Camping around Cottonwood Canyon

Hey everyone,
I will be driving through SLC on my way back from college and was wondering if there were any free climbing campsites or what some of the best places to camp are and what the cost is for those.

If you want a campground with climbing right at the campsite checkout Dogwood or Storm Mountain. Think it's about $15 bucks. If you want something a little more remote you can camp anywhere in BCC or LCC 200ft away from the trail. For that I'd recommend The S-Curve area, Mule Hollow, or Albion Basin. The Basin might be a little snowy this time of year but I'm not sure. Feel free to holler if ya want a partner or need some more info. Cheers!

Dogwood and storm mountain are both picnic areas only. No overnight camping allowed. Albion basin currently has about 90" of snow in it.

Camping 200' from the "trail' is incorrect. It is no camping within 200" of Big and Little Cottonwood creeks.
Both are Watersheds and as such have special regulations that include no use or bathing in these waterways. It is probably not a great plan anyway as both canyons are incredibly steep and flat ground is tough to come by.

Here's your best bet. Tanner's Flat campground is open for the season.
Check it out here.
reserveamerica.com/servlet/…;parkId=70341

Yes, Tanner's Flat is open for the season. Nothing in Big Cottonwood is open yet as far as camping. There are no roads to dispersed camp off of in the Cottonwood Canyons. No dispersed camping up Millcreek either. If you want dispersed camping consider BLM land near Stansbury Island or USFS land up North Willow Canyon west of Grantsville.

Correct me if I'm wrong but in big if you camp a half mile away from the road you are allowed to camp for free as long as it's not campground or anything. If you go past storm mountain and cross a bridge there is a little road up to a parking lot on your left and a trail. I have often seen people camping back there and there are a few make shift sites. Here most of the ground is flat and it doesn't effect any of the water shed stuff. Definitely check it out if you want free camping.

FYI: if you have rover in tow both BCC and LCC are out. No Dogs Allowed!

madskates wrote:Correct me if I'm wrong but in big if you camp a half mile away from the road you are allowed to camp for free as long as it's not campground or anything. If you go past storm mountain and cross a bridge there is a little road up to a parking lot on your left and a trail. I have often seen people camping back there and there are a few make shift sites. Here most of the ground is flat and it doesn't effect any of the water shed stuff. Definitely check it out if you want free camping.

This is also correct.

Generally:

In most areas, dispersed camping is allowed up to 150 feet from a designated Forest Service Road, with some exceptions. Exceptions are based on protection of resources that may include water quality, soil conditions, and wildlife & fish habitat.
No Dispersed camping within 100 feet of water (we recommend 200 feet).
No dispersed camping where topography or existing vegetation limits vehicle travel (e.g. steep terrain, trees, brush).
No dispersed camping within wet meadows or in saturated soil conditions. In these areas, walk-in tent camping and picnicking are allowed, however vehicle travel into these areas may be restricted. The public is asked to use existing pull-outs off the main road and walk in to take advantage of these areas that help provide clean water, productive soils, and habitats for fish and wildlife.

More detail here:

Dispersed Camping

Where you can go will depend if you're looking for car camping or just a bivy spot. There aren't many options for dispersed car camping in the Cottonwoods that meet this criteria as there are very few side roads that are on public property. The better options are snowed in at present. If all you want is a bivy spot you could probably use the site thats on the approach to Aguaworld and hope no one goes up there to party. Its quite nice. Ditto the base of Steorts. There aren't many flat areas in the lower canyons that are not near water.

Sandy & Midvale Walmarts are nice

FYI...in the case of the upper elevations...here's from last week:

Note that Albion Basin is just below in the above pic, and, you can still ski to your car at Alta.

Car camping is tough...not really doable in the local canyons outside the open campground.

Another thing to strongly consider...do NOT leave anything of value visible in your car if you decide to hike aways and camp. Smash and grab very much alive and well in the canyons.

brian: didnt someone rip off all your 8 tracks in little last year. shame about your credence cassette. how did the hellgate cliffs look on the south facing side?

on a similar note, what is the policy on sleeping in your car on the highways and in parking areas like the spruces. this might be more of a canyon patrol/sheriff question. i sometimes sleep in the eurovan to get an early start on my dawn patrols. i have never had any issues but i usually dont put the top up and just fold down the back seats.

Jason Shumaker wrote:brian: didnt someone rip off all your 8 tracks in little last year. shame about your credence cassette. how did the hellgate cliffs look on the south facing side?

8 track? You're dating yourself!

Hellgate...looked snowy at the base in places, but, looked semi climbable and dryish, from what I could see from the road.

Cheers!

Jason Shumaker wrote:on a similar note, what is the policy on sleeping in your car on the highways and in parking areas like the spruces. this might be more of a canyon patrol/sheriff question. i sometimes sleep in the eurovan to get an early start on my dawn patrols. i have never had any issues but i usually dont put the top up and just fold down the back seats.

Spruces will be open for Memorial Day weekend. The concessionaire says every reservable site is already reserved. Wouldn't be a good idea to try to car camp in that lot now.

And the Murray Walmart is really good too