My god-father and mother come into town yearly and stay at this location in their 5th wheel. The facility is spotless! Seriously, the staff keep the entire grounds in great condition. There are dozens and dozens of spots that fit just about any size RV or 5th wheel. Every spot has water and electric hookups, picnic tables, and enough grass space to setup pet pens.
There are several different amenities including a pool, playground for the kids, life-size chessboard, and a mini-breed dog park!
Cliff lake is one of those lake that can be overlooked due to the dozens of lakes in the High Uintas. However, if you’re willing to hike in with your camping (tent or hammock) cliff lake offers not only good fishing, but beautiful views. You can hike the cliff on the north west side of the lake and stand on top of it overlooking the lakes and basin below. There is also a beautiful little lake just above cliff lake, called Petite Lake, with plenty of natural (not planted) trout.
Hiker traffic may be high during peak months, but not many people stay for more than a quick fishing stop, so set up camp in the trees to the east, or up above on the cliffside and enjoy your stay.
If you’re looking for a fun backpacking camping trip where you’re guaranteed to see tons of wildlife, this is it. Not only will you avoid the crowded campgrounds, but you’ll be able to do it without hiking a million miles from your vehicle.
You can park at the trailhead and hike up only 2 miles before you start seeing deer and elk everywhere. You simply follow the river up the canyon, and choose from any of the small flat locations for tent camping, or pick a couple trees to hang a hammock. Choices are abundant. In the summer months, water is scarce so bring water. If the creek is full and running you can simply filter water.
There is a beautiful meadow area at the top of the trail before you begin to descend down the other side (another beautiful area).
Was able to hike in with my 8 year old, and he loved it. Great secluded dispersed spot for wildlife watching.
The campground is literally right off the NB/SB freeway. The sites are pretty nice and many are very close to the lake. We've taken our canoe on many occasions and are close enough to portage from the campsite to the lake, and back, several times a day with no problem! So that's pretty nice. Other than that, the campground is nothing special. It's pro's are being so close to major cities (SLC, Bountiful, Ogden, Logan). Travel to the campground is a quick pull off the freeway so any type of vehicle can make it, but keep in mind, your day and night will be filled with freeway noises.
Vernon Res. is a quaint little lake with a handful of campsites on its western shore. Most of the campgrounds are very open with little to no shade cover at all. The wind picks up a bit too, and will blow you away. There is one campground, however, tucked back in the trees on the southern shore of the lake, that’s awesome! It’s completely shaded by older trees, nestled up next to a cliff side. The site is picture perfect but it’s the only one, and first come first serve.
The lake is good fishing. My son caught his first fish at this lake. Fun times!
This is a simple site to get to. It’s only an hour from Salt Lake City and provides awesome picnic areas! Fun for the whole family; kids, seniors, pets, etc!
The fishing is really good too. We catch something every time we go.
Fully paved area, so no need to worry about clearance or bad conditions.
Be ready to pay the state park fee tho! $
Washington lake was my childhood campground! I’ve been back many times over the years. It’s since been paved and all sorts of amenities are available. As a kid it was just a dirt campground, but has been much improved since. Picnic tables. Fire pits. Electric hookups. Etc.
The lake is fairly large, full of fish, and fun to canoe around! All around the lake are amazing dispersed camping spots, and trails connecting to other lakes.
Our YouTube channel Intro was filmed on location at Washington Lake! Enjoy
Gooseberry group site is a pretty nice area. It’s located just 5 minutes from the lake, which can be seen down the hill to the north. In the early morning deer frequent the meadow between the sites and the lake. Even had a few doe right in the sites!
Each site has fire pits and tables, perfect for large group camping. Spigot water is also available for drinking and washing.
Easy access is also another bonus for these sites. You don’t need a truck or suv to get there. The average car does just fine :)
Ferron Campground is located across the lake from the southwest campground near the guard station. The campground has picnic tables, fire pits, and a gorgeous view of the lake from nearly every site.
This side of the lake is a bit more dense with trees, including downed old growth so firewood is readily available. This area is also a bit more guarded from the wind the area tends to get in summer months.
Overall, a beautiful place to camp.
Hiking up Millcreek Canyon is always a treat, but seeing the sun set over the mountains to the west, and waking up to it rising over Park City is spectacular!
The hike is moderately difficult, especially carrying overnight gear, but it’s super worth it. There are dozens of locations along the trail you can just venture off into to camp. Just to the west of Murdock Peak there are some saddles with flat areas to set up smaller tents and gaze at the surrounding area. Pets are allowed too, so bring the dog!
Slate creek is right at the bottom of Mirror Lake Highway. It’s the first campground you’ll pass, even before going by the National Forest check-in Station. There are about 3-4 walk-in sites, first come first serve. No water, electric, or sewer hookups, but there are small rock fire pits that campers have used over the years. The area is big enough to get an RV or Trailer into if that’s your fancy.
There is a trail to the north that goes straight up Slate Creek for several miles. Beautiful scenery, lots of wildlife (elk, deer), and it’s only 10 minutes up the canyon!
