activities."
from $26 - $38 / night
"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."
"We found a great campsite right by the trailhead, the only spot with trees and shade. Easy hike to see the formation, but very hot in July!"
"A wonderful place to set up camp for a week for a week or to use as a basecamp to climb the high peaks that surround the terminus of the South Willow Canyon road! "
"I have a small SUV, so I buy firewood and fill up water containers after I've set up camp."
"Great recreation area just a couple hours from Salt Lake City. Lots of sand dunes and opportunities for play. Our Boy Scout Troop sand boarded and rolled down the dunes."
"This BLM area is a bit nicer than the one up the road by the lake."
"Stumbled upon this campground while fishing around at Grantsville Reservoir and decided to head up South Willow Canyon to review all these unreviewed campgrounds! "
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $20 - $111 / night
"The Narrows CG the other person is talking about is located in Zion National Park near St. George/Springville in southern Utah. There are no soaring sandstone walls here! "
from $15 / night
"I love driving through Middle Canyon. Its 5 dollars for a day pass and it's beautiful. I have never failed to see deer on the drive. I love to drive through it when the leaves change in Fall."
from $20 / night
LegendHad a good experience here. No one bothered us at all during our stay. There are a lot of RVs using the dispersed camps along the road here but this one was open and empty. Not many big rig friendly sites, but there are a couple. I love the the NP pass covers cost. No issue with bugs. There are a few hiking trails close by as well! No trash services so remember to pack it out with you!
LegendNice little campground with several pull through spots and several back ins Showers and bathrooms were clean and nice. Outside of the major town on Utah Lake so fairly quiet, although it is next to a smaller airport which has planes coming and going most of the time. At least they are all small planes so they don’t make too much noise. Nice playground.
ScoutThe rock formations are cool and fun to explore, but unfortunately the flies completely ruined this spot for us. I’ve camped in plenty of places with bugs, but I’ve never experienced flies this bad. If you stood still for more than a few seconds, you would literally be swarmed by them. There are cattle and bison in the surrounding area, so I’m guessing that contributes to the fly problem. Whatever the cause, they were relentless. It was so bad that after about 20 minutes, we gave up, packed everything back up, and left. Based on our experience, I would never camp here again.
Traveler10/1/26 no one is here? What great park. Washrooms are clean nice trails, layed back spot. Most all sites are level with great tent platform.
GuideI started at site 24 which was extremely shaded and had a cute little beach area along the creek. Then I stayed in site 10 which was more secluded from other sites but parking is just parallel to the main campground road. Site 10 was also a lot sunnier and had a more open view of the rock cliffs. After that I moved to site 7 for 2 nights and I did like the walk down stairs to my table and fire area, it made it feel more secluded from the other sites. I also liked the creek access. I stayed my last night in 24 which was a good balance of shade and openness. Also the cell service was a lot better at 22 and 24 as opposed to site 10 and 7.
ScoutStopped here for a couple of nights heading to Montana and was happy with the stay. The only complaint was the sites are close together, besides that it's quiet and peaceful with a bunch of shaded trees. The airport next door is kind of active, but nothing to bitch about. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Pretty Cool Campground.
TravelerWe decided to try this out and turned out to be pretty awesome, no service to help kids connect with nature and get away from the mundane. Never had any problems with animals saw a bunch of cows, lots of squirrels but not much else. Was really safe
TravelerEasy to get to. 4x4 trails available.
ScoutThis campground has trees of fur trees, spruce trees, mountain ash, Hemlock, and some scrub Oak. It’s a beautiful campground, well shaded, and some wildlife mostly deer and some moose.
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.
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Vernon, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Vernon, UT is BLM Little Sahara RA - White Sands Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Vernon, UT?
TheDyrt.com has all 19 tent camping locations near Vernon, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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