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Settlement Canyon Tooele

A guide to Settlement Canyon, the reservoir and campground on the edge of Tooele

Settlement Canyon, Tooele's reservoir and campground, 2.2 miles from Main Street

Settlement Canyon opens on the south edge of Tooele, 2.2 miles from City Hall, and it is where the town goes after work. A reservoir the state stocks with rainbow trout sits a mile up the canyon, with the canyon campground beside it. Day use runs $5 per vehicle, and the canyon is open from spring into late October.

On this page The short answer What is here The reservoir The campground Settlement vs Middle FAQ
Scott BuehlerBy Scott Buehler, Moving Utah Updated October 2026

The short answer

Settlement Canyon is Tooele's in-town canyon, opening south off Main Street into the Oquirrh Mountains. From City Hall it is 2.2 miles south, then half a mile up Settlement Canyon Road to the gate; the reservoir and the campground sit about a mile in. The state stocks the reservoir with rainbow trout several times a year. Day use is $5 per vehicle, camping is a separate fee, and the whole canyon runs a warm-season schedule from roughly the first of April to the end of October. Tooele County runs the recreation.

Where South edge of Tooele, up Settlement Canyon into the Oquirrh Mountains
From Tooele 2.2 miles south on Main Street, then half a mile up Settlement Canyon Road
Season Roughly the first of April through the end of October, weather permitting
Cost $5 per vehicle for day use; a season pass covers both canyons; camping separate
Time needed An hour for a picnic or a fishing stop; a night or two to camp

What is here

  1. 1. The drive up the canyon and the gate
  2. 2. The reservoir and the trout
  3. 3. The campground up the canyon
  4. 4. Picnics, the road, and the canyon walk
  5. 5. Winter in the canyon
Planning sections Settlement vs Middle Canyon Living near Settlement Canyon Plan a day up the canyon Quick answers

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The drive up the canyon and the gate

South edge of Tooele $5 per vehicle Paved to the gate

The canyon is easy to find and closer than newcomers expect. From Tooele City Hall you head south on Main Street, which doubles as State Route 36, for 2.2 miles, then turn left on Settlement Canyon Road and follow it about half a mile to the entrance gate. The whole run takes only a few minutes, which is the point: this is the outdoors you reach on a weeknight, not a weekend expedition.

At the gate you pay the day-use fee, $5 per vehicle in season, and the road stays paved as it climbs the narrow mouth of the canyon toward the reservoir and the campground about a mile in. If you use the canyon often, a season pass covers both Settlement and Middle Canyon for the year, with a lower rate for seniors, and camping is charged separately by site.

The gate keeps warm-season hours, open through the day and into the evening, and the canyon runs roughly from the first of April to the end of October before it closes for winter. Because the county sets the fees and the hours and they shift from year to year, it is worth a quick check of the current season before you load the car.

The details

WhereSettlement Canyon Road, off Main Street on the south edge of Tooele
From City Hall2.2 miles south on Main, then half a mile up the canyon road
Day use$5 per vehicle at the gate in season
Season passCovers both Settlement and Middle Canyon, with a senior rate
RoadPaved from the gate to the reservoir and campground

Good to know

The canyon is a working county recreation area with a staffed tollbooth in season, so have the day-use fee ready at the gate. The rates and the gate hours are set by Tooele County and change from year to year, so treat the figures here as the recent pattern and confirm the current season before a trip.

Before you go

  • Day use is $5 per vehicle; a season pass is the better deal if you come often.
  • The drive from Main Street to the gate is only a couple of miles and a few minutes.
  • The paved road reaches the reservoir and the campground; you do not need high clearance.
  • The canyon closes for winter around the end of October, so check before a late-season trip.

The reservoir and the trout

A mile up the canyon Rainbow trout Stocked by the state

The reservoir is the heart of Settlement Canyon, a compact sheet of water tucked into the canyon about a mile above the gate. The state stocks it with rainbow trout several times a year, and it fishes from shore with bait, lures or flies. Rainbow is the fish you are most likely to land.