There are only a few solid spots south of Mill Hollow to dispersed car camp, but it makes for a quiet trip if you’re lucky enough to nab one of the spots. The few that we’ve found to be the most comfortable and simple to access are along the river just south of the lake. They’re tucked back into the trees on the east side of the road. There are hiking opps everywhere. Beautiful trails to explore, river banks to walk, and even a small waterfall tucked back into the woods if you know where to look. Love this whole area!
Ledgefork is one of those areas you better get a reservation for early in the season. They book up quick, but there’s a reason for it! The whole area is gorgeous. From the northern end of the lake all the way south into dispersed camping areas, the sights are awesome. Wildlife everywhere. Great fishing. Clean campsites. Friendly campground hosts. Firewood available for purchase. Oh and did I mention how everything was just beautiful?! Don’t miss a weekend at Ledgefork. Seriously.
Since I was about 3, my family has gone to Joes Valley Reservoir for an extended family reunion! We tend to reserve the entire lower loop for a week in August. It's a bit of a downhill walk to the lake, but worth it given that there are plenty of fish and crawdads to catch for a big fish-fry!
There are toilets and picnic tables, and the roads have been paved in recent years. The best part about the campground is its ability to host a large group. The area is spread out yet open enough to feel like everyone has their own space and still together as a group. So, if you're wanting to plan a family trip, this may be where you want to go!
It is a bit noisy, however. Everyone has 4-wheelers and most people bring RV's with generators… so expect some noise, lol.
Friendship Campground is situated underneath a large grove of Maple Trees that provide the most beautiful scattered sunbeam shade you'll ever see! There are 5 individual sites that are Walk-in only (not reservable) and 1 large group site (reservable).
All the sites are located right along the river. The fishing is pretty good, and the hiking is great. Just to the north of the campground is a trailhead for Richards Hollow where you can see a very pretty waterfall.
All the sites have picnic tables, fire pits, and decent space for larger tents. I wouldn't recommend bringing large trailers… the loop the campsite is located on has a rather tight turn that can be difficult for the larger trailers to navigate.
Overall, this is a great family site if you're looking for a fun riverside getaway.
West Fork Smiths Fork is a huge area to the west of China Meadows. Campers from all over the state venture to China Meadows to hike to Red Castle, and hunters from all over the country travel here to hunt deer and elk!
Hiking along the river will lead you south to Bald Mountain and Bald Lake. Dispersed camping is available throughout the entire area. Vast meadows are filled with various wildlife and gorgeous views!
The simplest access for most campers coming from Utah will be coming down through Wyoming, past Stateline Reservoir. The area can also be accessed from the west via Mirror Lake Highway, but will take significantly longer due to the overall length of dirt road you'll be required to travel on from that direction.
Red Pine Lake is located up Little Cottonwood Canyon, on the south side of the road. Parking at the trailhead can be a bit crowded during peak season (between June and September) so arrive early in the day for a good spot. The lake is a 3-4 mile hike up the trail, most of which is rather gradual. However the last mile or so is moderately difficult.
AllTrails.com has a great detailed overview of the trail itself and the elevation gain involved. Check it out here!
No fires or pets are allowed given that Little Cottonwood Canyon is considered Watershed. So plan on cooking with a backpacking stove/cooker.
Aspen Campground is a beautiful little campground up Forest Road 144 (just east of Wolf Creek Pass, just before Hannah, UT). There are several reservable sites at Aspen, many of which border the Duchesne River. There is a fence between the campground and the river with a couple access points that can be a little tricky to find since the vegetation is rather thick.
All of the sites have picnic tables and fire pit with plenty of adequate space for large tents. The sites are spread out fairly well, and the thickness of the trees helps to separate the sites even more. All in all, the campground is quiet and quaint, with a gorgeous view of the cliffside to the west.
Nearly the entire mountain to the south of the official Soapstone campground is open to dispersed camping. There are several dirt roads (best accessed with SUV's or Trucks) that wind around the mountain top, in and out of trees and meadows. Nearly every few hundred yards there are different pull-offs where you can just set up camp. There are obviously no water hookups or vault toilets, so pack-in, pack-out.
The area is pretty busy during the summer months, and even busier during holiday weekends (Memorial Day, 4th of July Weekend, 24th of July Weekend, etc.). You'll also likely see deer and even moose wandering around your campground in the early morning and late evening. So, if you want a close getaway to do some "rough-it" camping, this is your spot!
Ferron Reservoir is one of Utah's best kept secrets compared to many of the crowded campgrounds in the High Uintas.
Ferron sits right on the top of the Manti-La Sal mountain range that divides the state in two. You can get to the reservoir from either side of the range, and the roads drivable for just about any vehicle.
The campground has vault toilets, fresh water, fire pits, a couple-dozen individual sites, 1 group site, and a gorgeous view of the reservoir from just about any location. Feel free to bring your canoes or kayaks and spend the day paddling around and fishing. The fishing is great!
We take our entire family every year for our Family Reunion Camping Trip! It's one of those campgrounds that our kids will remember forever.