Primitive camping near Joe's Valley

[Nick]

I'm planning on heading up to Joe's Valley with some family this summer. I've never been to that area. Can anyone fill me in on the possibilities for primitive camping in the vicinity? Specifically the kind that can be reached with a trailer? Any other tips or advice on the area? I'm planning on bringing the boat up to see if we can find some of the Tiger Musky in there.

 

[Blake Merrell]

There is lots of potential camping along the Upper Joe's Valley road. Of course you can stay in the camp grounds near the marinas, or head to Indian Creek Campground.

Camp sites can be found along any of the major dirt roads too. Do you want to stay close to the reservoir?

 

[Nick]

I don't care that much if we're super close. We'll pull the boat out at night and bring it back to camp. I'm more concerned about having some space between us and our nearest neighbors so my dogs can run around.

 

[Udink]

I think the best primitive camping anywhere near Joe's that you'll find is along the road to Grassy Lake, right about here. The switchbacks are steep, but the road is wide and graveled.

And, like Blake said, there are spots along Miller Flat Road (e.g., here), but they're all pretty close to the road. The farther north you go the more spots there are farther from the road, especially north of the Potter's Ponds turnoff, but that's a long way to be pulling a boat back and forth.

The lack of good, out-of-the-way camping near Joe's Valley is the main reason I haven't pulled my camp trailer up there.

 

[Blake Merrell]

Hmmmm... I always stayed on my grandpa's 100 acre property up there, so I don't' have a ton of experience camping near the reservoir. I do know that there are camping pullout along Lowery waters, Indian Creek, and up along the mountain as you head toward Manti. If you are willing to drive up in into Upper Joes (near Potters Pond) there is a bunch of sites along that road that are good for camping. But it means long drives to the reservoir.

 

[Blake Merrell]

Hey Udink! Looks like we are on the same page here.

 

[Nick]

That's too bad there's nothing close by, but it looks like there is a good amount to choose from up that road past the switchbacks. A few miles isn't too bad. Is it the kind of road you could take a big camper trailer on? Well graded gravel or narrow/tight corners?

 

[Udink]

The switchbacks are wide and well graded gravel. Although looking at the satellite imagery just now reminded me of the road section labeled White Dugway Road on the topo--it's narrow and dirt and probably not great for a big trailer, especially if there's oncoming traffic. Just below that are some spots that would be okay, though.

 

[Nick]

Hmmm... maybe this isn't going to work for what we had planned. My brother-in-law we're camping with has a fifth wheel camper. Almost sounds better as just a day trip but that's just way too far to drive for that. Suck.

 

[John Goering]

Wow, Joe's Valley! That brings back memories from 4 decades back when I did a gig for the Manti-LaSal. We had rain gauges all over the area above the reservoir and some even over on the Manti side. I was always in a 4x4 truck or on a sled so don't recall the road conditions with respect to trailers or 5th wheels but there are (or were) some nice camping areas up Lowry Water.