U.S. Forest Service · Wasatch National Forest · UT

Shady Dell Campground

ReservableOut of season, no booking; January 23 opens May 23.
Book on recreation.govWe make nothing when you book
Right now
Nobody has saidNo season, no closure, no bookings to read
A night
$25.96–$51.02Across the site types the agency prices
Sites
2118 on recreation.gov
88 ftLongest rig
8,010 ftElevation
223 ftWater · Provo River
11.9 miE of Francis, UT
44%Tree cover

The place

the agency’s own description · what’s there · 13 notices

In the agency’s own words

Shady Dell Campground is nestled in the curves of the Provo River. The campground is located on the beautiful Mirror Lake Scenic Byway in the Uinta Mountains of northeastern Utah at an elevation of 8,200 feet. The Uintas are known for their abundant recreational opportunities and scenic beauty. Keep reading

Recreation

The Lower Provo River can easily be accessed from the campground and offers good trout fishing. Soapstone Basin is nearby, with miles of exciting off-road vehicle trails for riders of all skill levels. Numerous additional hiking, biking and horseback riding trails crisscross this beautiful region.

Facilities

This campground has 19 single and 1 double campsites. Each site offers a picnic table and fire ring. Vault restroom facilities are available throughout the campground.

Natural Features

The campground is situated among a dense forest of pine, fir and aspen trees, which provide ample shade and beautiful fall color. Thickets of willow line the Lower Provo River, which flows alongside the campground.

Nearby Attractions

Mirror Lake Scenic Byway parallels the Lower Provo River as it snakes across a portion of the Uinta Mountains, leading to numerous high alpine lakes and streams, countless trails, breathtaking scenic viewpoints and various campgrounds. Fishing, canoeing, hiking, backpacking, horseback riding and biking are popular activities. The High Uintas Wilderness can be accessed from several trails along the byway.

Charges & Cancellations

Reservation Cancellations & Changes Cancelling a Reservation: Customers may cancel their reservation prior to arrival both on-line and through the call center. A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation. Depending on when you cancel in relation to your arrival day, it may be considered a late cancellation (see below). Changing an Existing Reservation: When changes are made prior to the cut-off window: If a customer wants to switch dates that are entirely outside of the original reservation dates, there is a $10 change fee. There is no change fee if a customer extends or shortens a reservation, as long as the change includes dates from the original reservation. If they choose to depart early, they may forfeit the recreation fee for the day of departure. There is no change fee if the customer wants to switch sites that are the same price with the same reservation dates in the same facility. If a reservation is made that includes dates beyond the maximum booking window, that reservation cannot be changed until 18 days have passed from the original booking date. Late Cancellations or Cancellations within the Cut-off Window Individual Campsites: A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. Cabins / Lookouts: Customers who cancel a cabin or lookout reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee. Group Facility (including Cabins and Lookouts): Customers who cancel a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee. Group Day Use Area: Customers who cancel a group day-use facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will forfeit the total day-use fee. Changes or Cancellations within the Cut-off Window: Once a reservation date has begun, customers cannot change a reservation using the online system or through the Call Center (see below for early departures). If the location is staffed, on-site personnel may or may not be able to assist with changes or cancellations (check with local staff). No-Shows Overnight and Day-Use Facilities: A no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date (or for day-use facilities, by check-in time the day of arrival). Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date and will hold group day-use facilities until check-in time on the arrival date. No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night’s recreation fee for a campsite or forfeit the entire day-use fee for a day-use facility. Early Departures If a customer departs prior to the scheduled check-out date, they may be eligible for a partial refund. Please notify staff at the facility if you depart early to allow others to use the site. Customers may notify the call center to request a refund of remaining unused nights. If a customer requests a refund for an early departure after the facility check-out time has passed, the customer will not be refunded for that night and is eligible for a refund on any additional nights that will not be used. Interagency Pass Discounts The following are the only Interagency Passes that provide a discount on camping reservations and some tickets: Senior Annual Pass Senior Lifetime Pass Access Pass Golden Age Pass Golden Access Pass Eligible pass discounts only apply to individual campsites and may apply to a ticket for the pass holder. Interagency Pass discounts do not apply to group reservations, cabins, shelters, and multi-use sites (doubles, triples, etc.). Pass discounts only apply to the recreation (or use) fee for the facility. Other charges such as electricity or water hookups, reservation or other fees are not eligible for a discount. The holder of the pass must occupy the site for which the discount is applied. The pass can only be used for one site during a time period. Refunds Customers may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. Customers may also initiate a refund request through the call center at any time after their reservation has ended. Fees: Applicable fees, such as reservation fees, service/cancellation fees, lottery application fees, and change fees, are non-refundable. Debit or Credit Card Purchases: Refunds for debit or credit card payments made after October 1, 2018 will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay. In the event that a customer has cancelled this card, they will need to contact their card company to have the funds released. We cannot issue refunds to any card other than the one used to pay. If a customer paid with a debit or credit card prior to October 1, 2018 their refund will be issued in the form of a Treasury check. Check or Cash Purchases: Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. You may update the address at the time you request the refund. It may take up to 6-8 weeks for the Treasury check to arrive. Please make sure your address is up to date in your customer profile. Emergency Closures: In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within your Recreation.gov customer profile. Reservation fees for free tickets are non-refundable in the event of an emergency closure. Recreation.gov Billing Information Reservation transactions will appear on customer's credit card statements as "Recreation.gov 877-444-6777 NM" Changes to Policies and Procedures Recreation.gov reserves the right, when necessary, to modify reservation policies. These policies were last updated September 2019.

