A gravel road curving into a high mountain valley at first light, the peaks catching the sun.

Forest Service campground

Albion Basin

Forest Service campground in Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Salt Lake County, Utah. About 9,500 feet. 0.6 miles from Alta.

Managed by
Forest Service Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest
Elevation
About 9,500 ft As the Forest Service states
Sites
26 26 standard non-electric
Longest rig
25 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov

Overview

Albion Basin Campground, just 15 miles from Sandy, Utah, is set among shady white pines and aspens in its beautiful namesake basin in Little Cottonwood Canyon at an elevation of 9,500 feet.

Recreation

Hiking and mountain biking are very popular activities. Hikers enjoy the path to Cecret Lake, which begins at the campground, as well as the Catherine Pass/Sunset Peak Trail just down the road.

Mountain bikers often ride the Albion Basin Road and the trail to Germania Pass. Other trails include the Albion Meadows Trail and Cardiff Pass/Twin Lake Pass.

Facilities

The campground contains 22 "reservation" sites (20 single sites, one double and one triple site). All come with picnic tables and campfire rings. Vault toilets are provided. Roads and parking spurs are dirt. One single site is available on a First Come, First Served basis, site #2.

Natural Features

Albion Basin is renowned for its vivid summer wildflowers. The basin hosts the Wasatch Wildflower Festival annually in late July or early August, complete with guided nature walks.

Moose and deer frequent the basin and mountain goats can often be seen on the precipitous face of Devils Castle, just south of the campground. A small stream runs through the basin.

Nearby Attractions

Little Cottonwood Canyon is a beautiful area known for its soaring peaks, unique geology, pristine hidden lakes and cascading streams. Numerous additional hiking and mountain biking trails are found throughout the canyon. Rock climbing and fly-fishing are popular activities as well.

Snowbird Resort is just a few miles down-canyon, offering scenic tram rides, hiking, mountain biking, restaurants, groceries, an Alpine Slide, zip line rides, concerts and various festivals.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • biking
  • camping
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Albion Basin

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated July 8, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.