Reservoir Basecamp Circuit

Lodgepole pine forest, representative of the terrain around Strawberry, Currant Creek, and Pineview. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Built for anglers and families who want an easy, low-drama loop between three of Utah's best fishing reservoirs, with free camping close enough to the water to fish before breakfast.

Quick Facts

Map

Map points are approximate waypoints meant to show the shape of the route. Use the individual spot write-ups linked below for precise access directions.

The route

Night 1 — Strawberry Ridge Dispersed pull-offs tucked into aspen groves and open meadows overlooking Strawberry Reservoir, one of Utah's best-known trout fisheries. Mix of graded and native dirt roads; ridge sites further from the reservoir are quieter.

Night 2 — Currant Creek Road A short drive from Strawberry, this ridge road looks down over Currant Creek Reservoir on one side. Graded dirt/gravel suitable for most RVs at pull-offs; the developed Currant Creek Campground nearby is a fee-based fallback with drinking water if you want it.

Daytime stop — drive north toward Ogden Valley A longer travel day connects the Strawberry/Currant Creek area to Pineview Reservoir near Ogden — plan for several hours on the road, with plenty of small-town stops available along the way.

Night 3 — Monte Cristo Dispersed (Highway 39) Free pull-offs just off Highway 39 east of Huntsville and Pineview Reservoir, with established fire pits and good fall color. The access loop is tight enough that trailers over about 17 feet should scout ahead.

Night 4 (optional) — Maples Campground (Snowbasin) If anyone in the group wants a walk-in night away from the vehicles, Maples sits just south near Snowbasin — about a half-mile hike in, no facilities, genuinely quiet.

Good to know

• Pineview Reservoir's shoreline itself is generally closed to dispersed camping — Monte Cristo and Maples are the legitimate nearby options, not the shore itself.
• This loop has the mildest roads of any itinerary here — a good pick for a first boondocking trip in a larger rig.
• Fishing licenses are required at all three reservoirs — pick one up before you go if you're planning to fish.

A weekend of fishing goes better with a fridge that actually keeps things cold the whole trip. See what an off-grid power system looks like