U.S. Forest Service · Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest · Nephi, UT

Bear Canyon

Bear Canyon Campground is situated on the boundary of the Mount Nebo Wilderness Area just off the Nebo Loop Scenic Byway at an elevation of 6,800 feet. Visitors enjoy hiking and fishing in this quiet canyon.

More like this: reservable in Utah · big rigs in Utah · pets allowed in Utah · group sites in Utah

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Bear Canyon CampgroundBear Canyon CampgroundBear Canyon CampgroundBEAR CANYON - B
Photos courtesy of Utah Recreation Company, Alexa Anderson · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Group sites2
Group tent areas1
Host/management13
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 99 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

3 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
AGroupBack-in30Paved60 / 15YesYes
BGroupBack-in30Paved40 / 15YesYes
CGroup tentBack-inPavedNo / –20 / 10YesYes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Campground map of Bear Canyon
Campground map published by U.S. Forest Service on Recreation.gov, credited to Alexa Anderson. Open the image for full size.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length99 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesCash, Check, or Scan & Pay (with recreation.gov app). 1 tent only group site (C) - $103.00, capacity - 50 people + 10 vehicle. 2 group sites (A & B) - $143.00, capacity - 75 People + 15 vehicle. Day Use in a campground site - $15.00. Extra Vehicle Fee - $10.00 per vehicle (paid on-site cash/check).
AccessibilitySites A, B, C, 006 and 2 more are listed accessible

The campground contains three large group sites with picnic tables, serving tables, grills and campfire circles. Site A can accommodate up to 60 people, Site B can accommodate up to 40 people, and Site C can accommodate up to 20 people. Group A has Porta Potties, all other sites vault toilets are provided. This is a pack-in-pack-out campground, come prepared. No water is available at this campground, water can be obtained at Ponderosa Campground filling station. Roads, parking spurs and walking paths within the site are paved.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusOpen
ForestUinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest
Rules16 day stay limit. Gate closes at 10 pm.

Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Bear Canyon20°30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 1.30 inches of precipitation, 10.9 inches of snowFebruary: 1.24 inches of precipitation, 8.1 inches of snowMarch: 1.38 inches of precipitation, 4.5 inches of snowApril: 1.64 inches of precipitation, 2.6 inches of snowMay: 1.52 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowJune: 0.77 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.55 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.73 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 0.95 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 1.33 inches of precipitation, 0.7 inches of snowNovember: 1.09 inches of precipitation, 6.0 inches of snowDecember: 1.24 inches of precipitation, 12.5 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 28.4°F averageFebruary: 33.2°F averageMarch: 41.9°F averageApril: 47.6°F averageMay: 57.0°F averageJune: 67.2°F averageJuly: 75.4°F averageAugust: 73.4°F averageSeptember: 64.1°F averageOctober: 50.9°F averageNovember: 38.7°F averageDecember: 28.3°F average0 in5 in10 in15 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Nephi, 8 miles from the campground at 5,146 feet, station USC00426135 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 14 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 45 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From I-15, take Nephi exit 225. Travel about 5 miles east on Highway 132 to the Nebo Loop Scenic Byway. Turn left onto the byway and travel 3.5 miles to the Bear Canyon turnoff. Turn left. Bear Canyon Campground is located at the end of the road, just past Ponderosa Campground.

