Millcreek Canyon Backcountry
Region: Wasatch Front & Uinta Mountains | Land Manager: U.S. Forest Service (Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest) | Cost: Free (small per-vehicle canyon fee)
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Forest terrain representative of Millcreek Canyon. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
This is about as close as legal backcountry camping gets to downtown Salt Lake City, under 20 minutes from the city center to the trailheads. It's not a drive-up spot: Millcreek's dispersed camping is walk-in only, tucked well back from the road, which keeps it quiet despite being minutes from a metro area of over a million people.
Quick Facts
| Distance from Salt Lake City | About 15 minutes to the canyon, then a hike in |
| Road & Clearance | Paved to the upper trailheads; camping is walk-in, at least half a mile from any road |
| Rig Suitability | Walk-in tent camping only, not a spot to park a rig overnight |
| Amenities | Vault toilets at trailheads; nothing once you're in the backcountry |
| Cell Signal | Patchy, better higher up |
| Best Season | Seasonal, opens July 1, closes for winter |
| Stay Limit | 14 days, though most trips here are short given the proximity to town |
Map
Getting There
From Salt Lake City, head east into Millcreek Canyon via 3800 South or Wasatch Boulevard. A small fee is collected at the canyon entrance booth in season. Continue up the paved canyon road to one of the upper trailheads, then hike in, backcountry camping is only permitted at least a half-mile from the road, so this is a pack-in trip, not a pull-off.
What to Expect
Genuine mountain quiet just above a major city, with maple and aspen forest, running water, and views back down toward the Salt Lake Valley. Because access is walk-in only, it self-selects for people willing to carry gear in, which keeps it noticeably calmer than most close-in camping around any city this size.
Good to Know
Millcreek Canyon is watershed-protected and seasonal, the backcountry camping zone doesn't open until July 1, and it's closed again by late fall. This is one of the few legal dispersed options this close to Salt Lake City; the neighboring Cottonwood Canyons prohibit camping entirely to protect the city's water supply. Millcreek also alternates leashed and unleashed dog days, check current signage if you're bringing one along.
A quick overnight this close to home is a great way to test a power setup before a longer trip further out. See what an off-grid power system looks like