Camping opportunities surround Cottonwood Heights, Utah with established campgrounds in both Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons. Tanners Flat in Little Cottonwood Canyon provides developed sites for tents and RVs from May through October, while Spruces Campground offers similar accommodations in Big Cottonwood Canyon. The Wasatch Mountains contain several backcountry camping areas like Red Pine Lake and Twin Peaks Wilderness, where primitive tent camping is permitted. Salt Lake City KOA offers full-hookup RV sites year-round for those seeking developed facilities, while dispersed camping can be found in nearby canyons including Neffs Canyon.
Seasonal considerations heavily impact camping access in the Cottonwood Heights region. Most canyon campgrounds operate from late spring through early fall, typically May through October, with higher elevation sites opening later due to snowpack. Winter conditions close most mountain access roads, while summer weekends see high demand requiring advance reservations. Many backcountry areas like Lone Peak Cirque require permits and careful water planning, as one visitor noted, "Be warned to bring a lot of water (at least 3 L each) and a filter if you plan on staying overnight in the cirque. All water is runoff so also make sure there is still snow up there as that is your only water supply."
Developed campgrounds in the canyons provide amenities like flush toilets, picnic tables, and drinking water, though several reviews mention sites filling quickly during summer months. Backcountry camping areas offer more solitude but require significant hiking effort. The proximity to Salt Lake City makes these camping areas particularly popular for weekend trips. A camper at Tanners Flat commented, "Given how close it is to the city, Tanners Flat has always been a little too busy for our family during the full swing of summer." Watershed restrictions prohibit dogs in some canyon areas, particularly Little Cottonwood, and swimming is restricted in certain water sources. Campers particularly value sites near creeks or streams for the natural sound barrier they create from other campsites, with one visitor noting, "Our site was next to the river, which really helped drown out all other sounds!"
Compare 2 top campgrounds at a time to find your favorite!
Round 1 of 5
$50 - $189 / night
"I had the wonderful opportunity to stay the night at Salt Lake City KOA!"
"We wanted to explore Salt Lake City so decided to stay at this downtown KOA. It is a large and crowded RV park but right on a Transit line (UTA light rail Trax) and biking distance to downtown."
$28 - $358 / night
"Tucked in very back. Long ways to walk from car. Water spout next to car area. Will be sharing parking with 2 other sites. 2 lakes nearby. Fire pit with grill gate. Shaded area."
"Utah is such an amazing place to visit for the outdoors. My family and I come here once a year because we love hiking and being in the outdoors."
$29 - $346 / night
"Bathrooms always close by, no showers. All sites have a picnic table and fire pit. If you’re lucky, you can get a site close to the creek. Nice, cool nights in the summer."
"Right up Big Cottonwood Canyon, this campground has the advantage of being up the canyon so you feel far away from the city, but close enough that you could go on a work night and still make it to the"
$29 - $450 / night
"It was quiet, tucked away from anyone. Didn't really see anyone for the three days we are there. Our site was next to the river, which really helped drown out all other sounds! "
"We had site 11 close to the bathroom and in a flat, sunny clearing surrounded by trees. You could hear the nearby road a bit and see the mountains a little bit."
$28 - $229 / night
"We got a site with access to the river which my kids really enjoyed. There was a fun giant "sliding rock" in the area to climb on. Lots of trees for hammocks."
"The site we stayed at had many trees around to hang hammocks and also eat and picnic in the shade. There are brand new camp fires in all sites."
$29 - $217 / night
"This is super close to my favorite mountain bike ride in Northern Utah - The Wasatch Crest Trail. As you can tell in the pictures, this area is very lush and rich with pine trees."
"The campsites are clean, the bathrooms are exceptionally clean with flushing toilets, you are a walk or hike away from Brighton and immersed in some of the most beautiful mountains around."
$35 - $50 / night
"This isn't the prettiest lake. It is nice and big, but since it is one of the closest to Utah Valley and Salt Lake Valley, it gets a lot of traffic."
"We stayed at the "McHenry" campground in a spot right next to a creek. The traffic noise was a bit prevalent during the day because it's close to the highway. Great tent pad."
"Red Pine Lake is located up Little Cottonwood Canyon, on the south side of the road."
