Jeffrey Steadman - The Best in Tent Camping: Utah: A Guide for Car Campers Who Hate RVs, Concrete Slabs, and Loud Portable Stereos

U TAH IS AWESOME. From the highest snowcapped peaks in the north to the most colorful red rock canyon in the south, it is an amazing and inspiring place that you could spend a lifetime exploring.

Hopefully this book will serve as a launching pad into some of the best adventures the state has to offer. Who knowswithin these pages might be a campground that becomes a family favorite, or the perfect place to stage a new hike youve been aching to try.

Fees get raised, campgrounds get renovated, and information changes about these campgrounds. Visit www.jeffreysteadman.com for all the up-to-date information including photographs of each campground. You can also report updates youve discovered and help other campers (and myself) stay informed.

People often ask me what my favorite campground is. Asking me to name my favorite campground is like asking a mother to pick her favorite child. It really depends on the day, my mood, and whos asking. Ive seen places that I never imagined could exist. Ive been to five national parks, a half dozen state parks, and through nearly every section of seven national forests. Theyre all so different, it would be impossible to compare them to select my favorite.

When I started this book, I really thought I would find an answer to that question. Instead, Ive only found more questions. Like, Whats in the East Tintic Mountain Range, and How long would it take me to hike from Survey Lake to the Grandaddy Lake Basin? With every trip, my To Do list has gotten longer instead of shorter.

The campgrounds included here are the cream of the crop and will take you to spectacular locations. Each one holds something special that lifts it above the average campground. Your imagination and adventurous spirit will see with new eyes and maybe, just maybe, theyll inspire you to get outdoors a little more often.

In selecting the locations of these campsites, Ive tried to balance the desire to be near some of Utahs best recreation opportunities with the ability to have a quality tent camping experience. For example, Ive selected some incredible but lesser-known campgrounds just outside most of the national parks rather than right in the thick of the park. Exceptions to the rule are rare.

There are locations near the big citieslike Tanners Flat and Botts Campgrounds and Snow Canyon State Parkthat will help you realize how truly fortunate we are in Utah to have immediate access to the outdoors; and there are campgrounds like Clear Creek and Elkhorn that will open your eyes to the magnitude of the outdoors at your disposal. Both kinds are a treasure and a delight.

Theres so much to see. So many great locations. So many ways to enjoy each one. The best thing you can do is just get in the car and start finding your questions.

Ill see you out there.

Jeffrey Steadman