From a separate topic:
Not having any advice myself, I asked a colleague. She reports that the NFS will issue winter camping permits for NFS land without any hassle at all. More of a "where will you be, and how many people? Here's your permit" kind of thing, she says. NFS land surrounds all 4 SLC-area resorts. Permits are obtained at the REI store at I-215 and 3300 South in SLC. Restrictions for backcountry camping in the canyons surrounding Salt Lake City includes:
As for established campgrounds, she reports that they allow winter camping with a permit in the Spruces NFS campground in Big Cottonwood Canyon, just down canyon from Solitude, although its facilities are not open. In fact, that's at the bottom of the Silver Fork drainage, which in stable avi conditions is a relatively easy backcountry descent from the top of Solitude. I do know that the UTA buses will pick you up from the road out in front of Spruces. Just about anywhere else, ride down to the road from wherever you're camping and hitching in the canyons is pretty easy. I note from a website below that winter camping is allowed in the Jordan Pines campground in BCC as well. That's 0.9 miles and 232 feet in elevation further down BCC.
For more information:
option_ride":1mwn0bjg said:
Not having any advice myself, I asked a colleague. She reports that the NFS will issue winter camping permits for NFS land without any hassle at all. More of a "where will you be, and how many people? Here's your permit" kind of thing, she says. NFS land surrounds all 4 SLC-area resorts. Permits are obtained at the REI store at I-215 and 3300 South in SLC. Restrictions for backcountry camping in the canyons surrounding Salt Lake City includes:
- No camping within one half mile of any road in Mill Creek Canyon, Big Cottonwood Canyon, or Little Cottonwood Canyon.
- No fires permitted within oneself mile of any road in Mill Creek Canyon, Big Cottonwood Canyon, or Little Cottonwood Canyon.
- No campfires permitted within Mill B South Fork Drainage (Lake Blanche) in the Twin Peaks Wilderness and Red Pine Fork and Maybird Gulch drainages within the Lone Peak Wilderness.
As for established campgrounds, she reports that they allow winter camping with a permit in the Spruces NFS campground in Big Cottonwood Canyon, just down canyon from Solitude, although its facilities are not open. In fact, that's at the bottom of the Silver Fork drainage, which in stable avi conditions is a relatively easy backcountry descent from the top of Solitude. I do know that the UTA buses will pick you up from the road out in front of Spruces. Just about anywhere else, ride down to the road from wherever you're camping and hitching in the canyons is pretty easy. I note from a website below that winter camping is allowed in the Jordan Pines campground in BCC as well. That's 0.9 miles and 232 feet in elevation further down BCC.
For more information:
wow! Thanks for digging and getting all this great info. The spruces camp spot sounds pretty ideal. I'm going to have to start planning.
. If the snow is good, I've had incredible days in the woods here. They have opened up a new lift this winter.... stupid but hey.. its going to dump you straight into the trees and make the ridges easily accecible from the chair. Oh well?