Storm Mountain - Big Cottonwood Canyon
STORM MOUNTAIN
Campground Map
Storm Mountain1
STORM MOUNTAIN

Featured amenities

Parking Parking
Picnic Table Picnic Table

About Storm Mountain Day Use Area

Storm Mountain Day Use Area is just 3 mi 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
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Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently closed

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Parking Parking
Picnic Table Picnic Table
Cooking and Fire

Cooking and Fire

  • Picnic Table
Parking and Transport

Parking and Transport

  • Parking
Missing information?

Reviews (80)

What Guests Are Saying

Storm Mountain Day Use Area is praised for its beautiful scenery, cleanliness, and friendly camp hosts, making it an ideal spot for picnics and gatherings. Many visitors enjoyed the peaceful, well-maintained environment, with good climbing options and ample facilities. However, some experienced issues with site reservations and noise from events, indicating a need for better management of bookings and visitor guidelines.

Review Summary

4.0
80 reviews
5
62.5%
50
4
8.8%
7
3
8.8%
7
2
3.8%
3
1
16.3%
13

Amanda J

September 26, 2023

5

We had a department BBQ here for about 70 people. I booked Group Sites 2 and 3 for the space but everyone just cozied up together in one anyway. I liked that there is a great area with horseshoe pits and room for a couple of cornhole games. It was clean and such a great space for us.

Hailey S

October 21, 2023

4

Campsite was in fairly good shape overall. We did have to move some random poles (probably for the chain link fence) from the area. Good space and accommodated our guests. Pricing is still much steeper than it should be.

Katelyn M

June 17, 2024

5

Lovely area, kids had a lot of fun running around and gathering firewood! It was bad weather and raining but we still had fun

Valor M

July 2, 2024

1

I’m hoping to come off as reasonable as possible. I wanted to grill some corn, have a quick elote bbq for my bday under 3 hours and leave. Although friendly somewhat staff there’s some serious problems with the rules here. And we ended up spending $140 for the spot for a pretty quick bbq. First off anyone in a knee scooter should be allowed to park for free, it’s not a reasonable ada expectation to have them park on a busy canyon road, safely scoot all the way down to the spot, second, denying indigenous people FREE access is against the treaty we made when we took all their land. They have free access to all public land, second of all, telling someone who LIVES in their van with 2 dogs that they cant park is messed up. We get it’s a water shed, I’ve worked in this canyon most my life, but what are they suppose to do? Leave their dogs at home? No they just lost their home, and now they can’t even attend a bbq. Also cash only? Who has cash after Covid? There’s still service here, I’m pretty sure they’re pocketing it, and there’s TONS of open spots. Can I charge them for every random that came by and asked for a piece of corn? I’ve seen dogs swim in silver lake without tickets, heck, there’s a public review on HERE of some dude soaking above the dam in his tighty undies! A whole video. I’m sure he’s dirtier than 2 dogs Sitting in their A/C van.

Super disappointed we couldnt just enjoy some sun and some corn without it being a huge ordeal. Utah sucks now. Honestly. Plenty of reviews agree with me. -signed an Utah native.

Douglas W

July 4, 2024

2

I made a reservation only to find out sit was not accessible even though it was advertised. There were 12 steps to the site. I received no refund when I had to reserve another accessible site. Yout mistake, not mine. Sites need to be reviewed for accessible description.

Andrew T

July 4, 2024

5

Great picnic area, kind host, very clean. You can’t touch the water because it’s our drinking water - know that in advance and you won’t be disappointed :)
Favorite area for beginner climbers!

Kate A

July 15, 2024

5

This venue was great!!! Kim the campground manager was so helpful with our large group. This venue is GORGEOUS, well kept, and quiet. We have booked here a few times now and highly recommend it!

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!

David T

August 1, 2024

3

Camp Hostess was uptight

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.

Location & Directions for Storm Mountain Day Use Area

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

Elevation: 1,771 ft

Getting There

From I-215, take the 6200 South exit and travel a mile east to Wasatch Blvd. Take Wasatch Blvd a mile south to junction with Big Cottonwood Canyon/Highway 190. Make a left at the junction and travel up Big Cottonwood Canyon 2.8 mi to the picnic area.

Nearest town

Salt Lake City, UT - 17 mi

About 24 min to downtown

Highway access

The Storm Mountain Day Use Area is accessible via I-215, with the nearest exit at 6200 South leading to Wasatch Blvd, which connects to Big Cottonwood Canyon/Highway 190.

Policies & Rules

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 7a.m. Gates close at 10p.m.
  • There is no electrical, water, or sewer hookups available.
  • Please bring your own drinking water.
  • 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.
  • 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
  • A $10 fee will be collected onsite for extra vehicles.
  • Please understand that camping/picnicking is an outdoor experience; therefore, we do not give refunds or credits for weather or natural conditions.
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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: October 7, 2026

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