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Wasatch/Trial Lake Campground
Overview
Located deep within the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Trial Lake Campground offers a quintessential high-altitude alpine experience for travelers seeking a true mountain escape. Sitting at an elevation of nearly 10,000 feet, this destination provides a cool, refreshing sanctuary from the summer heat of the Utah valleys below. The park is characterized by its dense stands of lodgepole pine and immediate access to the sparkling waters of Trial Lake. Travelers should expect a rustic, natural setting where the sounds of the wind through the pines replace the hum of city life, providing a serene backdrop for your next RV adventure.
Location & Surroundings
The campground is situated along the famous Mirror Lake Scenic Byway, approximately 26 miles east of Kamas, UT. This high-mountain corridor is renowned for its dramatic peaks, glacial lakes, and vibrant meadows. The surroundings are rugged and pristine, offering breathtaking views of the Uinta Range. Because of its remote mountain location, the air is remarkably crisp and the night skies are exceptionally dark. This makes the campground a premier spot for stargazing directly from your campsite, far removed from the light pollution of metropolitan areas.
Amenities & Park Features
As a Forest Service facility, Trial Lake Campground focuses on a back-to-basics experience. There are no hookups available, so RVers must arrive prepared with full freshwater tanks and sufficient battery power. The campground provides essential services including vault toilets and potable water during the peak summer season. Each site is equipped with a heavy-duty picnic table and a fire ring for evening gatherings. While many sites are spacious enough for mid-sized rigs, drivers should remain mindful of the natural terrain and narrow access roads typical of high-country forest sites.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Outdoor recreation is the primary draw for visitors to this region. Anglers frequently visit the lake to fish for rainbow and brook trout from the shoreline or from small, non-motorized boats. Hikers have easy access to the nearby Crystal Lake Trailhead, which serves as a gateway to the vast High Uintas Wilderness. A short drive further up the byway leads to Bald Mountain Pass, offering panoramic vistas of the surrounding wilderness. The area is also a haven for nature photography and wildlife viewing, with frequent sightings of moose and mountain goats.
Who This Park Is Best For
This campground is ideal for self-contained RVers who prioritize scenery and serenity over luxury resort amenities. It is a perfect fit for families looking to introduce children to the wonders of the wilderness and for hikers seeking a convenient basecamp for high-country exploration. If you enjoy dry camping in the woods and want to disconnect from digital distractions to reconnect with the natural world, this rugged Utah gem will suit your travel style perfectly.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Alan Knuteson
Very nice campground. The lake was low due to drought conditions. Many of the sites have very short parking pads but a few are good for truck/trailers. We saw two bald eagles while kayaking. We went in late August which is a perfect time (kids are back in school and bugs are minimal). One negative was that the water spigot were shut down (should note that on web site) so we had to go to a different campground to get water.
Robb W. Hicken
The trip to trial Lake is steep, but well worth the drive. The lake is close to every campsite and the perfect easy walking distance. There is no hike around the lake.
Rich miller
A beautiful campground with amazing views. This is one of our favorite places to visit. Great for kayaking and paddle boards. Fishing is usually fantastic. The only downside is no potable water so plan ahead.
Chris Bell
Trial Lake is one of my favorite campgrounds. Elevation is 9500 feet, so be prepared for cold nights and quick change in weather. Once when we camped, it rained, hailed, was crazy windy, and sunny, all in the same weekend. This year because of the snow and flooding, we were there mid-July and the campground had just opened. We've stayed in site #7 (right on the water) and #1 (a double site.) Site #1 is at the bottom of a big hill which really limited where we could put our tents. There are 2 10x10 tent pads, but one of our tents is 14x14, so we had to put it in the grass and sleep on an incline. The location of the site is literally right across the road from the lake. We would just walk across with our chairs and kayaks and enjoyed the day, but it also meant that other people were parking at our site or literally walking thru the middle of the site to get to the water (nothing to do with the campground, just people's bad manners.) The water was beautiful. The site itself had a ton of bugs and small worm like bugs were falling out of the trees over the picnic tables. I like the lake, but I wouldn't stay at site #1 again.
Jaimzvi
Heaps of parking, Incredibly Stunning/Serene, high elevation Tough breathing walking up hill, but worth it to view the Scenery up top!!!
Tobiaire Utt
We had sites 17 and 18. It was great. They are near both the bathroom and the garbage. You smell both sometimes but it wasn't very often. Site 17 is a little more accessiblewith the table and fire pit l I q. Site 18 the tents and tables are up higher. There were trees for hammocks. We had two families and we did well using both sites.
Kristell Hansen
This is our favorite campground in the Uintas. The campgrounds hosts, Shannon & Mindy, are awesome! They are always available and want to make sure we are happy. The restrooms are clean, trash cans are emptied. We know if we have a problem, they will take care of us.
Joey Redzich
This campground probably depends a lot on your spot, as some are very crowded in on each other and others are spacious with room to spare. Our spot was on the very back loop, had good space for multiple tents, a pavilion, and seating around the fire, all while providing easy lake access for paddleboarding and fishing. The lake itself is... a bit on the muddy side, depending on where you approach the waterline, but that's probably more due to the low water and not the site itself. We did have a bit of a squiffy moment with Shannon, one of the camp hosts, who insisted that one of our logs was too large for the fire pit and was a bit standoffish, but once we demonstrated that we did in fact know what we were doing, and that the log was more than suitable for the space, she ended up giving us marshmallows and being more than pleasant. No complaints after the fact, but watch your logs, people! Don't give the camp host a fit of anxiety! The main reason I took a star off was the latrine; it was a single stall hosting at least ten camp sites, which led to... let's call it olfactory distress. I don't mind too much, as it's a campsite vault toilet, but waiting in line at all hours of the day and night with a cohort of strangers all awkwardly hopping around trying not to have an accident is an issue that should probably be addressed. If you stay on a different loop, it shouldn't be a huge problem, but it's something to at least be aware of. Overall, an easy 4 out of 5; we'll likely stay again next summer if we manage to rent a sport before they all fill up in the first hour after reservations open.
Doug McCarter
I couldn’t wait to share my thoughts here based on my experience at this campground. The campground is well kept and the hosts were extraordinarily. Shannon and Mindy both made sure our experience was great! Their always available for questions and help when needed. We plan camp at this site again soon mainly because of Shannon and Mindy. Sure, we love the site and the lake but these hosts knew exactly how to elevate the experience.
Natska R
Pulled the trigger on this campground and was definitely not disappointed! Beautiful lake, beautiful campsite, beautiful weather. Not to mention having spots for parking, tent platforms, and a very clean and helpful camp host were also great additions! Highly recommended!