Big Cottonwood Canyon Camping and Lodging Information

Utah offers visitors a unique combination of cultural attractions, recreational adventures and widely diversified landscapes. Guests can expect everything for the state's wild beauty, from stark vistas of the Great Salt Lake Desert and soaring mountains and dense forests to awesome sprawl of red rock canyons. The Big Cottonwood Canyon is one of the most fabulous canyons east of Salt Lake City.

The Big Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway spreads over 15 miles. Spectacular views of rugged rocky peaks and mountain streams come into your view along the twisting byway. The Big Cottonwood Canyon is named for the numerous cottonwood trees near the bottom of the streams. In summer, the canyon offers excellent hiking, picnic areas and campgrounds and other popular activities. Its two ski resorts, Solitude and Brighton, are popular destinations for worldwide skiers and snowboarders during winter.

The 15-mile long Big Cottonwood Canyon provides an ideal escape for folks who attempt to avoid the valley heat. There're three popular campgrounds for campers. Just pack your camping gear and take the family out for a spectacular camping experience.

- Spruces Campground

Spruces Campground is the largest campground in the canyon area that sits at an elevation of 7,500 feet, about 9.7 miles up the canyon. The big campsite is set among dense aspens and spruces in the beautiful Big Cottonwood Canyon. Due to the high elevation, it can be a little chilly even in summer.

The campground consists of 9 group campsites and 97 individual sites. All sites have picnic tables, fire rings and BBQ grills. Campers can also find horseshoe pits, a volleyball court and a baseball filed within the campground. Portable water and firewood are available at the sites. Each individual site needs $14 per vehicle and additional vehicles will cost $5.

- Redman Campground

This is probably the best campground in the Big Cottonwood Canyon. The campsite is located at an elevation of 8,300 feet in shady pines, about 13 miles up the big canyon. A total of 29 campsites are available at the campground. Sites in the bottom loop of the campground are absolutely better spaced. One of the best sites is site #25 that is situated near the river separated from the rest of the loop. Redman campground sites also need $14 per vehicle.

- Jordan Pines

Located about 8.8 miles from the canyon entrance, Jordan Pines offers campers several large group camping sites. This campground is available by reservation only.

All these campgrounds are set in the beautiful Big Cottonwood Canyon. Vivid wildflowers are abundant in the summertime. If you go camping during the fall, the autumn leaves will put on a dramatic background to enhance your camping experience. Now another question comes How to get to the campgrounds. Don't worry! The specific directions are offered for you.

Visitors can proceed on I-215 and take the 6200 South Exit. Continue to drive eastbound for 1 mile to Wasatch Blvd. Drive along Wasatch Blvd for 1 mile and you will come to the junction with Big Cottonwood Canyon. Turn left at the junction and travel up to 8.8 miles of the canyon, you'll get to the Jordan Pines. To arrive at the Spruces Campground, you need to continue to travel up Big Cottonwood Canyon 9.7 miles. Visitors to the Redman Campground can drive up to 13 miles of the canyon.

Camping Alerts:

- Both of Redman Campground and Spruces Campground has first come, first served sites. But reservations are strongly recommended on weekends and holidays. All reservations must be made at least 3 days prior to your camping date.

- The campgrounds require a 2-night minimum stay on weekends and a 3-night minimum stay on holiday weekends.

- No animals, ATVs or ORVs are allowed on the campgrounds in the canyon. In accordance with the culinary watershed rules, swimming and wading are prohibited on the campgrounds.

In addition to camping, Big Cottonwood Canyon is also a popular destination for various other activities with its soaring peaks, cascading streams and pristine lakes. A variety of hiking and mountain biking trails are available in the area. You might be concerned with the accommodations when night falls. Big Cottonwood Canyon presents visitors various lodging options.

Numerous hotels are located through the Big Cottonwood Canyon. Popular options include Brighton Lodge at 12601 Big Cottonwood Canyon Rd., the Inn at Solitude at 12000 Big Cottonwood Canyon Rd., Powderhorn Lodge and Silver Fork Lodge. These hotels are conveniently located on the Big Cottonwood Road and provide comfortable and spacious accommodation for guests. For more detailed info, please go to their official websites.

Big Cottonwood Canyon Hotels

http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/utah/wasatch-range-with-park-city/hotels-nam_loc:650982.html

Big Cottonwood Canyon also offers diversified vacation rentals. Whether you're going to the ski resorts or taking a camping or hiking trip, you can find the best home rentals for your varying needs. Mount Majestic Properties has the perfect home rentals for visitors. Various private family vacation rentals are available and you can have immediate access to the slopes and attractions in the canyon. To inquire more about the vacation homes, condos or cabins, please call Adrienne in Brighton at 888-236-0667.

Brighton Rental Properties

http://www.mountmajestic.com/brighton-homes.shtml

Big Cottonwood Canyon Vacation Rentals

http://www.10kvacationrentals.com/region/Big_Cottonwood_Canyon,_Utah.htm