What the agency tells you

Rule

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 site and/or imprisonment Remember, a fed bear is a dead bear; your actions can save lives

Rule

Dogs or Domestic Pets Owners must -Control dogs by leash not to exceed six feet (6’) at all times. -Clean up dog feces immediately.  -Limit two dogs per site.  Do not allow dogs to -Threaten, or attack people/animals.  -Interfere with people, vehicles, or property.  -Cause damage to vegetation or harass wildlife.

Rule

Campground Etiquette and Rules Gates open at 7am, close at 10pm Quiet Hours are 10pm-6am No generators after 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 prohibited in the campground Only state licensed OHV's are allowed to unload and operate in campgrounds. Leave No Trace  Put all trash in dumpsters, when provided, or properly stored in your vehicle or bear box  Remove all personal property and trash when leaving  Unclean sites will be reported to the District Ranger LEO  Leaving food/trash in an unoccupied site may result in a $5,000 fine This is a 'pack it in, pack it out' facility; bring trash bags Cleaning fish or bathing where drinking water is supplied is strictly prohibited Fireworks, discharging of firearms, or other explosives in the campground is not allowed No boisterous behavior. Be courteous. Keep noise at a reasonable level No amplified music is allowed in USDA Forest Service campgrounds and facilities Max Vehicle Length includes tow vehicle

Everything else this campground posts · 10
Rule

There is a 2-night minimum stay on weekends; 3-night minimum stay on holiday weekends

Rule

Trailers/Campers and RVs: Come with water tank filled. Hooking up to spigots or the power in the restrooms, even for medical devices is strictly prohibited

Rule

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 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 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

Rule

Extra Vehicle -$10 per vehicle, per day (paid on-site cash/check) Firewood -$9

Rule

If you booked at a discount without a Senior/Access pass, you'll need to pay the difference in cash/check upon arrival. Only Senior/Access passes qualify for discounts and proof of ownership upon arrival is required

Rule

Please understand that camping is an outdoor experience; we do not give refunds 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 will not be refunded Failure to arrive at the site 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

Rule

For more info on visiting Bear Country visit wildawareutah.org wildlife.utah.gov For campground Rules and Regulations visit gocamputah.com/rules

Rule

Click herefor more info about the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest For more info, call Kamas Ranger District at 435-783-4338 or Utah Recreation at 385-273-1100 Visit our website gocamputah.com or Facebook facebook.com/letsgocamputah To reserve a site call Recreation.gov reservation line 1-877-444-6777

Rule

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

Rule

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

Read them on the agency’s own page →

Tents and rigs

Sites
21
Hookups
None
Longest rig
88 ft
Paved pads
15 of 21
Accessible sites
1
Pets
Allowed
Campfires
Allowed, barring fire bans
Shade
Every site
Source: Recreation.gov campsite records · Aug 23, 2026

Facilities

Toilets
Vault Toilets
“…offers a picnic table and fire ring. Vault restroom facilities are available throughout the campground.…”

Around the campground

On the water
Lake, River, Creek
Fishing
Hiking
Horseback riding
Mountain biking
Night sky · 353rd darkest of 458 in UT
Bortle 4
Source: Recreation.gov activity records · Aug 23, 2026

Nothing on the booking system for the next 30 nightsread 15:22 UTC

recreation.gov lists 18 of the 21 campsites the agency files here. The rest aren’t on its booking system, so a reservation won’t get you one.

