The spruces campground is a strong contender for the most popular national forest campground near salt lake city. Conveniently located just a few minutes from the city in picturesque big cottonwood canyon, spruces is the perfect basecamp for hiking, mountain biking, and fishing, providing ample shade under the spruce and aspen forest. Rvs are permitted at the spruces campground, but the lack of hookups means it’s far more popular for tents and car camping. The campground features flush toilets and drinking water, and all of the sites have picnic tables, campfire rings, and charcoal grills.