About Spruces - Big Cottonwood
Number of accommodations: 96
Nearby Activities & Attractions
Fishing
Hiking
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Rates, Sites & Availability
96 Sites Available
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Site Details
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96 Sites Available
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Reviews (312)
What Guests Are Saying
The campground at Spruces in Big Cottonwood Canyon offers beautiful scenery, friendly staff, and well-maintained sites, making it a popular choice for campers. Many visitors appreciate the peaceful atmosphere, great hiking options, and clean facilities, despite some complaints about the restroom situation and water availability. While there have been issues with locked bathrooms and high traffic on weekends, overall experiences highlight the campground's charm and natural beauty.
What Guests Are Saying
The campground at Spruces in Big Cottonwood Canyon offers beautiful scenery, friendly staff, and well-maintained sites, making it a popular choice for campers. Many visitors appreciate the peaceful atmosphere, great hiking options, and clean facilities, despite some complaints about the restroom situation and water availability. While there have been issues with locked bathrooms and high traffic on weekends, overall experiences highlight the campground's charm and natural beauty.
Review Summary
Janette F
VerifiedJuly 19, 2021 • Stayed at: 090, Loop: UPPR
Love to go to Silver Lake and over to Midway to the Midway bakery for orange rolls.
Just walking around the campground for exercise and spending time with family and
friends
Rachael R
VerifiedJuly 12, 2021 • Stayed at: 023, Loop: LOWR
Always a pleasant stay at the Spruces. Keep an eye out for Moose!
sarah m
VerifiedJuly 12, 2021 • Stayed at: 059, Loop: UPPR
The campground is beautiful and well kept. The only downside is many campsites are small, too close to the road, and too close to neighboring sites.
Virginia A
VerifiedJuly 7, 2021 • Stayed at: 036, Loop: LOWR
We are very dissapointed that our favorite spot in Spruces campground has been turned into a yurt space!!!. SPACE # 10. Why do you need to use the best spots for these? We've been coming up to the Spruces for 30 years and #10 has been one of the best spots in the whole campground. Can't you put it somewhere else? (BUT not space #36 !!!!! This is the other best spot in the whole campground and we have used this one for 30 years also) We usually camp at Spruces 3 or 4 times a season. And always in spot #36 or #10. Thank you.
Bryan G
VerifiedJuly 3, 2021 • Stayed at: 067, Loop: UPPR
Wednesday and Thursday were great...Friday the place got packed. Says 8 people max per site, but there were sites with 4 cars jammed into the drive and 4-6 tents set up on top of each other. Overall, it was fairly quiet, though. Second time we've used this campground and would, most likely, go back during the week...not the weekend!!! Bathrooms were clean for the most part, but our fire pit was not shoveled out, so there was a lot of ash built up in it. Could probably use a good weed wack, too.
Tay D
VerifiedJuly 2, 2021 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: LOWR
Wasn't even able to camp
Purssutam A
VerifiedJuly 2, 2021 • Stayed at: 038, Loop: LOWR
Very beautiful place with clean camping sites. We will definitely go again at this location.
Nelson L
VerifiedJuly 1, 2021 • Stayed at: 038, Loop: LOWR
Beautiful setting, great staff. Great site.
Rene M
VerifiedJuly 1, 2021 • Stayed at: 032, Loop: LOWR
Great place to camp! easy access to hikes, tons of shade and close to the city! We'll definitely come back. the bathrooms in the camp ground were clean and there is access to water throughout. Loved the sound of the stream behind the site.
Michelle K
VerifiedJune 30, 2021 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: LOWR
The camp site was not identified as mine, partially on a service road, and close to a stagnant pond. The camp manager demonstrated clear sexism, refusing to look me in the eye and only communicating with my adult son. There was also an extremely loud youth organization with multiple hammocks in trees all over the area in and around the bathrooms. The bathrooms had no soap, barely functional toilets, and a serious odor. We payed for the site, but did not stay as intended based on all of this. Given that we did not know any of this upon both booking and confirmation, I did not have the ability to cancel in a reasonable time frame.