Every one of the next thirty nights is in recreation.gov’s record and not one site is being offered on any of them. That’s a campground closed or not yet released for booking, not a sold-out one.

Booking windowOut of seasonOut of season, no booking. On January 23, 2027 at 10 AM ET, availability opens through May 23, 2027.recreation.govAdd to calendar (.ics)
Max stay7 nightsthe facility record
A night$25.96–$51.02plus $8 to reserve, once per bookingthe agency’s rate schedule
A weekend$59.92–$110.04DerivedFriday and Saturday, everything includedours, from the lines above
If plans change$10 to cancel$10 to change a reservation; this campground publishes its own terms toorecreation.gov’s schedule
Runs itU.S. Forest ServiceBooked through recreation.govthe agency’s record
Watch for a cancellation

Full? Watch it.

One email when a night opens, plus More Than Just Parks dispatches. Unsubscribe any time.

We read recreation.gov once an hour, at 40 minutes past, and write the first time a site in your window is free for the nights you asked for.

Scanners that check every few minutes exist, and most of them charge. This one is free, it reads the same calendar, and it won’t always be first.

Free forever, no booking kickbacks.
Tell me when the season opens

Watch for the season to open

One email when the season goes on sale, plus More Than Just Parks dispatches. Unsubscribe any time.

We check once an hour, at 40 minutes past, and write the first time the agency has that season on sale.

Scanners that check every few minutes exist, and most of them charge. This one is free, it reads the same calendar, and it won’t always be first.

We’ll write once, when the season that starts Sun, May 23 2027 is open for booking.

Free forever, no booking kickbacks.
Book on recreation.gov

We make nothing when you book. The link goes straight to the government.

Every line of the receipt · 14

What you actually pay

The sign priceU.S. Forest Service
A night, per site$25.96–$51.02
Standard nonelectric$25.96
Standard nonelectric -Double site$51.02
Rates for the season the campground is in now, May 22, 2026 to Oct 5, 2026.
The booking feerecreation.gov
Reservation fee, booked online$8
One fee per reservation, however many nights you book, and it’s non-refundable. $9 if you book by phone, $3 in person.
Pass discounts only apply to the recreation (or use) fee for the facility. Other charges such as electricity or water hookups, reservation or other fees are not eligible for a discount.
What this campground addsits own record
Extra vehicleSee the note

“Cash, Check, or Scan & Pay (with recreation.gov app) 17 single sites - $29.00 , Capacity - 8 people + 1 vehicle 1 double site - $57.00 , Capacity 16 people + 2 vehciles Day use - $15.00 Extra vehicle - $10.00 per vehi…” · the U.S. Forest Service’s own fee record

What a stay costs
One nightDerived$33.96–$59.02
A weekend, Friday and SaturdayDerived$59.92–$110.04

Derived by CAMPANAC: the agency’s published rates for this season, $25.96–$51.02 a night, plus one $8 recreation.gov reservation fee for the booking. A weekend here means Friday and Saturday night, booked once. Optional charges (an extra vehicle, a second tent, a dump-station fee) are listed separately and aren’t in this total.

If your plans changerecreation.gov
Change fee, moving to dates outside your booking$10
Cancellation fee$10
Cancelling the day before, or the day of$10 + your first night
No-show$20 + your first night

“A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation. Changing an Existing Reservation: When changes are made prior to the cut-off window: If a customer wants to switch dates that are entirely outside of the original reservation dates, there is a $10 change fee.” · this campground’s own no-show terms

Who keeps the booking fee

The agency’s own policy text says the reservation fee and the cancellation processing fee are “retained by the reservation service contractor”, and that a campground concessionaire will decline to refund them because “they did not receive these fees”. Recreation.gov is run under contract by Booz Allen Hamilton. What share of your booking fee the contractor keeps isn’t published in any federal dataset we can read, so we print no number for it. Our reporting on the contract →

How we know this receipt · 7

recreation.gov availability, read 15:22 UTC · rules read Sep 9, 2026 · rates Sep 10, 2026 · How we know all this

Seen something wrong here? Tell us.

