Dispersed camping opportunities surround Wellsville, Utah, with several free primitive sites located in the nearby Cache National Forest. Green Canyon Dispersed Campground, Franklin Basin Dispersed Camping, and Smithfield Dispersed Campsite provide boondocking options within a short drive. Curtis Creek/Arbs Basin and Monte Cristo Pull-off areas offer additional free camping zones further south. Most sites feature established fire rings but minimal other amenities. Left Hand Fork and Blacksmith Fork areas also permit primitive camping, though with fewer developed sites.
Access roads to dispersed camping areas vary from well-maintained gravel to rough dirt tracks requiring careful navigation. Franklin Basin Road is considered 2WD-friendly and suitable for larger vehicles, while other areas like Green Canyon may require higher clearance. Many sites have fire restrictions during dry seasons, and campers must pack out all trash. No drinking water is available at any of these locations, and only Green Canyon provides vault toilets. Most areas permit camping for up to 14 days, though specific regulations may vary by location.
The dispersed sites near Wellsville offer varying degrees of solitude and natural beauty. Franklin Basin receives praise for its scenic river access and mountain views. One camper noted, "If you keep driving for about 30 minutes on the dirt road, you get the most perfect spot with nobody near you." Green Canyon tends to be more heavily used due to its proximity to Logan, with a camper reporting that "the canyon is one of Logan's underrated and overused gems." Sites further from town generally provide more seclusion but may require navigating rougher roads. Cell service is limited or non-existent in most areas, particularly in Franklin Basin. Wildlife sightings are common, and some areas feature nearby hiking and mountain biking trails.
"About 15 mins outside of Logan up a beautiful canyon. Headed up around 4pm on a Saturday during Memorial Day weekend so didn’t have high hopes but found a spot with a fire ring almost immediately!"
"Easy to find by putting the coordinates provided in Google Maps. Came in after dark and easily found a site about 1/4 mile or so up the road. Road is a bit bumpy but nothing major."
"After you've passed the Smithfield campground there are plenty of spots on both sides of the road where you can pull off and have dispersed camping."
"Stayed here for two nights, at the end of a dead end road, close to the creek. Real easy place to be."
"The coordinates on the map are not exactly right for this campsite, at least in early may."
"About 1/4 mile down a dirt road from Hwy 39 is a good single boondocking spot with a great view. Not for large RVs."
"Two nice boondocking spots just a short drive on a tight dirt road off the highway. The campsite on the right is bigger, the one on the left is very small."
"While there are a lot of disbursed sites along the corridor, they were all completely filled due to a bike race happening at nearby Beaver Mountain."
"Easily accessible spot off FR 006. Found shady, mostly level spot to park van right off the road. Peaceful location. Fire pit in the camp area. No amenities."
"Didn’t stay, it’s right next to the road maybe for a camper van not for a truck and 30’ camper"
"Picked a pull-off spot about 10 min up the highway and was really surprised. It went pretty deep and and truly felt like I was away."
TravelerYes the road in is rough but while I was there they graded the first half. I made it with a 20ft bus. Just go slow. The views are beautiful and it was very quiet. Loved walking out to the waters edge.
TravelerGoogle maps took us up a dirt road, must have a high clearance vehicle way. We still arrived, but at 5-10 mph. If Google maps asks you to leave a nice gravel road on your way here, dont do it lol. Campground very nice with newer pit toliets (bring your own TP). View is amazing of the reservoir and surrounding mountains.
GuideThis had amazing views, including a cool cave. However, the road is very bumpy and the spots are smaller. It would not be good for a larger RV. The spots fill up very quickly.
GuideCamp is about 25 minutes from town via a dirt road 4x4 not required in certain areas just be cautious when selecting certain sites if you don't have 4x4. Also worth noting lots of dirt bikes and side by sides and folks shooting guns, so if you're a light sleeper you may not enjoy this site. Otherwise, it's totally fine.
RangerVery easy access off 89. Very large sites with fire rings start about 1/4 off the main road. Only one other site being used that I saw. Pit toilet available at the large parking area. Clean and well kept. No cell service. Free range cows.
TravelerPretty far but worth a visit. We got here midnight and IT WAS WINDY!! Was afraid our car gonna tip over (yes, it’s that bad)
To our surprise it snowed in the morning and we had such a long walk around the site, very inspiring, very introspective. Would recommend!!!
GuideWe had a wonderful view of the city with few bugs and a visitor in the morning! Roads were tough so we didn’t get up too far but had a wonderful stay.
