Maple Bench Campground
Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest
Maple Bench is a small, quiet and peaceful campground. It is perched on a dramatic camp overlooking the Nebo Loop Scenic Byway, at an elevation of 5,800 feet. Tents and very small campers work best at this campground.
10 rustic camp sites are available with picnic and serving tables and campfire rings with grills. Vault restroom facilities are available.
Notifications and Alerts
Campground Closed For Season: Gates are locked, no facilities (bathrooms, water, trash) are available, entry is prohibited and may result in citations. Campground will reopen in May 2025
Need to Know
This Campground is in Bear Country
Always store food and trash securely to avoid attracting wildlife
-Failure to comply may result in fines up to $5,000, removal from your campsite and/or imprisonment
Remember, a fed bear is a dead bear; your actions can save lives
This is a 'pack it in, pack it out' facility; bring trash bags
Dogs or Domestic Pets
Owners must
-Control the dog by a leash not to exceed six feet (6’) at all times
-Clean up dog feces immediately
-Limit two dogs per campsite
Do not allow dogs to
-Rush, threaten, or attack people/animals
-Obstruct or interfere with people, vehicles, or property
-Cause damage to vegetation, habitat, or harass wildlife
Campground Etiquette and Rules
Gates open at 7am, close at 10pm
Quiet Hours are 10pm-6am No generators after 10pm
Camping is allowed only within the designated space provided. Do not go beyond the boundaries of your site
Maximum occupancy is 8 people per single site
Reserved campsites will be held until 12pm on the day following your scheduled arrival date
Horses/Off-road vehicles are prohibited in the campground
Leave No Trace
-Put all trash in dumpsters, when provided, or properly stored in your vehicle or bear box
-Remove all personal property and trash when leaving
-Unclean campsites will be reported to the District Ranger LEO
-Leaving food/trash in an unoccupied campsite may result in a $5,000 fine
Cleaning fish, animals, or bathing where drinking water is supplied is strictly prohibited
Fireworks or other explosives are prohibited. Discharging of a firearm in the campground is not allowed
No fighting or boisterous behavior. Be courteous to your fellow visitor. Keep noise at a reasonable level
No amplified music is allowed in USDA Forest Service campgrounds and facilities. People come to the campgrounds for peace and quiet
Max Vehicle Length includes tow vehicle
There is a 2-night minimum stay on weekends; 3-night minimum stay on holiday weekends
Trailers/Campers and RVs: Not permitted at this campground due to site size, tight turns, and narrow roads
First Come First Served (FF) sites
You must claim a FF site in person on the day you wish to check-in
A site listed as FF does not guarantee availability, Recreation.gov does not update FF occupancy
The only way to know if an FF site is available is to arrive at the campground on the day you plan to check-in
Availability cannot be predicted
Many sites are in remote locations, we cannot contact camp hosts about availability
Recommended arrival times vary by day. Weekends and holidays typically fill more quickly
To claim an FF site, you must be physically present, occupy the site, and pay at that time
There is no waiting list for FF sites
Extra Vehicle -$10 per vehicle, per day (paid on-site cash/check)
Firewood -$9
Only Senior or Access passes qualify for discounts and proof of ownership upon arrival is required. If you booked at a discount without a Senior or Access pass, you'll need to pay the difference
Please understand that camping is an outdoor experience; we do not give refunds for weather or natural conditions
Early departures, or cancellations after the arrival date are not entitled to a refund
For more information on visiting Bear Country visit
For campground Rules and Regulations visit gocamputah.com/rules
Click here for more info about the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest
-For more information, please call Spanish Fork Ranger District at 801-798-3571 or Utah Recreation at 385-273-1100
-Visit our website gocamputah.com or Facebook facebook.com/letsgocamputah
Don't Move Firewood: Help prevent the spread of tree-killing pests in our national forests by obtaining firewood within 10 miles of your destination and burning it on-site. For more information click here
Please note: Utah Recreation is not responsible for accident or injury to any person or property resulting from the use of this facility and is not responsible for the loss of money or valuables of any kind. The user of this permit assumes full and complete responsibility for the conduct and actions of all members in their party
Natural Features
White fir, Pinyon Pine and Gambel Oak grow in an open forest that provides shade and shelter for sites. The campgrounds unusual position isn't apparent when you first drive in to place. However an abrupt edge drops-off into the deep canyon carved be Peteetneet Creek. Views from this drop-off look all the way down the valley to the distant town of Payson.
Nearby Attractions
The Mount Nebo Wilderness Area is adjacent, brimming with beautiful mountain scenery, pristine waters, abundant wildlife, vibrant wildflowers and numerous trail opportunities. The Nebo Loop Scenic Byway stretches 37 miles through high alpine terrain, dense forests and colorful meadows. Devils Kitchen Geological Area can be found along the loop. It offers a 1/2 mile round trip trail to interesting red rock hoodoos.