One rule shapes everything about fishing here. Most people fish from the shoreline, which wraps most of the water. Check the state stocking report for dates before a trip. For a lot of people in Tooele that is a feature, not a limit, because a kid with a cheap rod can catch a trout without anyone launching anything.

Keep in mind what the reservoir is for. It also holds irrigation water, so the level can draw down through a dry summer, and winter ice is not safe to walk on. Anyone of licensing age needs a current Utah fishing license, and it pays to check conditions before you build an afternoon around the water.

The details

WhereThe reservoir, about a mile up Settlement Canyon from the gate
FishRainbow trout, stocked by the state
FishingStocked several times a year; see the state report
LicenseA current Utah fishing license for anyone of licensing age
Run byTooele County Parks and Recreation

Good to know

The shoreline is walkable most of the way around, so you can move to find fish rather than stake one spot. Because this is an irrigation reservoir, the water can be well down by late summer, which changes where the fish hold.

Before you go

  • Check the stocking report and the water level before you go.
  • Rainbow trout are the catch; bait, lures, and flies all produce.
  • Carry a current Utah fishing license if you are of licensing age.
  • The water level drops through a dry summer, so check conditions before a fishing trip.

The campground up the canyon

Beside the reservoir Tent and RV camping April to October

A short way up from the gate is the canyon's campground, and it is more developed than the setting might suggest. The county lists picnic tables, camping sites, a playground, a pavilion and hiking trails. Dry camping is $20 a day for a vehicle. RV hookups are $40 for full and $30 for electric only, and the hookup water is not drinkable.

The one thing the canyon does not have is potable water, so plan to bring your own for drinking and cooking; the hookup water is not for drinking. The reservoir and its shoreline are a short walk away, so a campout here comes with fishing built in. It is a straightforward, close-to-town campground rather than a backcountry one.

The campground keeps the same warm-season window as the canyon, running roughly from spring into late October, weather permitting. The county takes reservations online, so for a summer weekend it is worth booking ahead. Camping fees are separate from the day-use fee.

The details

WhereThe campground, up Settlement Canyon near the reservoir
GroundsPicnic tables, camping sites, a playground and a pavilion
SitesDry camping $20 a day a vehicle; RV hookups $40 full, $30 electric only
FacilitiesHookup water is not drinkable; bring your own
SeasonRoughly April through October; reserve through the county

Good to know

Reservations run through Tooele County Parks and Recreation, so plan ahead for a summer date. Because there is no potable water in the canyon, bring enough for the whole stay.

Before you go

  • Sites are reserved through the county, not first-come; book ahead for summer weekends.
  • There is no potable water in the canyon, so pack in what you need to drink.
  • Dry camping and RV hookups cover most kinds of trips.
  • The campground closes for the season around the end of October with the rest of the canyon.

Picnics, the road, and the canyon walk

Shaded tables A paved canyon road Free with day use

You do not have to camp or fish to get something out of Settlement Canyon. For a lot of Tooele, the canyon is simply the nearest patch of shade and quiet, a place to bring lunch on a hot afternoon or let kids run while dinner cooks on a grill. Picnic tables and a playground sit near the reservoir, and the whole area is included with the day-use fee.

The paved road up the canyon is short but pretty, climbing the narrow drainage below the Oquirrh foothills with the reservoir as the turnaround. It is an easy, stroller-friendly walk or an unhurried drive, and the shoreline path around the water is the natural loop for stretching your legs. This is not a big trail system; it is a compact, walkable canyon that rewards an hour more than a whole day.

For a longer hike or a mountain view, Tooele's other canyon does more. Middle Canyon climbs east into the Oquirrhs to an overlook above the Bingham Canyon mine, and the high summits west of the valley are reached from the Grantsville side. Settlement Canyon is the close, easy one; when you want the big drive, it points you next door.

The details

WhereAround the reservoir and up the paved canyon road
The drawShaded picnic tables, a playground, and an easy shoreline walk
CostIncluded with the $5 per vehicle day-use fee
Best forA picnic, an easy walk, an hour of shade close to town
For moreMiddle Canyon for the longer drive and the mine overlook

Good to know

The canyon is compact, so think of it as a picnic-and-stroll spot rather than a trail destination. The shaded tables near the water go first on hot weekends, so come early if you want one.