"I knew that there were some nice trails (and views) in the Cottonwood canyons, and since they are close to Park City where I was staying, I thought this would be a good choice."
$25 - $175 / night
"This campground was nestled in the middle of Lehi Utah and it was a great place for us to swing in for one night."
"We were able to get a spot next to the Jordan River under a beautiful tree. We brought our 16ft camper and didn’t need to back it in or anything."
ScoutI stayed in the adult section and it was nice and quiet! The facilities were clean and well kept and the staff is friendly. The hot tub is so good I was oblivious to the hail and snow, too!
LegendThis was an easy and convenient place to pull over when exhausted from SLC traffic.
Full hook-ups, hot shower and no privacy between sites.
Served its purpose as a good place to rest before moving on.
ScoutThere was trash all over the place and people were ripping through the trails till 2 am blasting music. Some people came and camped right next to us and blasted music and refused to move. They proceded to leave beer cans all over their site and never put out their fire. Would not come back
ScoutAll grass has been torn up and dusty dirt. Hour are dusk to dawn, no camping.
ScoutThis place is a little trashy, but beautiful scenery night 🌙 skies great for viewing little to no light pollution if picked place on top of hill you would see more of the city's nearby and more of the lake. Roads are very ruff, SUV/trucks to 4 wheel drive recommend.
ScoutIt’s a pretty rowdy spot you’re right in the middle of all the ohv that is happening. If you’re looking for something chill this ain’t it. Also the campsites were pretty littered with trash which is a big bummer.
ScoutGreat spot near SLC for dispersed camping. Plenty of flat areas for bigger rigs. 4x4 may be needed to access other areas. There are trees nearby for plenty of shade.
I didn’t notice any bugs on my visit. Beautiful skies at night. I’ll definitely be coming back!
GuideThe road in is a little rough. Some cell service. Pretty views. Camp spots are not too close together.
ScoutLoved this spot! Very affordable, great amenities.
Camping sites near Cottonwood Heights, Utah expand beyond the main canyon campgrounds into surrounding wilderness areas. The region sits at elevations ranging from 4,300 to over 11,000 feet, creating distinct microclimates and camping experiences from spring through fall. Water access varies dramatically between sites, with some locations requiring campers to pack in all water needs while others offer reliable creekside camping options.
Hiking from camp: At Granite Flat campground, visitors can access multiple recreation areas. "This campsite was near Tibble Fork which is somewhere I have been wanting to go and explore for a long time. We were able to paddle board which was a blast! I loves being so close and having access to so many beautiful hikes and Rick climbing," reports Kaitlin R.
Snowshoeing to winter camps: Winter campers can access certain areas despite seasonal closures. At Spruces campground, "wonderful winter wonder land you can snowshoe into in the winter and camp at! you can also stay here during the summer just be prepared to book a couple months in advance!" notes Shilah M.
Alpine lake fishing: Multiple backcountry lakes hold populations of trout. When camping at Red Pine Lake, visitors need to hike in their gear. "Both lakes were loaded with large trout, but I didn't have a fishing rod, so all I could do was look at them this time. I did see signs of an old campfire and some trout bones so someone had a tasty meal at one point," reports Justin C.
Proximity to urban amenities: The location of Salt Lake City KOA offers convenience for those needing supplies. "If you are traveling in an RV and wish to stay parked, there is public transit to city-center and amenities a couple blocks away. I assume it's within most private ride-share service areas as well," writes TMB.
Creekside sites: Water features add natural sound barriers between campsites. At Little Mill campground, one camper noted, "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."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Campers frequently report animal sightings. "Very nice campground with water running in multiple places, clean multiple bathrooms and incredible wildlife coming right into your site. In Addison to numerous deer, we had two moose munching away at the willow at the adjacent site," reports Outdoor T. about Redman Campground.
Reservation essentials: Many campgrounds fill months in advance. "Be aware of your travel plans and book early because the campground fills fast," notes Andy M. about Spruces campground.
Watershed restrictions: Water source protection affects camping rules. At Redman Campground, "We had planned to camp here but dogs are not allowed. This campground looked like an awesome spot. Location is right off the hwy close to Solitude and trails," explains Natalie B.
