Hidden Gem Campgrounds/Campsites

[ShullsinUtah]

Pretty simple really. Where are some of your favorite "unknown" or little known that you've found?

For the past several years, we've pulled our AS from UT to NC and found lots of nice little places along the way that we'd never heard of. One of our favorites from last year was Point Beach State Forest in Wisconsin. It's a beautiful "maritime" forest on the western shore of Lake Michigan. We were there a day or so before the 4th of July. The mid-westerners were so nice to us. We got to dip our toes in the shores of Lake Michigan and our 6 y/o (at the time) got to dig in the sand. It was dumb luck that we found the place and had we not lost our AC cover somewhere in Minnesota/Wisconsin (that's a story of another time) we'd would have stayed another night.

What unexpected places have you run across?

[Mollysdad]

Good idea!
I'm planning a summer trip and I love to see these recommendations.
Places I'd never find on my own.
I've started a "bookmark" collection for sites like yours and I'll keep them stored.

[Len n Jeanne]

In Utah, we really like the campground in Buckhorn Draw (San Rafael bridge) in the North San Rafael Swell. It's accessible off the Temple Mountain exit #131 on I-70 between Green River and Salina; or east of Castledale off highway 10.

The campground is bisected by the river. The south side is pretty much just for tents and smaller RVs; the northern side for bigger rigs. Even better are the designated dispersed campsites on the road north of the bridge, and at The Wedge overlook (of the Little Grand Canyon.) People also disperse-camp along the Mexican Mountain Road, just east of the campground but it does have some rough bits.

The Wedge and Buckhorn Draw are accessible by graded, graveled roads. These are all dry sites, so bring all of your own water.

The San Rafael can get super-hot in mid-summer, but Fall and Spring are nice times to go.

The North San Rafael seems to be known mostly to locals. They may be there with their 4-wheelers, but there are lots of places to escape them.

Have you been over the Wasatch Plateau? Another beautiful area, cool in the summer up in the aspens, with loads of dispersed camping. The one paved road is HY 31 from Fairview to Huntington. I would check locally or with the USFS (Manti-LaSal) re the condition of the dirt roads which lead to the top of the planteau, which range from fine to scary. Their local field office is in Ephraim, UT.

If you've not done the Skyline Drive up there (with an SUV or truck but not towing) it is a beautiful experience.