When ski season comes to an end, camping season comes alive in Northern Utah. Park City is situated among some of the most beautiful mountains in the world, and among them are great opportunities for camping. Many of Utah's national forests and BLM land are open for dispersed camping, and the spots listed below are excellent non-dispersed camping areas near Park City.
Mirror Lake Highway
For those seeking to escape the summer heat, camping along the Mirror Lake Highway will provide cooler temperature and stunning scenery. The highway is located past Park City and resides between Kamas and Evanston, Wyoming. This road crests the Uinta Mountains, bring beautiful views at any point. There are 15 campgrounds along the Mirror Lake Highway, ranging from $14-18 per night. Most campgrounds are comprised of both shady and sunny areas, out houses and several lakes for non-motorized boats and fishing. Many sites also have RV hookups and group spots.
Photo: Mirror Lake Campground
Photo: Mirror Lake CampgroundJordanelle State Park
Located just miles from Park City, Jordanelle State Park is a popular camping area mainly because it's nestled along the Jordanelle Reservoir. This camping area is perfect for people that have boats, or are looking for a quick camping getaway out of Park City or Salt Lake City, which is why Jordanelle is popular with local residents. The park offers two recreation areas for camping, Hailstone and Rock Cliff.
Hailstone is a larger, more developed campground with a day-use area on the west side of the reservoir. This is a favorite among boaters and RV campers, as boast launch ramps are found here. Rock Cliff Recreation Area is located on the southeast side and offers a quieter, more "natural" experience, so don’t be surprised if you see a moose wander through your campsite. These campgrounds are walk-in and dogs are not allowed.
Photo: Jordanelle State Park
Photo: Jordanelle State ParkWasatch Mountain State Park
This camping area is located over the hill from Park City in the beautiful Heber Valley. Soldier Hollow, the 2002 Olympic winter venue resides at the south-end of the park. This camping area is comprised of three loops, Cottonwood, Mahogany and Oak Hollow. Cottonwood and Mahogany contain full hookups, water and electricity, whereas Oak Hollow does not have full hookups. Wasatch Mountain State Park is perfect for RV campers or those looking to stay close to the city.
These sites are also ideal for mountain bikers, as you can connect from the campground to the WOW and Dutch Hollow trails, or ride 15 minutes to Guardsman Pass where you can drop into Deer Valley or the Wasatch Crest.
Big Cottonwood Canyon
Big Cottonwood Canyon is adjacent to Park City, and home to Brighton and Solitude Ski Resorts. When it's not ski season, this canyon is ideal for camping, rock climbing, backpacking, cycling and hiking. This a quick and easy destination for both Salt Lake and Park City locals. There are two campgrounds, Spruces and Redman, both located at high elevations.
Spruces is the lowest of the two and features 97 individual sites and nine group sites, with half the sites being available for reservation. Small creeks wander through the campground, which is also near popular hiking trail, Donut Falls. Redman is generally known as a better site, and has 39 spots available. The campsites near the bottom part of the loop are generally spaced better than at the top. Both campgrounds are $14 per day.
