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December, 2024

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Snowbird/Brighton camping trip

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Kevinb5
Posts: 190 - Karma: 2,063
The semester is almost over but I'm hoping to get one more week of skiing in after. The plan is to drive from Colorado to Utah on May 9 and ski the 10-14th. My dad is going to come in the middle of the trip and ski two days as well so I will have a hotel for a couple nights.

Where can I camp within 30-45 minutes of the resorts? I have a camping setup in the back of my F-150 that I will be staying in for 3-4 nights. I am not looking for campgrounds so is there any dispersed camping/BLM land in the area that allows camping? Preferably somewhere more in the wilderness and not too high in elevation so that it is not too cold but I am flexible.

Does snowbird have any groomers that late into the season? My dad isn't the strongest skier anymore so I need to go somewhere for a couple days with options for him.

Also, is it worth doing a day at solitude?
Apr 27 2024 3:06AM
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Sir_SkrillALot
Posts: 1736 - Karma: 668
maybe im just fuckin old and stopped caring about anything but bro if you have a rig to sleep in your car just park wherever is out of the way enough to not cause issues and is as close as possible. if anyone knocks on your shit just ignore it the first time and if they keep knockin just come out apologize and move down the road 5-10 min.


seems like something i would think matters as well if i was younger but eventually you realize so long as you arent creating issues or being obnoxious people generally are fine with this behavior if its a few days
Apr 27 2024 3:12AM
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Kevinb5
Posts: 190 - Karma: 2,063
Sir_SkrillALotmaybe im just fuckin old and stopped caring about anything but bro if you have a rig to sleep in your car just park wherever is out of the way enough to not cause issues and is as close as possible. if anyone knocks on your shit just ignore it the first time and if they keep knockin just come out apologize and move down the road 5-10 min.


seems like something i would think matters as well if i was younger but eventually you realize so long as you arent creating issues or being obnoxious people generally are fine with this behavior if its a few days

You’re totally right this is what I typically do but for this trip I want to be by myself and left alone
Apr 27 2024 3:15AM
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Sir_SkrillALot
Posts: 1736 - Karma: 668
Kevinb5You’re totally right this is what I typically do but for this trip I want to be by myself and left alone


i have never camped in LCC (assuming maybe you are talking about snowbird?) or anywhere around SLC explicitly but done it basically every other state in western US, never had a problem even if I was in a place I definitely shouldn't have been (based on realizing it afterwords in the AM or whatever). theres probably other cars at either alta or bird doing the same and just pull around them.

if you are worried about being left alone just get a gun, it wont actually do anything but at least calms the nerves about some crazy shit happening.
Apr 27 2024 3:24AM
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Schoess
Posts: 2097 - Karma: 25,057
You won't be able to car camp in either LCC or BCC. There's signs everywhere that say no overnight parking, and from my knowledge it's definitely enforced. I would research park and rides in SLC or something of that nature where you could park overnight. Note: The ones right next to the canyon are small and only for riding the bus to go skiing
Apr 27 2024 9:32AM
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brownetown
Posts: 444 - Karma: 4,367
I’d highly recommend checking out an app called iOverlander. It’s a simple mapping app with sliders to toggle things like dispersed camping sites, fuel stations, public water, etc. and is mostly user review-based. It’s helped me find anything from good BLM spots near mammoth to city street parking in downtown Vancouver to sleep in my Subaru in. Definitely worth a look. There’s also a website free campsites.net but I’ve found that I have better success with iOverlander
Apr 27 2024 12:07PM
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Dlonetti
Posts: 1875 - Karma: 19,565
brownetownI’d highly recommend checking out an app called iOverlander. It’s a simple mapping app with sliders to toggle things like dispersed camping sites, fuel stations, public water, etc. and is mostly user review-based. It’s helped me find anything from good BLM spots near mammoth to city street parking in downtown Vancouver to sleep in my Subaru in. Definitely worth a look. There’s also a website free campsites.net but I’ve found that I have better success with iOverlander

i would second ioverlander
Apr 27 2024 1:59PM
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weatcoast
Posts: 328 - Karma: -3,188
to answer your last question, don't bother going to Solitude. it's the trash resort out of the 4 cottonwood resorts.
Apr 27 2024 7:12PM
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MastePoleWhacker
Posts: 605 - Karma: 5,453
SkiEnthusiast420to answer your last question, don't bother going to Solitude. it's the trash resort out of the 4 cottonwood resorts.

Honestly solitude kinda been ripping the past couple weeks. Nice big slush booters around the mountain
Apr 27 2024 11:59PM
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SlushSeason
Posts: 946 - Karma: 7,495
Kevinb5Does snowbird have any groomers that late into the season? My dad isn't the strongest skier anymore so I need to go somewhere for a couple days with options for him.

Also, is it worth doing a day at solitude?

Snowbird should still have 2-5 groomers. Solitude will probably be worth it. As Snowbird reduces its terrain and shortens its season every year, solitude improves theirs.
Also I'll reiterate the suggestions not to camp in the canyons. Do walmarts still let you camp in their parking lots? There's one by i80, not too far from the canyons
Apr 28 2024 1:55AM
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jackshephard
Posts: 10 - Karma: 180
Like others have said, camping is tough in the Cottonwoods in the winter.

For free camping in a scenic setting, I’d consider American Fork Canyon. There are several sites on the way up to Tibble Fork that you might be able to snag for free at that time of year. Tibble Fork is an hour drive from Solitude and a bit less from LCC, but you’ll be hard-pressed for other camping in a natural setting this time of year. At the very least, you could camp there at the beginning/end of your trip if it’s on your way into town.

I’d say Solitude is totally worth a visit. I’d also check out Brighton’s Meltdown pass ($139 or something for unlimited spring park skiing) if skiing a solid park is a goal.
Apr 28 2024 10:39AM
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MastePoleWhacker
Posts: 605 - Karma: 5,453
If you want somewhere truly secluded there’s a lot of blm land in the desert west of slc.. it’ll be like an hr drive to the resorts from there though similar to tibble fork
Apr 28 2024 11:15AM
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cyphers
Posts: 1682 - Karma: 18,686
Sir_SkrillALotmaybe im just fuckin old and stopped caring about anything but bro if you have a rig to sleep in your car just park wherever is out of the way enough to not cause issues and is as close as possible. if anyone knocks on your shit just ignore it the first time and if they keep knockin just come out apologize and move down the road 5-10 min.


seems like something i would think matters as well if i was younger but eventually you realize so long as you arent creating issues or being obnoxious people generally are fine with this behavior if its a few days


i thought the same until i caught a $100 ticket lol
Apr 28 2024 11:44AM
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Sir_SkrillALot
Posts: 1736 - Karma: 668
cyphersi thought the same until i caught a $100 ticket lol


yeah if people are saying there are no overnight parking signs posted, my advice is completely wrong. just had not really ever seen that in ID/WA/OR/NM
Apr 29 2024 12:45PM
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