Shady Dell Campground — Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest

SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

Shady Dell Campground sits within Wasatch National Forest along the Mirror Lake Highway corridor, where the US Forest Service maintains roughly 20 sites in a forested loop with a paved drive and paved pads. The campground runs $25 to $51 per night depending on site type, with a double site available for larger groups. Reservations are accepted, though first-come spots have been available later in the season. Dogs are welcome, and multiple reviewers noted other campers bringing pets as well.

Water access is a consistent draw here. Several sites sit close to a small river running through the campground, and site placement relative to that water varies noticeably. Some sites include nearby water faucets; others do not, so it's worth checking when booking. Shade is heavy throughout, provided by the dense conifer canopy. The campground is also close to Highway 150, and one reviewer noted highway traffic noise as a factor, particularly for lighter sleepers.

"Very pleasant, would have picked a spot right on the nice little river," notes Josie B. Vault toilets are on-site and generally kept clean, though conditions can shift during warm afternoons. Generator noise has been an issue in the past, with quiet hours posted at the entrance from 10pm to 6am. Free-range cattle have also been reported moving through the campground during drier years.

Anglers and hikers use Shady Dell as a base for the broader Uintas, though some trailheads and lakes require additional driving. Campers wanting a different setup nearby can look at Duchesne Tunnel Campground roughly a mile to the east.

Fee Info

Cash, Check, or Scan & Pay (with recreation.gov app) 17 single sites - $29.00, Capacity - 8 people + 1 vehicle 1 double site - $57.00, Capacity 16 people + 2 vehciles Day use - $15.00 Extra vehicle - $10.00 per vehicle (paid on-site cash/check) Firewood - $9.00

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Map & DirectionsShady Dell Campground is located in Utah near Kamas

Detail location of campground
Public Campground

Directions

In Kamas, UT, at the intersection of State Rt. 32 (Main St.) and State Rt. 150 (Center St.), take Rt. 150 (Mirror Lake Scenic Byway) east 17 miles to the campground sign. Turn right at the sign into the campground.

Address

UT-150
Kamas, UT 84036

Coordinates

40.590114 N
111.015751 W

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Access

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Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites

Features

For Campers

  • Picnic Table
  • Reservable
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Water Hookups

Contact

General Info

Reservations

Drive Time


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Reviews7 Camper Reviews - Shady Dell Campground

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5 Stars

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43%
29%
14%
14%
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4.0

out of 5

7 Reviews

Visitors often highlighted the excellent shade and paved sites near a pleasant creek. Some campers noted concerns about highway noise and occasional cattle, though most found it a solid base for Uintas exploration.

SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile
Reviewed Jul. 14, 2026

Great spot!

Nestled in campsites. Plenty of room for a 25” trailer. Super friendly camp host they have firewood and running water. Set 19 has a setback firing that shaded by trees really close to the upper Provo. Incredible fishing just a short drive away river access on site. Also don’t forget to find the fairy garden.

Site19
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Shady Dell Campground — Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest by Jeremiah M., July 14, 2026
  • Review photo of Shady Dell Campground — Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest by Jeremiah M., July 14, 2026
  • Review photo of Shady Dell Campground — Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest by Jeremiah M., July 14, 2026
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Aug. 1, 2022

Gateway to Uintas

Stayed here over the weekend for 2 nights in July 2022. Great campground with super clean vault toilets (they got a bit smelly during the afternoon but overall very clean). We stayed in site 19 as it was the last one available when I booked a week prior. Would’ve preferred a different site because 19 is right next to site 20 which is a double site. There was a big family group there who were very friendly, but left their generators running ALL night for their big trailer. I was in a small pop up trailer with my dog & boyfriend. My boyfriend & I hardly slept. It was clearly posted on the camp entrance sign that you can’t run generators from 10pm-6am. Other than that, great campground close to the creek & a good jumping point for hikes in the Uintas. Lots of other dogs there too which made my dog happy.

