Balsam (Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, UT)

Overview

Balsam Campground is located on the banks of pretty Hobble Creek just 12 miles from Springville, Utah, at an elevation of 6,000 feet. Visitors enjoy fishing and exploring local trails.

Recreation

Rainbow and brown trout fishing are popular on Hobble Creek. A few hiking, biking and horseback riding trails are in the area,. Deer Springs Trail begins at the top of the campground and is 1 mile long. Dry Canyon Trails are in the area. Left Fork and Days Canyon Trail can be accessed by nearby Cherry Campground. Kirkman Hollow Trail is accessed along the main road 2 miles to the south. Scenic driving above the campground is available for off road vehicles.

Facilities

The campground contains one group site that can accommodate up to 100 people. It contains picnic and serving tables, a campfire ring, and cement site pad. This group site is a walk-to site accessed by a steep, paved trail from the parking area. 

Single family sites are available as well, with picnic and serving tables, and campfire rings with benches. Vault toilets are provided. 

Natural Features

Maple, fir and cottonwood trees forest the area, providing partial shade, beautiful fall color and some privacy between campsites. Hobble Creek runs through the campground.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (385) 273-1100.

Nearby Attractions

Deer Spring Trail begins at the top of the camp and is one mile long. Left Fork Days Canyon Trail and Kirkman Hollow Trail, for hiking, biking, horseback riding and dirt biking, can be accessed at nearby Cherry Campground.

Hobble Creek road is a narrow road tunneled with thick trees and winds through steep mountains. Almost any turn of the road offers a great chance for a short hike. The paved road ends 8 miles up the canyon and continues to climb until it reaches over into Diamond Fork Canyon. 

Charges & Cancellations

Change and Cancellation Policies and Fees

  • Overnight and Day Use Facilities: To ensure fairness, reservation arrival or departure dates may not be changed beyond the booking window until 18 days after booking the reservation.
  • Camping / Day Use: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation (including campsites, cabins, lookouts, group facilities, etc.). The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount.
  • You can cancel or change reservations through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.

Late Cancellations

  • Overnight and Day Use Facilities: Late cancellations are those cancelled between 12:01 a.m. (Eastern) on the day before arrival and check out time on the day after arrival.
  • Individual Campsites: If a customer cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival they will be charged a $10.00 service fee and will also forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a single night's reservation will forfeit the entire use fee but no cancellation fee will apply.
  • Cabins / Lookouts: Customers will be charged a $10.00 cancellation fee and forfeit the first night's use fee if a cabin or lookout reservation is cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee.
  • Group Facility: If a customer cancels a group overnight facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date they will be charged the $10.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's use fee. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee.
  • Group Day Use Area: If a customer cancels a group day use facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date, they will forfeit the total day use fee with no service fee charge.

No-Shows

  • Camping / Day Use: A camping no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Reserved campsites and group overnight facilities will be held until check-out time on the day following your scheduled arrival. Group day-use facilities will be held until check-in time on your scheduled arrival date.
  • If a customer does not arrive at the campground or group facility by check-out time the day after arrival or does not cancel the reservation by the times listed under "Late Cancellations" above, the customer may be assessed a $20.00 service fee and forfeit use fees.

Refunds

  • Customers must request refunds no later than 14 days after the scheduled departure date. Recreation.gov will not grant refund requests after 14 days of departure.
  • Reservation Fee: For some facilities, tours or permits an additional reservation fee is charged. For some overnight and day-use facilities, an additional non-refundable reservation fee may apply. The non-refundable reservation fee for tours and tickets is $1.00. The non-refundable reservation fee for permits varies by location.
  • Refunds for Bankcard Purchases: Refunds for bank card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank card.
  • Refunds for Check or Cash Purchases: Refunds for Recreation.gov payments made by check or money order, and cash payments at selected campgrounds will be issued a check refund. A refund will be processed within 30 days of receipt and approval. Please Note: Refund requests made during or after departure can only be processed when approved by the facility management staff based upon local policy.
  • Refunds for Emergency Closures: In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team will attempt to notify users and offer alternate dates (as appropriate). If this is not possible, reservations will be cancelled and all fees paid will be refunded. Reservation fees for free tickets are non-refundable in the event of an emergency closure.

Recreation.gov Billing Information

  • Reservation transaction will appear on customer's credit card statements as "Recreation.gov 877-444-6777."

Changes to Policies and Procedures

  • Recreation.gov reserves the right, when necessary, to modify reservation policies. These policies were last updated July 2018.

