Scout Camping in Utah During Cold Months

Scouts Love Sledding at Heber Valley Girls Camp

There are very few things that can dampen your excitement for scouting than being miserably cold on a campout.  For this reason, I have been assembling a short list of places to take my scouts each year.  The typical scout troop is looking for several things as they plan their monthly outings:

• Adventure – There needs to be fun and activities to keep the scouts attention.
• Economical – Scout troops do not have truck loads of money.
• Warm or Dry – Scouts (and most scoutmasters) are happier when warm and dry.
• Shelter – If it is Cold, it is helpful to have a refuge from the cold where scouts can warm up for food or restrooms.

Scouts Love Snow Caves

Over the last several years, I have assembled a few locations and activities that have worked out great for our troop.  I hope that they help you create awesome cold month activities for your troops too!

Warm Camping Options for Scouts in Utah

Location	Best Months	Activities and Description
Heber Valley Girls Camp Welcome to Heber Valley Girls Camp!	December, January, February, March	Activities – Sleeding (no inflatables). Also nearby is Wasacth Mountain State Park for cross country skiing and snow shoeing. (See:  Wasatch Mountain State Park) Heated Cabins (sleeps 16), Heated Restrooms, Loads of snow to play in.  Heber Valley Girls Camp has a great sledding hill for the scouts to sled.  (See:  Heber Valley Girls Camp – Winter Camping)
Bountiful Pond (Woods Cross, UT)	Year Round.	Activities – Legacy Bike Trail, Fishing, Canoeing.  I have taken my Scouts to the Hill AFB Aviation museum after a night here. Managed by the Bountiful City Landfill (801-298-6169), scouts can camp for free if they pick up trash or do other service for the park.  If it has been wet recently, the soil can be soggy.  Call in advance for reservations. Google Campsites – Davis County BSA Great Salt Lake Council Information
Willow Park (Lehi, UT) Willow Park, Utah County Park, Lehi, Utah	Year Round	Activities – Canoeing the Jordan River, Bike the Jordan River Trail. This park is managed by Utah County Parks and Recreation.  Call (801) 851-8640 for reservations.  (See:  Camping Willow Park – Lehi, UT for more a full report on Willow Park.) Warm bathrooms make this a nicer cold weather camping option.
Moab (Moab, UT) Delicate Arch, Moab Utah	Year Round is fine, but a bit hot in the Summer.  Camping here can be awesome in October, November, February, March, April. It can be quite a drive for just an over-nighter.	Activities – Tons!  Moab is all about mountain biking with at least 8 different areas where you can do it. (See: Jurassic Mountain Biking Trail, Klondike Bluffs Mountain Biking ) Also Colorado River rafting in the summer is great. Visit Arches or Canyonlands National Parks, or Deadhorse Point State Park. Camping is available at the National and State parks, or you can camp for free on BLM land.
Goblin Valley (Emery County – Closest city is Green River)   Little Wildhorse Canyon Trailhead	Year Round is fine, but a bit hot in the Summer.  Camping here can be awesome in October, November, February, March, April. It can be quite a drive for just an over-nighter.	Activities – Goblin Valley State Park, Slot Canyons:  Little Wildhorse and Bell Canyons (See:  Little Wildhorse Canyon in February.) Camping is available at Goblin Valley State Park, or you can camp for free on BLM land.

Scouting is Outings!

That list above could be a lot longer, but those are the ones that I have experience with at this point.

My big idea in writing this is that you don’t have to suffer to take the scouts out in the winter.  Just go and do something.  We have rented yurts and cabins while the boys dug snow caves for the night outside.  Go cross country skiing or snow shoeing, or go a little further south for a dryer activity.

Share Your Favorite Winter Camping Ideas

Thanks for reading!  Please add your ideas and what has been successful for your troop by posting a comment below!

Thanks!

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Jeff

Jeff enjoys having outdoor adventures with his kids, scouts, etc... Hiking, Canoeing, and mountain biking should be done in large quantites. As a Scoutmaster, he believes that In order to be a value to the boys, a scout troop should be taking the boys to do things that they wouldn't otherwise be able to do.

Latest posts by Jeff (see all)

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