Site19
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Shady Dell Campground — Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest by Shantaye G., August 1, 2022
  • Review photo of Shady Dell Campground — Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest by Shantaye G., August 1, 2022
  • Review photo of Shady Dell Campground — Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest by Shantaye G., August 1, 2022
Reviewed Sep. 27, 2020

Pleasant spot

Lilly pad campground and some other sites further up were closed for the season so we ended up here in a first come first serve spot. Very pleasant, would have picked a spot right on the nice little river. Definitely go across to the fairy forest - it’s literally right in the campground. Didn’t have a working water spigot near us which was a bummer. Vault toilets were some of the worse we’ve (smelt). Very very nice hosts and lots of shade

Reviewed Aug. 22, 2019

Hidden gem

This camp site surprised me, good location for driving to various hikes in the uintas, a nice river runs along several of the camping sites. Worth checking out. I stayed at site 10 and it was close to a water faucet which was nice.

  • Review photo of Shady Dell Campground — Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest by Christopher H., August 22, 2019
Reviewed Jul. 29, 2019

Great Car Camping

This is a great car camping location in the Uintas. There are about 20 camp sites, we stayed in spot 10 and loved it! It had perfect shade and morning sun. It is a little far from trail heads or lakes but good for families who want to car camp. We would definitely return and hope for our exact same location.

  • Review photo of Shady Dell Campground — Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest by Joseph W., July 29, 2019
  • Review photo of Shady Dell Campground — Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest by Joseph W., July 29, 2019
  • Review photo of Shady Dell Campground — Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest by Joseph W., July 29, 2019
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Sep. 1, 2018

Shady as the name implies but close to the HWY and a dry creek

This would be a much nicer visit during a wet year or during spring for that matter. It is close to the Hwy so you get traffic noise and the Provo is even farther away than it is at Soapstone but only $2 cheaper. Also while there I ran into quite a few cows that were moving about the campground. While this happens at many of the campgrounds at the south end of the Hwy I feel there were an exceptional amount of cows at this campground (maybe because it was so shady?) So other than having shade (which place doesn't in the Uintas) this campground is one to skip, at least this year, or at best a last resort. To stay here you'll have to pay $21 a night for the campground and for the Mirror Lake Hwy Rec. Pass that is $6 for 3 days and $12 for the week. There is also 1 double site here that is available for $41

Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Shady Dell Campground — Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest by Alan B., September 1, 2018
  • Review photo of Shady Dell Campground — Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest by Alan B., September 1, 2018
  • Review photo of Shady Dell Campground — Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest by Alan B., September 1, 2018
  • (7) View All
Reviewed Jun. 3, 2018

Near the Fairy Forest

This campground has a paved drive loop, as well as paved camp sites. There are trees off of the road side, but not a lot around your camping area. There are pit toilets, as well as fire pits. It cools off nice in the evening

Month of VisitJuly

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find photos of Shady Dell Campground before visiting?

You can find photos of Shady Dell Campground on The Dyrt's campground page, which showcases the campsite layout, surrounding landscape, and amenities. The USDA Forest Service website for Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest also provides official images. Social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook often contain recent visitor photos tagged with the campground name. For the most current visual information, check recreation.gov which may have both official and user-submitted photos of individual campsites and the general area.

What amenities are available at Shady Dell Campground in Utah?

Shady Dell Campground offers paved drive loops and campsites, fire pits, and clean vault toilets. Water faucets are available near some sites, like site 10. The campground features approximately 20 sites, with some situated along a nice river. While not heavily wooded throughout, the campground does have trees along the roadside providing some shade. There are no electrical hookups or shower facilities, making this a more rustic camping experience in the Uintas.

What do visitor reviews say about Shady Dell Campground?

Shady Dell Campground receives positive feedback for its cleanliness, especially the well-maintained vault toilets. Campers particularly enjoy sites along the river, with site 10 mentioned as having perfect shade and morning sun. The location serves as a good base for accessing various hiking trails in the Uintas, though it's noted to be somewhat distant from specific trailheads and lakes. Families appreciate the car camping convenience. Some mention traffic noise due to proximity to the highway and occasional wildlife encounters, including cows wandering through the area. The nearby "fairy forest" is highlighted as a unique attraction worth exploring.

Where exactly is Shady Dell Campground located in Utah?

Shady Dell Campground is located in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest in northeastern Utah. It sits along Highway 150 (also known as the Mirror Lake Highway), positioned between Kamas and Evanston. The campground is situated in the western Uinta Mountains, with the Provo River flowing nearby, though a bit further away compared to other campgrounds like Soapstone. This location makes it a convenient staging area for exploring the broader Uintas region, with various trailheads accessible by car.