Camping in American Fork Canyon?

Thanks Brian.

While on the subject, this Google Earth map of Utah wilderness areas is pretty amazing:

Utah Wilderness Areas.kmz
utahwildernessatlas.net/gis…

Just thought I would throw this in here for free camping seekers.

You do not have to pay to get in American Fork canyon if you say you are going to camp in Marry Ellen Gulch or anywhere else past the National Forest Service boundaries. I personally hate the National Forest Service and their fees but once you go outside their boundaries you are technically on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) lands which are free for everyone. There are usually no services or public restrooms in these lands so just take out what you bring in and keep the area clean for your return trip or anyone else who comes after you. More often than not you will have a young person working the fee station to get into American Fork and you may need to remind them that there are no fees for camping beyond National Forest Service boundaries. I have had this happen several times then they check their papers/maps then let me threw without paying.

Migillicuty wrote:Just thought I would throw this in here for free camping seekers. You do not have to pay to get in American Fork canyon if you say you are going to camp in Marry Ellen Gulch or anywhere else past the National Forest Service boundaries. I personally hate the National Forest Service and their fees but once you go outside their boundaries you are technically on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) lands which are free for everyone. There are usually no services or public restrooms in these lands so just take out what you bring in and keep the area clean for your return trip or anyone else who comes after you. More often than not you will have a young person working the fee station to get into American Fork and you may need to remind them that there are no fees for camping beyond National Forest Service boundaries. I have had this happen several times then they check their papers/maps then let me threw without paying.

You're right about not having to pay a fee to drive through. The USFS does not charge a fee to drive on a public road. The fee is for the use of USFS facilities. The second you stop in, use a bathroom or park for the day to climb you will need to pay that fee though.

Much of the camping up Tibble Fork is still USFS land. Just because it's outside the fee area doesn't mean it's not USFS, the PG ranger district is a big chunk of land.

Garret Nuzzo-Jones wrote: You're right about not having to pay a fee to drive through. The USFS does not charge a fee to drive on a public road. The fee is for the use of USFS facilities. The second you stop in, use a bathroom or park for the day to climb you will need to pay that fee though. Much of the camping up Tibble Fork is still USFS land. Just because it's outside the fee area doesn't mean it's not USFS, the PG ranger district is a big chunk of land.

Partially correct Garret. They will waive you on through without any fee at the AF Canyon toll booth if you simply tell them you are parking by the side of the AF Canyon road away from developed sites, whether it is for climbing, fishing, or whatever. I've done this and it works great. This little known tidbit is a result of the FS losing a lawsuit last year. However once you USE a developed picnic area, campground, or bathroom they can enforce the canyon fee. Ask them if you don't believe me.