Camp site features

Across 26 camp sites:

  • Fire pit: all 26 sites
  • Pets allowed: all 26 sites
  • ADA accessible: 8 of 26 sites
  • Group sites: 2 of 26 sites
  • Longest RV: 35 ft
  • Largest party: 100 people
  • Equipment: RV, Tent, Trailer

Fees

Cash, Check, or Scan & Pay (with recreation.gov app) 24 single sites - $31.00, capacity - 8 people + 1 vehicle 1 group site - $93.00, capacity - 24 people + 3 vehicle 1 group site - $305.00, capacity - 100 people + 25 vehicle Day Use in a campground - $15.00 Extra Vehicle - $10.00 per vehicle (paid on-site cash/check) Firewood - $9.00

Directions

From I-15 take Springville exit 260. Continue east, towards Springville, through the intersection of Main Street and Highway 400 South. At the four-way stop at the end of 400 South, turn right onto Canyon Road. Keep heading east up Canyon Road for about 6 miles. After passing Hobble Creek Golf Course, the road will fork; stay to the right. Balsam Campground is approximately 6 miles from the golf course past the junction of Forest Roads 132 and 058.

Stay Limit

Check in from 3 PM, check out by 12 PM.

Reviews

53 reviews
5 stars
25
4 stars
18
3 stars
6
2 stars
1
1 stars
3
Donna B
Loop:Sngf
Site:
Reviewed 3 months ago
Our family has been coming here for years. They always look forward to this. Some come from out of state. This family large group campsite is so good for sharing the experience together. The bathrooms were well maintained. We would come again.
veronica g
Loop:Sngf
Site:
Reviewed 3 months ago
Balsam campground is great especially if you don’t want to be side by side with other campers. There’s enough space to feel comfortable & neighbors are respectful. Camp is clean and vault bathrooms are clean-just remember to close toilet lid! Please do not leave food scraps! Let’s keep bears & raccoons wild.
Jesse S
Loop:Sngf
Site:
Reviewed 3 months ago
All the campsites are on top of each other & close to the road.
Clarissa H
Loop:Sngf
Site:
Reviewed 3 months ago
We had a pretty good time. The campsites in our area were pretty close together, but not so close as to feel like we were encroaching on each others' space. We weren't able to get to the strawberry reservoir a little while away because of our mix of different types of cars but the creek nearby was still very enjoyable. Our vault toilet was clean and stocked with enough tp for all the sites in the area. Stinky but that is to be expected!! The site was advertised to fit 8 people but I estimated about 7 single person tents could fit with lots of squeezing.. however, if there are maybe 2 4-person tents that could probably work out. We had 6 people with 2 couples squished in 2 single person tents along with the last couple in a 4 person tent and we were comfortable. I recommend bringing a canopy, and maybe an extra table for larger groups. We packed 25 gallons of water for dishes and drinking for 6 people in hot weather. There was a bear sighting in a nearby campsite, so the host advised us to lock food in our cars and hang trash bags. We decided to put our trash in our cars as we couldn't locate a dumpster on site or hang trash bags high enough. There wasn't a clear way to contact the host otherwise, but luckily we didn't have many issues that would need it on this trip. Neighbors had dogs off leash ignoring signs and rules saying against it most notably because how they can antagonize bears despite the bear sighting. When camping in close sites there was some barking, yelling, sounds of electric air pumps, etc. That's to be expected but sites were far enough to not be overwhelmed The bathroom and parking lot was close to all the sites in our area which was very nice and convenient. The roads leading to the site are paved as well for those without heavy duty cars sharing sites. The lot doesn't have clear markings but with courteous neighbors there weren't any issues. Overall, we had a good experience! Just watch out for friendly box elder bugs everywhere haha
Jaime S
Loop:Sngf
Site:
Reviewed 3 months ago
Campground was very pretty, but comfort and scenery vary heavily depending on the campsite you reserve. Camp host was extremely aggressive and unhelpful. Nearby RV generators were very loud and ran for 12 hours of the day, when attempting to seek assistance with the noise from the camp host we were met with aggression. We felt genuinely unsafe staying due to the behavior of the camp host so we left a day early. There was a bear spotted a few campgrounds away, but there were no trash receptacles to store trash over night.
Braden O
Loop:Sngf
Site:
Reviewed 4 months ago
Five stars if you’re looking for a free-for-all wilderness experience where rules are merely suggestions. This campground was apparently running on the “everyone just do whatever” management plan. During a fire ban, nearly every site had a roaring fire, college kids were cutting down trees with power tools, and the peaceful forest experience was upgraded to a construction zone. The amenities were equally impressive: broken water, falling-apart signs, overflowing vault toilets, no trash service, and a mandatory $70 two-night weekend stay. Nothing says “premium campground” like hauling out your own trash while wondering what exactly those fees are funding. Our bonus amenity was a skunk attempting to break into our trash and adding a lovely scent package to the campsite. Until the Forest Service adds a camp host, enforces basic rules, and puts fees back into maintaining the campground, I’d recommend saving your money and finding somewhere that actually provides what you’re paying for.
Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

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Season dates

Peak season

May 15, 2027 – Sep 14, 2027

Reservable online

Peak season

May 15, 2028 – Sep 14, 2028

Reservable online

Camp Sites

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