Recreation
Rainbow and brook trout fishing are popular in the creek below the campground. Canoeing, floating and kayaking are enjoyed on the calm waters of Maple Lake only a half mile from the campground. Red Lake trail leaves from the upper camping areas by the lake.
Changes & Cancellations
Reservation Cancellations & Changes
Cancelling a Reservation: Customers may cancel their reservation prior to arrival both on-line and through the call center. A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation. Depending on when you cancel in relation to your arrival day, it may be considered a late cancellation (see below).
Changing an Existing Reservation: When changes are made prior to the cut-off window:
If a customer wants to switch dates that are entirely outside of the original reservation dates, there is a $10 change fee.
There is no change fee if a customer extends or shortens a reservation, as long as the change includes dates from the original reservation. If they choose to depart early, they may forfeit the recreation fee for the day of departure.
There is no change fee if the customer wants to switch sites that are the same price with the same reservation dates in the same facility.
If a reservation is made that includes dates beyond the maximum booking window, that reservation cannot be changed until 18 days have passed from the original booking date.
Late Cancellations or Cancellations within the Cut-off Window
Individual Campsites: A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee.
Cabins / Lookouts: Customers who cancel a cabin or lookout reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee.
Group Facility (including Cabins and Lookouts): Customers who cancel a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee.
Group Day Use Area: Customers who cancel a group day-use facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will forfeit the total day-use fee.
Changes or Cancellations within the Cut-off Window: Once a reservation date has begun, customers cannot change a reservation using the online system or through the Call Center (see below for early departures). If the location is staffed, on-site personnel may or may not be able to assist with changes or cancellations (check with local staff).
No-Shows
Overnight and Day-Use Facilities: A 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 (or for day-use facilities, by check-in time the day of arrival). Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date and will hold group day-use facilities until check-in time on the arrival date.
No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night’s recreation fee for a campsite or forfeit the entire day-use fee for a day-use facility.
Early Departures
If a customer departs prior to the scheduled check-out date, they may be eligible for a partial refund.
Please notify staff at the facility if you depart early to allow others to use the site.
Customers may notify the call center to request a refund of remaining unused nights. If a customer requests a refund for an early departure after the facility check-out time has passed, the customer will not be refunded for that night and is eligible for a refund on any additional nights that will not be used.
Interagency Pass Discounts
The following are the only Interagency Passes that provide a discount on camping reservations and some tickets:
Senior Annual Pass
Senior Lifetime Pass
Access Pass
Golden Age Pass
Golden Access Pass
Eligible pass discounts only apply to individual campsites and may apply to a ticket for the pass holder. Interagency Pass discounts do not apply to group reservations, cabins, shelters, and multi-use sites (doubles, triples, etc.).
Pass discounts only apply to the recreation (or use) fee for the facility. Other charges such as electricity or water hookups, reservation or other fees are not eligible for a discount.
The holder of the pass must occupy the site for which the discount is applied.
The pass can only be used for one site during a time period.
Refunds
Customers may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. Customers may also initiate a refund request through the call center at any time after their reservation has ended.
Fees: Applicable fees, such as reservation fees, service/cancellation fees, lottery application fees, and change fees, are non-refundable.
Debit or Credit Card Purchases: Refunds for debit or credit card payments made after October 1, 2018 will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay. In the event that a customer has cancelled this card, they will need to contact their card company to have the funds released. We cannot issue refunds to any card other than the one used to pay. If a customer paid with a debit or credit card prior to October 1, 2018 their refund will be issued in the form of a Treasury check.
Check or Cash Purchases: Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. You may update the address at the time you request the refund. It may take up to 6-8 weeks for the Treasury check to arrive. Please make sure your address is up to date in your customer profile.
Emergency Closures: In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within your Recreation.gov customer profile.
Reservation fees for free tickets are non-refundable in the event of an emergency closure.
Recreation.gov Billing Information
Reservation transactions will appear on customer's credit card statements as "Recreation.gov 877-444-6777 NM"
Changes to Policies and Procedures
Recreation.gov reserves the right, when necessary, to modify reservation policies. These policies were last updated September 2019.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
564 W 700 S Ste.305, Box #5 Pleasant Grove UT 84062
Physical Address
Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest FR 021 Payson UT 84651
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 385-273-1100
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From I-15 take the Payson exit 250. Go South on Main Street to 100 North (1st traffic light) take a left at this light. Continue East to 600 East then take a right in front of Peteetneet Academy. Go South on 600 East for 3.5 miles to the mouth of Payson Canyon. Maple Bench Campground is approximately 1.5 miles from the mouth of the canyon on the right hand side of the road.
Available Campsites
- Site 4, Loop MAPLE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 2, Loop MAPLE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 7, Loop MAPLE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 5, Loop MAPLE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 1, Loop MAPLE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 3, Loop MAPLE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 9, Loop MAPLE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 6, Loop MAPLE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 8, Loop MAPLE, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 10, Loop MAPLE, Type Standard Nonelectric
