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

Need to Know

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

Photo Gallery