You'll find two family campgrounds in Little Cottonwood Canyon, close to Snowbird. Albion Basin lies among pines and aspen groves at 9,500 feet. The abundant wildflowers in July and August set the stage for the Wasatch Wildflower Festival, which takes place in the immediate area. The campground provides vault toilets, drinking water and single, double and triple sites for families of every size. Further down the canyon, Tanners Flat provides wheelchair-accessible facilities, including water, flush and vault toilets, and paved parking spurs. The campground sits at 7,200 feet above sea level among oak, maple and aspen, which produce showy autumn colors.
If you're looking for a place to have your next family reunion or company team-building event, you'll find group camping for up to 125 people at Jordan Pines Campground in the adjacent Big Cottonwood Canyon. The campsites provide grills, picnic tables and fire rings, with drinking water and vault toilets on-site. Bring your own horseshoes, volleyball and net to take advantage of the campground's sport facilities. The campground is 4 miles from Solitude Mountain Resort, where you can play disc golf, ride the chairlifts or dine at one of several restaurants.
You can choose your own campsite in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, providing you follow the guidelines. Use a vegetation-free, hard-packed area to set up your camp, no more than 150 feet from a Forest Service road. Your camp must be a minimum of 100 feet from any water source, and if you are building a campfire, at least 200 feet away. You may collect wood that is lying on the ground for a campfire, but be careful to avoid building a fire where sparks may ignite nearby trees. Ensure your fire is completely extinguished before you break camp, and never leave it unattended during your stay.
Cottonwood Canyon and the forest areas around Snowbird are home to bears and other wild creatures. Bears emerge from winter dens in springtime and spend the majority of summer investigating even the tiniest aromas that hold the promise of a potential meal. Pack your food and other scented items in airtight containers, and store them out of sight inside a hard-sided trailer or RV. If you are in a tent or pop-up trailer, pack items inside wildlife-proof containers, or hanging from a tree. Change out of any clothing you have cooked or eaten in before sleeping; store those clothes away from your camp. Dispose of garbage in bear-proof receptacles provided in the campground or store in the same manner as other scented items. If you are in an area where pets are allowed, store their food as you would any other scented items and remember to pick up the bowls after they finish eating. When hiking, don't drop fruit peels, seed husks, nutshells or other garbage along the trails, as it can draw bears to areas frequented by humans, which they would otherwise avoid.
Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort has a base elevation of 7,760 feet and a summit altitude of 11,000 feet. While camping in the area, you will usually find yourself at altitudes that can cause altitude sickness, especially if you suffer from respiratory or circulatory disorders. Check with your doctor before your trip to see if a supplemental oxygen pack can help, and prepare your body by increasing fluids for a few days prior to your arrival. Your body will usually acclimate within 48 hours. Pack pain reliever and antacids to help you deal with symptoms such as headache and nausea, and don't overexert yourself until you acclimate, as you can make symptoms worse.