Location Spruces - Big Cottonwood
Address:
Big Cottonwood Canyon Rd
Salt Lake City, UT, 84121
United States
Latitude & Longitude: 40.6406 / -111.636
Elevation: 2251 feet
Policies & Rules
Arrival & departure
Check out time
12PM
General
- This Campground is in Bear Country - Always store food and trash securely to avoid attracting wildlife - Failure to comply may result in fines up to $5,000, removal from your campsite and/or imprisonment - Remember, a fed bear is a dead bear; your actions can save lives
- Dogs are NOT allowed (only service animals) and owner may be fined $650 This is a watershed area; -Visitors will be fined for bringing domestic pets or livestock into the area -Wading and playing in the water is not allowed
- Gates open at 7am, close at 10pm. Camping is allowed only within the designated space provided. Do not go beyond the boundaries of your site. Max occupancy is 8 people per single site. Reserved campsites will be held until 12pm on the day following your scheduled arrival date. Horses/Off-road vehicles are strictly prohibited in the campground. Leave No Trace. Cleaning fish, animals, or bathing where drinking water is supplied is strictly prohibited. Fireworks or other explosives are prohibited. Discharging of a firearm in the campground is not allowed. No fighting or boisterous behavior. Be courteous to your fellow visitor. Keep noise at a reasonable level. No amplified music is allowed in USDA Forest Service campgrounds and facilities. People come to the campgrounds for peace and quiet.
- This is a 'pack it in, pack it out' facility; please bring trash bags
- There is a 2-night minimum stay on weekends; 3-night minimum stay on holiday weekends
- Trailers/Campers and RVs: Come with your RV/trailer water tank filled. Hooking up to spigots or the power in the restrooms, even for medical devices is strictly prohibited
- First Come First Served (FF) sites For reservable sites, reservations must be made at least 5 days in advance You must claim a FF site in person on the day you wish to check-in A site listed as FF does not guarantee availability, Recreation.gov does not update FF occupancy The only way to know if an FF site is available is to arrive at the campground on the day you plan to check-in Availability cannot be predicted Many sites are in remote locations, we cannot contact camp hosts about availability Recommended arrival times vary by day. Weekends and holidays typically fill more quickly To claim an FF site, you must be present, occupy the site, and pay at that time There is no waiting list for FF sites
- Extra Vehicle -$10 per vehicle, per day (paid on-site cash/check) Firewood -$9
- If you booked at a discount without a Senior or Access pass, you'll need to pay the difference in cash/check upon arrival. Only Senior or Access passes qualify for discounts and proof of ownership upon arrival is required
- Off-road vehicles are not allowed in the canyon.
- Please understand that camping is an outdoor experience; we do not give refunds or credits for weather or natural conditions. Cancellations within 24 hours prior to arrival date will forfeit the entire use fee and a $10 cancellation fee. No-shows, early departures, or cancellations after the arrival date are not entitled to a refund. If a guest does not arrive at the campsite by 12pm the day after scheduled arrival and does not cancel the reservation, will be charged a $20 service fee and forfeit the first-night use fee.
- For more information on visiting Bear Country visit wildawareutah.org wildlife.utah.gov For campground Rules and Regulations visit gocamputah.com/rules
- Click herefor more info about the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest -For more info, call Salt Lake Ranger District at 801-733-2660 opt 3 or Utah Recreation at 385-273-1100 -Visit our website gocamputah.comor Facebook facebook.com/letsgocamputah To reserve a campsite call Recreation.gov reservation line 1-877-444-6777
- Don't Move Firewood: Help prevent the spread of tree-killing pests in our national forests by obtaining firewood within 10 miles of your destination and burning it on-site. For more information click here
- Please note: Utah Recreation is not responsible for accident or injury to any person or property resulting from the use of this facility and is not responsible for the loss of money or valuables of any kind. The user of this permit assumes full and complete responsibility for the conduct and actions of all members in their party
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Last updated: June 4, 2026
