A Winter RV Adventure in Logan Canyon Country

Logan Canyon | Matt Hage

Photographer Matt Hage captures the beauty of a winter camping adventure in Northern Utah.

Our family's happy place is camping. We love setting up our basecamp close to our daily adventures, whether it's in a small tent pulled from a backpack, a larger tent pitched near the car, or the comfort of our Airstream travel trailer with its spectacular wrap-around views. Coming back after a day of outdoor exploration feels like we're still on an adventure — just with some comforts and amenities thrown in. And while you might be picturing a summer setting, it's winter camping that holds a special magic for us.

On a recent winter excursion to Garden City, we settled on the snowy western shore of Bear Lake. Though road conditions from Salt Lake City made for a careful drive, we'd called ahead to let the caretaker at Sun Outdoors know we were still coming. Steve, a man standing over six feet tall with a stylish Stetson hat, met us with a welcoming smile that matched his stature. He and his son stay on year-round to maintain the resort after it officially closes for the regular season. We were happy to find a nicely plowed spot awaiting us in the two feet of snow covering the RV park, complete with power, heated bathrooms with showers and access to a very nice hot tub. It was obvious we'd want for nothing during our off-season stay.

Winter in this area offers a vastly different experience than the bustling summer. This created a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere; outfitters and guides we met had an easy-going demeanor, and skiing at Beaver Mountain was blissfully casual — from the old-school ticket windows to the friendly lift lines. (Read: The Legacy of Beaver Mountain Ski Resort)

Our adventures were truly memorable: a snowshoe hike with local legend Mark Smoot offered spectacular views and captivating conversation, and the crew at Beaver Creek Lodge patiently taught our son how to drive his first snowmobile. We easily secured a table at the highly recommended Crepes and Coffee, a popular local café. Within days, we felt like locals, so it was no surprise when someone insisted that we stick around for the weekend’s big skijoring event.

Campgrounds become temporary neighborhoods. You can socialize with fellow campers over hot beverages, or simply relax by a warm fire under the winter night sky. Either way, you're assured a good night's sleep, ready for the next day's adventure. Picture your own Utah winter getaway with this snowy collection of photos and discover how a cold-weather adventure can create the warmest family memories.

The small community of Garden City on the shores of Bear Lake in Northern Utah.

Photo: Matt Hage

Dusty helps dad keep the site clear during a snowstorm on Bear Lake in Garden City.

Photo: Matt Hage

Enjoying a cozy night in our Airstream at the Sun Outdoors RV Park in Garden City.

Photo: Matt Hage

Traveling is all about experiencing where you are visiting, but sometimes it’s nice to enjoy dinner and a game night in your RV.

Photo: Matt Hage

Everyone told us that we had to stop in at Crepes and Coffee for breakfast. They were absolutely right.

Photo: Matt Hage

Our family enjoying the easy-going vibe at Beaver Mountain Ski Area.

Photo: Matt Hage

Dusty ‘shreds’ another run down Beaver Mountain. We found most of the terrain at the ski area to be family-friendly.

Photo: Matt Hage

Agnes points out our next run from the top of Beaver Mountain Ski Area.

Photo: Matt Hage

Highway 89 is a National Scenic Byway that winds through Logan Canyon between Logan and Garden City.

Photo: Matt Hage

Heading out from Beaver Creek Lodge for a day of snowmobiling in the mountains of Logan Canyon.

Photo: Matt Hage

Dusty was very excited to have his own snowmobile for touring around Beaver Creek Lodge.

Photo: Matt Hage

Ok, let’s do this! Mother and son get ready for some trail riding at Beaver Creek Lodge.

Photo: Matt Hage

Garden City hosts "Skijoring the Bear" in late February.

Photo: Matt Hage

Catching the skijoring event was a surprise highlight of our visit.

Photo: Matt Hage

Long-time local Mark Smoot leads us on a winter snowshoe hike in the woods above Bear Lake.

Photo: Matt Hage

The afternoon snowshoe included spectacular views of Bear Lake.

Photo: Matt Hage

Winter at Bear Lake offers a vastly different experience than the bustling summertime.

Photo: Matt Hage

Winter RV Camping Tips

Call Ahead – Most RV parks or campgrounds that are open in the winter operate with a reduced staff. Before booking your stay, it’s a good idea to get in touch with someone on site to find out what park amenities are open and available. Check the status of heated bathrooms/bathhouses, power, water and sewer dump. (Read: Wheeling It: An RV Primer for Utah Family Trips)
Take it Slow – Off season RV travel can mean inclement weather. Don’t be caught unprepared driving to your destination, especially if you’re headed to the mountains. Check road conditions and forecasts before heading out; driving an RV or towing a travel trailer on slick or snow-covered roads is a lot different than just driving your usual vehicle. Plan for the drive to take longer than expected and have traction devices (chains) for all your wheels. And yes, sometimes it is best to wait out conditions or postpone a trip altogether.
Electric Everything – While not a necessity, having electric power available really simplifies winter RV camping. It allows the addition of a space heater, or two depending on the size of your rig. This helps your RV furnace maintain a consistent temperature, as well as saving you a trip to refill your propane tanks. Electric drying racks are very handy for boots and gloves after a day playing in the snow. An electric warming strip fitted inside an insulated water hose allows use of your sites’ winter rated water spigot. And there are electric warming cases for water spigots that are not winterized. More advanced winter campers might want to add electric heating elements to keep their RV water tanks from freezing.

See more winter camping tips

RV Camping in Logan Canyon

About the Photographer – Matt Hage

A life-long Alaskan, photographer Matt Hage studied photojournalism after a stint in the U.S. Air Force and got his start at the local newspaper. He was an early adopter of combining storytelling imagery with remote, adventurous topics. This led to projects in the great mountain ranges and river systems around the world. Even though he has moved on from reportage to more commercial projects, pursuing interesting stories still drives his work. Today Hage spends much of the year traveling with his wife and son. The family still calls Alaska home and bases in their Airstream trailer during extended periods on the road.

Plan Your Trip

Utah has the Wasatch Mountains and Salt Lake City to the north, the salt flats and Great Basin Desert to the west, red rock country and national parks to the south — and mountains, rivers, forests and state parks everywhere in between. Wherever you're headed, there's a local community and basecamp town to provide you important amenities and insider knowledge along the way. Without a several-week road trip, it’s hard to experience it all, so pick a region and itinerary to start with, then come back again and again.

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