OutReserve

Storm Mountain Day Use Area

Storm Mountain - Big Cottonwood Canyon
Storm Mountain Day Use Area
Storm Mountain Day Use Area
Storm Mountain Day Use Area
Storm Mountain Day Use Area

About Storm Mountain Day Use Area

Storm Mountain Day Use Area is just 3 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon, conveniently close to Salt Lake City. Big Cottonwood Creek runs alongside the site. Visitors enjoy fishing, hiking and biking.

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently closed - Opens on Apr 24

Reviews (58)

What Guests Are Saying

Storm Mountain Day Use Area is celebrated for its stunning natural beauty and well-maintained picnic sites, making it a favorite for family gatherings and outdoor activities. Many visitors appreciate the friendly staff and the scenic backdrop, which enhances their experience. However, some guests encountered issues with cleanliness and site reservations, particularly during busy events like weddings, which affected their overall enjoyment. Despite these concerns, most reviews reflect a positive experience and a desire to return.

Review Summary

4.0
58 reviews
5
60.3%
35
4
8.6%
5
3
12.1%
7
2
5.2%
3
1
13.8%
8

Ian E

July 31, 2025

3

Na

Elisha M

July 25, 2025

5

We absolutely love this place.

Alexis R

July 5, 2025

5

The park attendant was very friendly and helpful. He keeps everything very tidy and guest ready. We really enjoyed our picnic.

Marie B

June 5, 2025

5

Site 10 is on the left side of the main trail and is down a little path.

The whole Day Use area is stunning! Surrounded by mountains, with a river running through it makes it so beautiful and majestic. Be sure to bring water to drink, wash hands, (it’s a bit of a walk to the bathrooms) and enough to put out the fire after.

Jennifer B

June 1, 2025

5

Perfect for small gatherings

Cody

Cody

May 25, 2025

4

Beautiful place. The sites are fairly close together. We reserved site 9, which is a group site and is up against the mountain, so you only have other sites to the west of you. But they're close. I had to speak to a group right by us about turning their music down. There are good hikes... and the fire pits and bbq stations are nice.

Site 9, and others around it, are deceptively far from the parking area. So, keep that in mind.

Final FYI. If you come here to picnic. Be respectful of others. Don't play music... if you need to, play it with the volume way down! I don't pay to come picnic in the peaceful mountains with my family to listen to your music. You want to play music at your picnic, just do everyone a favor and go to the city park.

Google Maps

Shauna R

October 19, 2024

5

The site host John was so helpful and did a fantastic job! The sites were well maintained and the beautiful scenery and weather made for a perfect weekend. Would definitely recommend this picnic area!

Mareen F

August 18, 2024

5

We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Storm Mountain. The picnic site was clean and easily accessible. Some of the sites are not well-marked. It took us forever to find site #10 - we had to have the Storm Mountain employee help us. He, by the way, was great - very helpful.
We were a bit confused about whether we had to pay for parking even though we had paid for a reservation. That could be made clearer on the website and at the parking station.
Overall, very positive experience.

David T

August 1, 2024

3

Camp Hostess was uptight

Kriss R

July 21, 2024

5

Clean and beautiful place to have a picnic! Though site #13 was slightly smaller than I had hoped, it was completely shaded with a fun area to climb for the kids. We’ll definitely be back in the future!

Location Storm Mountain Day Use Area

Address:
Big Cottonwood Canyon Rd
Salt Lake City, UT, 84121
United States

Latitude & Longitude: 40.6233 / -111.743

Elevation: 1771 feet

Policies & Rules

Category About
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.

General

Dogs are NOT allowed (only service animals) and owner may be fined $650.

General

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.

General

Picnic Area Etiquette and Rules:
Gates open at 7a.m. Gates close at 10p.m.
Picnicking is allowed only within the designated space provided. Do not go beyond the boundaries of your site.
Maximum occupancy is 8 people per single site.
Off-road vehicles are not allowed in the canyon.
Leave No Trace
   - Put all garbage in dumpsters, when provided, or properly stored in vehicle or bear box.
   - Remove all personal property and trash when leaving.
   - Unclean campsites will be reported to the district ranger LEO
   - Leaving food/trash in an unoccupied campsite may result in a $5,000 fine.
Do not put garbage or fish waste in toilets.
Fireworks or other explosives are prohibited. Discharging of a firearm in the campground is not allowed.
No amplified music is allowed in USDA Forest Service campgrounds and facilities. People come to the campgrounds for peace and quiet.
Max Vehicle Length includes tow vehicle

General

There is no electrical, water, or sewer hookups available.

General

Please bring your own drinking water.

General

First Come First Served (FF) sites
- 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 in real time.
- 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 to contact camp hosts about availability.
- Recommended arrival times vary by day of the week, but weekends and holidays typically fill more quickly.
- To claim an FF site, you must be physically present, occupy the site, and pay at that time.

General

Amphitheater can be reserved in three time blocks: Morning 8am-12pm (AMORN), Afternoon 1pm-5pm (AAFT) and Evening 6pm-10pm (AEVE).

General

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

General

A $10 fee will be collected onsite for extra vehicles.

General

Please understand that camping/picnicking is an outdoor experience; therefore, we do not give refunds or credits for weather or natural conditions.

General

Don't Move Firewood: Help prevent the spread of tree-killing pests in our national forests by obtaining firewood near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.

General

For more information on camping and picnicking in Bear Country visit:
- wildawareutah.org 
- wildlife.utah.gov  
For campground Rules and Regulations visit gocamputah.com/rules 
Click here for more info about the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest
- For more information, please call Salt Lake Ranger District at 801-733-2660 opt 3 or Utah Recreation at 385-273-1100
- Visit our webiste utahrecreationcompany.com or Facebook facebook.com/letsgocamputah  
- To reserve a campsite call Recreation.gov reservation line 1-877-444-6777

General

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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