Urban noise factors: Campsites closer to Salt Lake City experience more noise. "Be warned, if is NOT quiet - there are multiple trains/sirens/large semis blowing by all night. It was about $75 for a single night, but our original spot fell through and they were able to accommodate us last minute," writes North Idaho N. about Salt Lake City KOA.
Scout-friendly sites: Some campgrounds specifically accommodate youth groups. "I took the scouts up to this spot and it is a great place to camp with lots of room. Make sure you get camped and in because they lock the gate coming into campground at 11PM and you have to hike in. Really nice campsites with really nice bathrooms and picnic tables," reports Brad B. about Granite Flat.
Playground access: Certain campgrounds provide built-in entertainment. At Willow Park, "This is a great place to camp within the city of Lehi. It is close to the water and in the hot summer it is a fun spot for a night get away. Big camp sites for trailers or tents and nice bathrooms," notes Brad B.
School night camping: Local options allow for quick overnight trips. "Right up Big Cottonwood Canyon, this campground has the advantage of being up the canyon so you feel far away from the city, but close enough that you could go on a work night and still make it to the office the next day," writes Jenny W. about Spruces campground.
Site levelness: Many canyon campgrounds have variable terrain. "We stayed in HS site 100. Absolutely beautiful view and great access to park city. Showers were clean. Only downside was the dump station near us was pretty awful smells and the site was very unlevel," notes Scott B. about Jordanelle State Park.
High water pressure warnings: Some connections require pressure regulators. At Jordanelle State Park, Trevor S. warns, "Great campsite. Clean and nice amenities for a State Park. Be careful hooking up your RV to water. Very high pressure."
Overnight access considerations: Sites with gates require planning. "I took the scouts up to this spot and it is a great place to camp with lots of room. Make sure you get camped and in because they lock the gate coming into campground at 11PM and you have to hike in," advises Brad B. about Granite Flat campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find camping in Big Cottonwood Canyon?
Big Cottonwood Canyon offers excellent camping options near Salt Lake City. Spruces - Big Cottonwood is the primary developed campground in the canyon, featuring reservable sites, drinking water, and restroom facilities. It's nestled among spruce trees with easy access to hiking trails and fishing spots. For those seeking a more rustic experience, Redman Campground provides a quieter alternative with similar amenities. Both campgrounds are typically open from late May through September, depending on snow conditions. Sites fill quickly during summer weekends, so reservations are highly recommended. Big Cottonwood Canyon's camping options provide a perfect mountain escape just minutes from the Salt Lake Valley.
Is RV camping available in Cottonwood Canyon Utah?
RV camping options near Cottonwood Canyon are somewhat limited but available. For full hookups and premium amenities, Salt Lake City KOA offers convenient RV sites with easy access to the canyons. Just a bit further, Rock Cliff Area Campground at Jordanelle State Park has been renovated from a tent-only area to an RV campground with full hookups. The campground is clean, fully functional, and relatively new. Some sites in Big Cottonwood Canyon can accommodate smaller RVs, but most aren't suitable for larger rigs due to narrow, winding roads and limited turning space. For big rigs, consider Mountain Shadows RV Park near Draper as a convenient basecamp for exploring the canyons.
Are there camping options in Little Cottonwood Canyon?
Little Cottonwood Canyon offers limited but scenic camping options. For backpacking enthusiasts, Red Pine Lake provides beautiful hike-in camping with stunning alpine views. It's free but requires a moderate 3.5-mile hike to reach. Silver Lake Backcountry also offers primitive camping opportunities for those willing to hike in. Unlike Big Cottonwood Canyon, Little Cottonwood has fewer developed campgrounds due to watershed protection regulations. Dispersed camping is generally prohibited in much of the canyon to protect the watershed. For those seeking amenities, consider nearby options like Lilly Lake Campground in the adjacent Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest.
What campgrounds in Cottonwood Heights have flush toilets?
Near Cottonwood Heights, several campgrounds offer flush toilets for a more comfortable camping experience. Anderson Cove in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest provides flush toilets and is described as a perfect little oasis tucked away from Salt Lake City with bathrooms conveniently located throughout the campground. For those willing to travel a bit further, Mountain Valley RV Resort in Heber City offers premium facilities with modern restrooms. Most developed campgrounds in the area maintain flush toilets during the main camping season (May-September), though some switch to vault toilets in shoulder seasons or during water restrictions.
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