Nearest townNephi, Utah
Coordinates39.7875° N, 111.7297° W · Directions ↗

Charges and cancellations

  • Change and Cancellation Policies and Fees
  • Overnight and Day Use Facilities: To ensure fairness, reservation arrival or departure dates may not be changed beyond the booking window until 18 days after booking the reservation.
  • Camping / Day Use: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation (including campsites, cabins, lookouts, group facilities, etc.). The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount.
  • You can cancel or change reservations through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
  • Late Cancellations
  • Overnight and Day Use Facilities: Late cancellations are those cancelled between 12:01 a.m. (Eastern) on the day before arrival and check out time on the day after arrival.
  • Individual Campsites: If a customer cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival they will be charged a $10.00 service fee and will also forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a single night's reservation will forfeit the entire use fee but no cancellation fee will apply.
  • Cabins / Lookouts: Customers will be charged a $10.00 cancellation fee and forfeit the first night's use fee if a cabin or lookout reservation is cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee.
  • Group Facility: If a customer cancels a group overnight facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date they will be charged the $10.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's use fee. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee.
  • Group Day Use Area: If a customer cancels a group day use facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date, they will forfeit the total day use fee with no service fee charge.
  • No-Shows
  • Camping / Day Use: A camping no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Reserved campsites and group overnight facilities will be held until check-out time on the day following your scheduled arrival. Group day-use facilities will be held until check-in time on your scheduled arrival
  • If a customer does not arrive at the campground or group facility by check-out time the day after arrival or does not cancel the reservation by the times listed under "Late Cancellations" above, the customer may be assessed a $20.00 service fee and forfeit use fees.
  • Refunds
  • Customers must request refunds no later than 14 days after the scheduled departure date. Recreation.gov will not grant refund requests after 14 days of departure.
  • Reservation Fee: For some facilities, tours or permits an additional reservation fee is charged. For some overnight and day-use facilities, an additional non-refundable reservation fee may apply. The non-refundable reservation fee for tours and tickets is $1.00. The non-refundable reservation fee for permits varies by location.
  • Refunds for Bankcard Purchases: Refunds for bank card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank card.
  • Refunds for Check or Cash Purchases: Refunds for Recreation.gov payments made by check or money order, and cash payments at selected campgrounds will be issued a check refund. A refund will be processed within 30 days of receipt and approval. Please Note: Refund requests made during or after departure can only be processed when approved by the facility management staff based upon local policy.
  • Refunds for Emergency Closures: In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team will attempt to notify users and offer alternate dates (as appropriate). If this is not possible, reservations will be cancelled and all fees paid will be refunded. Reservation fees for free tickets are non-refundable in the event of an emergency closure.
  • Recreation.gov Billing Information

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    San Pitch Rx

    30 mi from the campground · 15 acres

  • Prescribed
    Spring Dell Rx

    38 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Corner Canyon Rx

    49 mi from the campground

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗8.4 mi
RV sales & serviceWestern Range Camps ↗22.6 mi
Outdoor gearSportsman's Warehouse ↗30.1 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Bear Canyon Campground Tour with Salt Creak and Bear Canyon Trails

  • under 0.1 mi
    Bear Canyon ↗
    5.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
  • 0.1 mi
    Right Fork Salt Creek
    4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.8 mi
    Nebo Bench ↗
    11.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.2 mi
    Nephi Nebo Peak
    4.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.4 mi
    Nebo Peak
    2.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
  • 1.6 mi
    Willow Creek
    3.4 mi trail · hiking, horse

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Mount Nebo Wilderness.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

Each campsite within Bear Canyon offers beautiful views of the surrounding Wasatch Range. Aspen and fir trees line the edges of the campground, which sits in a large grassy meadow. Few trees are located within the campsites, so shade is very limited.

Recreation

Salt Creek runs along the edge of campground, offering rainbow trout fishing. Bear Canyon Trail, for hiking, biking and horseback riding, begins at the campground entrance.

Nearby

The Mount Nebo Wilderness Area is adjacent, brimming with beautiful mountain scenery, pristine waters, abundant wildlife, vibrant summer wildflowers and numerous trail opportunities. The Nebo Loop Scenic Byway stretches 37 miles through high alpine terrain, dense forests and colorful meadows. Devil's Kitchen Geological Area can be found along the loop, just 6 miles from Bear Canyon. It offers a 1/2-mile round-trip trail to interesting red rock hoodoos.

Guidebooks for Utah

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Bear Canyon?

Sites at Bear Canyon are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Bear Canyon?

Cash, Check, or Scan & Pay (with recreation.gov app). 1 tent only group site (C) - $103.00, capacity - 50 people + 10 vehicle. 2 group sites (A & B) - $143.00, capacity - 75 People + 15 vehicle.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Bear Canyon?

Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Bear Canyon?

Camping / Day Use: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation (including campsites, cabins, lookouts, group facilities, etc.). The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount.

Source: Charges and cancellations

Is Bear Canyon open right now?

Open as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Bear Canyon have?

16 sites, including 2 group sites and 1 group tent area.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Bear Canyon?

Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are pets allowed at Bear Canyon?

Yes, pets are allowed at Bear Canyon. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Bear Canyon?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 3 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. 16 day stay limit.

Source: Fire nearby

Are there accessible sites at Bear Canyon?

Sites A, B, C, and 006 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 6 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Bear Canyon?

Salt Creek runs along the edge of campground, offering rainbow trout fishing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Bear Canyon?

Nephi, Utah. The Mount Nebo Wilderness Area is adjacent, brimming with beautiful mountain scenery, pristine waters, abundant wildlife, vibrant summer wildflowers and numerous trail opportunities.

Source: Getting there