The sites

22 records

All 22 records

SleepsTakes aUp to

The price is derived by CAMPANAC, not published per site: the per-night rate this campground publishes for each site’s own site type. 21 of the 22 sites listed carry one, and a site whose type has no published rate sits out of the price rather than being called free.

S&PDouble S&Ptype not stated$25.96–$51.02
S&PSingle S&Ptype not stated$25.96–$51.02
SHADY1 HOSThost pad$25.96–$51.02
SHADY10standard nonelectric22 ft$25.96–$51.02
SHADY11standard nonelectric41 ft$25.96–$51.02
SHADY12standard nonelectric26 ft$25.96–$51.02
SHADY13standard nonelectric25 ft$25.96–$51.02
SHADY14standard nonelectric86 ft$25.96–$51.02
SHADY15standard nonelectric56 ft$25.96–$51.02
SHADY16standard nonelectric88 ft$25.96–$51.02
SHADY17standard nonelectric33 ft$25.96–$51.02
SHADY18standard nonelectric22 ftyes$25.96–$51.02
SHADY19standard nonelectric55 ft$25.96–$51.02
SHADY2type not stated26 ft$25.96–$51.02
SHADY20standard nonelectric56 ft$25.96–$51.02
SHADY3standard nonelectric28 ft$25.96–$51.02
SHADY4standard nonelectric25 ft$25.96–$51.02
SHADY5standard nonelectric28 ft$25.96–$51.02
SHADY6standard nonelectric80 ft$25.96–$51.02
SHADY7standard nonelectric36 ft$25.96–$51.02
SHADY8standard nonelectric55 ft$25.96–$51.02
SHADY9standard nonelectric50 ft$25.96–$51.02

The agency files 1 more record here that isn’t a site for the night. It names it a host pad. It’s in the table above, marked for what it is, and it isn’t counted as a site.

Getting there

the map and the coordinate · the agency’s directions · the phone number
Coordinate40.59011, -111.01575
The phone385-273-1100
The agency’s pageOfficial page ↗

Where it is

Getting there

In Kamas, UT, at the intersection of State Rt. 32 (Main St.) and State Rt. 150 (Center St.), take Rt. 150 (Mirror Lake Scenic Byway) east 17 miles to the campground sign. Turn right at the sign into the campground.

The weather

the next four days · the thirty-year normal

Next four days, and the thirty-year normal

Forecast

Overnight32°Mostly Clear
Saturday60°Sunny
Saturday Night33°Mostly Clear
Sunday57°Mostly Sunny8% rain

NWS forecast for Woodland, UT

Typical weather

Typical October night 31°F, day 50°F.

Coldest month of the year: typical December night 15°F, below freezing. Bring a bag rated colder than that, and expect ice in the water bottle.

80°32°10°

Daily high and lowDays with 0.10 in or more

A normal is the 1991-2020 average for the month, not a forecast: about half of all Julys are colder than the July line. The seven-day forecast above answers the other question.

Measured at: ALTA, UT (USC00420072), 33 miles away and 700 ft higher

The land, and who answers for it

what threatens it · who answers for it

Roadless country, and what’s coming for it

Roadless
Nobletts3,116 acres · 3 mi · inventoried roadless area
Roadless
Soapstone Mountain5,697 acres · 4 mi · inventoried roadless area
Roadless
Potters Knoll19,152 acres · 9 mi · inventoried roadless area

You’re camping on ground somebody wants. We track the threats and the comment deadlines.

Who answers for this land

Mike Kennedy, official portrait

Shady Dell Campground is in Utah’s 3rd congressional district. Its representative, Mike Kennedy (R), votes on the laws that decide what happens to this land. Public-lands grade so far: F. See every public-lands vote →

Seen something wrong here? Tell us.

How we know

every fact on this page, and where it came from
Right now: U.S. Forest Service publishes no season and no closure for this campground, and it takes no bookings we can read. That’s a gap in the record and not a locked gate: the number below is the only way to be sure.
Cell signal: the Forest Service’s own campground description, read as text by CAMPANAC. None of this is a measurement. It’s what the land manager published about the place, and phones, carriers and weather all disagree with each other; treat it as a warning, not a promise.
Nearest place of any size: Woodland, UT, 9.5 mi E (a census designated place). Straight line.