ScoutWhile there are a lot of disbursed sites along the corridor, they were all completely filled due to a bike race happening at nearby Beaver Mountain. We continued up and finally found a nice camp site just on the south side of Utah border but it turned out to be on private property. There’s a small stretch of a private property near the state line marked by a sign posted cattle grate. The property owner stopped by, he was super polite, but explained the boundaries and asked us to move along.
In many spots on the road on the way up there were wide open areas where a single camper had claimed a large area, even sites that could comfortably accommodate several rigs, so just a few things to watch out for.
GuideI stayed here for one night, the higher you go, the better the views. The lower you go it is a little bit louder with people dirt biking, four wheeling, shooting guns, recreationally, etc. I was towards the top of the mountain and I did not have any issues with sound the whole night. I felt very safe camping by myself.
Dispersed camping near Wellsville, Utah centers around Cache National Forest with most locations situated between 5,600-9,000 feet elevation. The region features a mix of coniferous forest and aspen groves with rugged terrain that becomes snow-covered and inaccessible during winter months. Summer temperatures at higher elevations can drop below 40°F at night even when daytime highs reach the 80s.
Hiking nearby trails: Curtis Creek offers access to several unmarked pathways through dense forest areas. "It's chilly and very pretty around. Nice view of the sunset," notes a camper at Curtis Creek / Arbs Basin.
Mountain biking: Green Canyon features popular trails that attract local riders. "Plenty great dispersed sites for car camping. Tons of little spots along a gravel road. Also tons of trails and mountain bikers," according to a visitor who found multiple recreation options.
Wildlife viewing: Many sites offer opportunities to spot deer and elk. At Middle Fork Conservation Area, one camper observed the natural surroundings: "It is down a dirt road in a valley surrounded by cattle and deer and elk. Beautiful sunset and moonrise."
River access: Many dispersed sites feature creek or river proximity. At Franklin Basin Dispersed Camping, campers appreciate the natural water features: "There is a creek that flows back and forth around the area, we had that for our soundtrack as we slept."
Solitude in remote spots: Driving deeper into dispersed areas often yields more isolation. "Ended up driving this road up to Idaho to find a bigger spot and some solitude. Took the dirt road for about 30 minutes and got the most perfect spot. Nobody was near us," reports a Franklin Basin visitor.
Easy access from Logan: Green Canyon Dispersed Campground provides convenient camping close to town. "About 15 mins outside of Logan up a beautiful canyon. Headed up around 4pm on a Saturday during Memorial Day weekend so didn't have high hopes but found a spot with a fire ring almost immediately!"
Road conditions vary significantly: Some areas require higher clearance vehicles. One camper noted about Dispersed camping near Monte Cristo: "If you keep driving for maybe 20-30min down the road there's even more beautiful spots, but it's pretty rocky so be careful if you don't trust your car/have low clearance."
Weekend crowding: Many sites fill quickly on Fridays and Saturdays. "The sites can be a little buggy but many have direct river access or beaver pond access. If this place had cell signal it would be one of the best spots ever," reports a Franklin Basin visitor.
Cell service limitations: Most areas have little to no connectivity. A camper at Curtis Creek noted, "It's very quiet, barely any people. There's man made firepits made out of rocks of people who have stayed here. There's no cell service."
Choose sites with amenities: Smithfield Dispersed Campsite offers creek access that children enjoy. "It's a very pretty canyon with a creek running through it. Would recommend," mentions a visitor who found the area suitable for camping.
Timing matters: Weekday arrivals provide better site selection. "We stayed here for the night on our rooftop tent. It's very quiet, barely any people," notes a Curtis Creek visitor who found peaceful conditions.
Prepare for temperature swings: Higher elevation sites can get cold at night even in summer. A Franklin Basin camper warned: "We went at the beginning of June, it was a bit chilly some mornings and at night, so come prepared."
Size restrictions: Many dispersed areas accommodate smaller RVs only. "About 1/4 mile down a dirt road from Hwy 39 is a good single boondocking spot with a great view. Not for large RVs. Our 17 ft trailer with 4x4 was tricky to get into the spot because the loop was so small," notes a camper at Monte Cristo Pull-off.
Road narrowing issues: Some access roads become problematic for larger vehicles. "No warning that the road narrows with no turn around about a mile into the campground, or the trees are overgrown which scratched up my sides," reports a Smithfield visitor with a 23-foot RV.
Franklin Basin accessibility: This area offers better options for RVs than other dispersed sites. "2wd friendly road for MILES. You can drive well into Idaho. The sites can be a little buggy but many have direct river access or beaver pond access," states one camper who found the gravel roads suitable for most vehicles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Wellsville, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Wellsville, UT is Green Canyon Dispersed Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 17 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Wellsville, UT?
TheDyrt.com has all 22 dispersed camping locations near Wellsville, UT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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