Linda Z.
Scout
ScoutUinta National Forest Rock Canyon Campground
Rock Canyon Camping
Great place for dispersed camping. Sometimes there are fire bans so pay attention to that. Be sure to practice leave no trace!
Tent Camping near Vernon, UT
19 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
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.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Vernon (19)
1. BLM Little Sahara RA - White Sands Campground
"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!"
2. Camp Eagle Mountain
"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
3. Paul Bunyon's Woodpile
"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!"
4. Loop Campground
"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."
5. Jericho Picnic & Camping Area
"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."
6. Soldier Pass by Miner's Canyon
"This BLM area is a bit nicer than the one up the road by the lake."
7. Upper Narrows
"Stumbled upon this campground while fishing around at Grantsville Reservoir and decided to head up South Willow Canyon to review all these unreviewed campgrounds! "
from $20 - $111 / night
Check Availability8. Lower Narrows Campground
"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
Check Availability9. Middle Canyon Campground
"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
10. American Campground
Drive Time
- 1 hr 1 min from Salt Lake City, UT
- 1 hr 5 min from Provo, UT
- 1 hr 28 min from Ogden, UT
- 2 hrs 12 min from Logan, UT
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Vernon, UT
8 Photos of 19 Vernon Campgrounds
Tent Camping Reviews near Vernon, UT
445 Reviews of 19 Vernon Campgrounds
Jeremy H.
GuideFivemile Pass OHV
Good for free camping
Not much out here but you’ll likely see a hawk or a Golden Eagle. You will have to put up with crazy OHVers and drunk partiers in some spots but there are a lot of places to go with a few pit toilets spread about.
This is the desert and there is no water so come prepared. Please leave no trace and clean up after yourself.
Alan B.
LegendLower Narrows Campground
Beautiful Creek Access w/ Expert Level Climbing Routes a Stones Throw Away
Let me start off by saying the other review for this CG is about 250 miles off target. 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! There are however amazing overhanging water sculpted limestone cliffs that contain some of the hardest climbing that the west desert of Utah has to offer! There are a decent amount of routes on either side of the road with the majority of the routes being near the Upper Narrows CG.
This CG is setup in much the same way as the Upper. There are metal fire rings and picnic tables at each of the campsites with a vault toilet within a couple minutes walk from any of the sites. There are only 3 sites and there are no water or trash facilities so bring all you need and then pack it all out! The creek offers a nice respite from the heat in the summer and would probably be decent fishing as well. I only saw a couple trout while wandering around but I'm sure there are more!
- AAaron M.Scout
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
Jillian B.GuideWillow Park Campground
Campground near Provo
This campground is ok, would expect a little more since you have to pay $25. In a nice little suburban neighborhood. Spots are close together and not much privacy, our site was along the back fence. Each site had fire pit and picnic table. There are two bathrooms, no showers and no electricity. It looks like there are a couple water fill up spigots but not potable.
Myrna G.GuideLittle Mill
Beautiful Campground
Just returned from an overnight stay at Little Mill with amazing American Fork Creek right beside my sites The campground is clean, no water, trash or electric and vault toilets. The camp host were so friendly gave us suggestions on where to hike in the area. My only reason this campground didn’t get 5 stars is due to the horrible road noise. I seriously thought I was at a truck stop off the interstate. Honking and racing cars until 3am just ruined it. If noise doesn’t bother you head on over.
- eerik C.Scout
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.
Adam B.
RangerMount Timpanogos Campground
It’s like a little Switzerland
Very quiet, sites are pretty level. Currently the vault toilets are closed but they have portable toilets available that appear to be cleaned every 3 days. Host Sara is very nice. Cell service Verizon and att is decent. Road up is steep but smooth. Lots of cars parked on the road near the campsite makes for difficult driving around on tight roads in our 26.5 foot RV but we were able to do it. Mountains are very beautiful up here. As always people don’t seem to understand the concept of pack it in pack it out so there is some trash but much better than most other sites. We always end up having to pick up after others because most people just don’t seem to care and figure someone else will do it for them. Keep it Better than you found it.
Mariah G.GuideFlight Park State Recreation Area
Pretty solid for a night
This place is up pretty high with mine, town, and mountain views. The camping is free and dispersed and there are lots of RVs up there. There weren't many other tents probably because it was so windy. The location is where paragliders take off from which I'd imagine is pretty cool to watch but it definitely creates more noise. It's a great place if you're in the area and looking for a last minute free place to crash. Stake down your tent if you have one though. The road is fine all the way there and there are just a few bumps when you get up.
Guide to Vernon
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."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Vernon, UT?
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?
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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