We left Spokane, Wash., on our annual southern migration the same day the huge rain storm was boiling up the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Instead of heading east toward the Dakotas and Wyoming, we diverted south on I-15 from Butte, Mont., down the western side of the Rockies.
When we hit Utah, there were stormy skies over Salt Lake City. We decided to try Box Elder Campground in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, north of Ogden and slightly east of Brigham City.
What a find. This traditional, heavily treed U.S. Forest Service campground is known as a local favorite. It sits along Box Elder Creek at 5,200 ft. elevation.
According to Gary, the camp host, Box Elder is a very popular campground during the summer season, especially for church groups.
He said that on more than one weekend every campsite was full and that there were nearly 400 people on site. He and his wife, Lois, were the only campground personnel and they never had any problems. Now that’s a great place to workamp.
Gary recommends making reservations by calling 1-877-444-6777 or click here to reserve a site online. Reservations must be made 5 days in advance. Check with the Logan Ranger District at (435) 755-3620 for dates of camping season.
As with most forest service campgrounds, there are no hookups. No waste (dump) station. However, there are flush toilets and drinking water.
Camp sites & fees (as listed online): click on image on right to enlarge
25 single sites – $17, Capacity – 8 people + 1 vehicle per single site
Group site A – $50, Capacity – 50
Group site B – $80, Capacity – 75
Group site D – $120, Capacity – 100
Group site C – $155, Capacity – 125
4 Picnic sites – No fee
Directions:
From I-15, take US Highway 89-91 east near Brigham City, travel about 4 miles toward mountains; take right off ramp into Mantu (W. 100 S. Road); take first right onto Park Dr., (there was no direction sign when we were there in mid-September); road curves down, keep bearing left; take left onto Box Elder Park Road (less than a mile).
Photos by Julianne G. Crane
