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Maple Canyon Additional Camping?

Original Post
Charles Jonas · · Alpine, WY · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 102

Was hoping to make my first trip down to maple this weekend. Unfortunately, I waited too late to reserve a camping spot. Wondering if there is any overflow camping areas near by? I have a converted camper van, so I don't really care what its like as long as its not too far away. It's about a 6.5 hour drive down from Jackson so I just want to make sure there will be a place for me to stay before I commit.

Thanks in advance

Paul Wilhelmsen · · sandy, ut · Joined Aug 2012 · Points: 231

I've only been down to maple now a handful of times, but from what I saw I can't imagine you couldn't find a decent spot to set up if your van can make it up the dirt road. My understanding is that the road up maple canyon loops all the way to box canyon, that's miles of dirt road, that as far as I know, is open to camping. You could pretty easily just backtrack to the parking lot (which costs 3$ a day btw) in the morning.
Also there is a KOA in Nephi, less then an hour away (Big Mountain campground)
Can anyone confirm or correct me on finding a spot further up?

Donovan Allen · · Soft Lake City · Joined May 2012 · Points: 356

Charlie, camping impromptu at maple can at times be difficult. Maple is still very busy this time of year. As stated there are a few pull outs before you enter the canyon proper. My favorites being the box canyon pull off and on your left(sw?) before you cross the bridge there a good pull out. My advice, arrive early on a weekday and please use the toilets( maple caught fire cause of burning tp). I've also seen people camped at the right fork parking lot in camper vans, pretty sure there are no overnight camping signs at that one though. I've seen people camped in their subarus at the left fork pull out too. You'll be good. Sail!

josh holmes · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 215

Before the forest service sign below the bridge is private property, along the road they have made a few camp sites and all they request is that you leave donation and pick up after yourself.
Dont poach in the fee area.
Drive past the right fork pull out and there are a few spots to park, but your best bet is to bivy down canyon on the private property and leave a donation in one of the homemade donation boxes.

Charles Jonas · · Alpine, WY · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 102

Thanks for all the info guys

DoNstamos wrote:My advice, arrive early on a weekday
Unfortunately we'll be arriving late friday night and staying through monday, but it sounds like we'll be able to find something.

What kind of shape is the dirt road in? The van is 2wd but good clearance. She's yet to fail me yet (almost happened in the sandpits at massacre cliffs).
josh holmes · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 215

It's fine for cars, bad washboard in places but cruiser. Driving up past the right fork parking, it quickly changes its tone.

Donovan Allen · · Soft Lake City · Joined May 2012 · Points: 356

Josh is right about that road, but just for information sake I've seem Subaru foresters drive up that road all the way... They may or may not have lost their muffler, but good clearance you say? Still difficult to camp at any one point until you're at the loop overlook at which point you're a 30 min drive back down or you can always hike in from the top.

Paul Wilhelmsen · · sandy, ut · Joined Aug 2012 · Points: 231

Probably wouldn't help, but if you're passing through the SLC area on your way to maple Friday (I have no idea what route you're gonna be taking) and you don't feel like looking for a spot in the dark, you can park at my work (24 hour restaurant that I'll be working at all night Friday) and get some sleep. It's about 2 hours from maple, basically all freeway.
I'm not sure which way you'll be coming from, but if you are taking I-15 or Parleys canyon to get there, you'll be passing right by my restaurant. If you're interested pm me.

Charles Jonas · · Alpine, WY · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 102
josh holmes wrote:It's fine for cars, bad washboard in places but cruiser. Driving up past the right fork parking, it quickly changes its tone.
DoNstamos wrote:Josh is right about that road, but just for information sake I've seem Subaru foresters drive up that road all the way... They may or may not have lost their muffler, but good clearance you say? Still difficult to camp at any one point until you're at the loop overlook at which point you're a 30 min drive back down or you can always hike in from the top.
So basically you're saying camp before the right fork parking if possible? Otherwise the road gets worse and it's about 30 minutes until you come across any camping?
Mark Lewis · · Salt Lake City, Utah · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 260

The road past the Right Fork is a rough 4x4 road that loops up to the top of the moutain range and back down into Log Canyon (where there is another USFS campground).

There have been a lot of thunderstorms in the area this summer and the road is rougher than I've seen it in the past. I wouldn't plan on driving it with a 2-wheel van.

Maple has been busier than I've ever seen it this year as well. The first-come first-serve camp spots on private land will be your best bet if you are coming late Friday night. I think you'll be hard pressed to find any camping spots late at night.

You can always camp in Log Canyon Friday night, and then hit Maple early Saturday, which will give you some time/daylight to snag one of the lower camp spots, or work out sharing a site with others. Hard to do that late at night...

Edit: You can access Log Canyon camping from a passenger grade dirt road before entering the town of Fountain Green, no need to drive up Maple Canyon and down into Log...

Ken Noyce · · Layton, UT · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 2,648
Mark Lewis wrote:The road past the Right Fork is a rough 4x4 road that loops up to the top of the moutain range and back down into Log Canyon (where there is another USFS campground). There have been a lot of thunderstorms in the area this summer and the road is rougher than I've seen it in the past. I wouldn't plan on driving it with a 2-wheel van. Maple has been busier than I've ever seen it this year as well. The first-come first-serve camp spots on private land will be your best bet if you are coming late Friday night. I think you'll be hard pressed to find any camping spots late at night. You can always camp in Log Canyon Friday night, and then hit Maple early Saturday, which will give you some time/daylight to snag one of the lower camp spots, or work out sharing a site with others. Hard to do that late at night... Edit: You can access Log Canyon camping from a passenger grade dirt road before entering the town of Fountain Green, no need to drive up Maple Canyon and down into Log...
That's what i was going to suggest, the camping in log canyon is great if you don't mind the fifteen minute drive to get to maple.
Charles Jonas · · Alpine, WY · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 102

Sweet, you guys rock! I'll probably just head straight to log canyon when I get there, wake up early and head to maple.

Thanks again

JAtkinson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2013 · Points: 1,411

Sounds like you've got it all figured out, but thought id say anyway... I drove the dirt road past the end of the right fork in my 4x4 Xterra a a few months ago and the first 50 meters were pretty rough, and after that it wasn't too bad (just some steep drops to the side)... And the camping down the other side was great - about a 20 minute drive.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northern Utah & Idaho
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