Before you go

  • Picnic tables and the playground are included with the day-use fee.
  • The paved road and the shoreline make for an easy, stroller-friendly walk.
  • For a real hike and a mountain view, Middle Canyon next door is the better bet.
  • Shaded tables fill on summer weekends; arrive early to claim one.

Winter in the canyon

Gate closed for the season Ice on the reservoir Check before you go

Come late October, the canyon shifts into its off-season. The gate closes for winter along with the campground, and the developed day-use season ends, so the summer routine of paying at the tollbooth and camping by the water pauses until spring. The canyon does not vanish, but it stops being the staffed, fee-run recreation area it is from April on.

The reservoir itself deserves respect in the cold months. It has been closed at times specifically for unsafe ice, and because it is a working irrigation supply the level and the ice are unpredictable from one year to the next. Walking out onto the ice is a real hazard here, not a theoretical one, and the safest move in winter is to enjoy the reservoir from the bank and stay off it entirely.

For a winter walk, Tooele leans on its parks and the foothill routes more than on the canyon. Settlement Canyon comes back into its own when the gate reopens in spring, the reservoir is fresh-stocked, and the cottonwoods leaf out. If you are new to town, treat the canyon as a warm-season place first and confirm access before any off-season visit.

The details

SeasonThe developed canyon runs about April to October; the gate closes for winter
The reservoirCan freeze; ice is not safe to walk on
SafetyStay off the ice; enjoy the water from the bank
Winter optionTooele's parks and foothill routes over the canyon
ReopensIn spring, with fresh trout stocking

Good to know

The canyon's fee season and gate hours are set by the county and end in late fall, so an off-season visit is a different thing from a summer one. Ice on the reservoir has prompted closures, so never assume it is safe to walk on.

Before you go

  • The developed, fee-run canyon season ends around late October and reopens in spring.
  • The reservoir can be unsafe to walk on when frozen; stay on the bank.
  • For a winter outing, Tooele's parks and foothills are the safer, open choice.
Scott Buehler

Scott Buehler

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Settlement vs Middle Canyon

Two canyons out of Tooele, and they do different jobs

Tooele has two canyons cut into the Oquirrhs on its east and south sides, and newcomers mix them up. Settlement is the close, easy one built around a reservoir and a campground; Middle Canyon is the longer scenic drive to an overlook above the Bingham Canyon mine. Here is how they compare, with Middle Canyon covered in full on its own guide.

Feature Settlement Canyon Middle Canyon
Where it goesSouth into the Oquirrhs, a mile to the reservoirEast and up toward the Oquirrh crest
The drawA stocked reservoir and a campgroundAn overlook above the Bingham Canyon mine
SeasonAbout April to OctoberAbout June to November, road and snow permitting
RoadPaved to the gate and the reservoirPaved low, then unpaved to the overlook
Best forAn easy evening, fishing, a campoutA scenic drive and the big view

Spring opens the gate

Around the first of April the canyon reopens, the reservoir is fresh-stocked with trout, and the cottonwoods along the water start to leaf out. It is the first easy outdoors of the Tooele year.

Summer is the after-work canyon

Evenings at the reservoir, weekends at the campground, and shaded tables for a picnic. Bring your own water, since there is none to drink in the canyon, and come early for a table.

Late fall closes it down

The gate closes around the end of October, the campground shuts, and the reservoir can draw down as the irrigation season ends. Winter access is limited, and the ice is not to be trusted.

This is a working irrigation reservoir, not a state park. Settlement Canyon Reservoir supplies irrigation water to Tooele, so the level can drop through a dry summer, and the water has been closed at times for low levels and for unsafe ice in winter. Camping water is not drinkable, so bring your own. Carry your own water, check current conditions before you count on the reservoir, and stay off the ice in the cold months.

Living near Settlement Canyon

A canyon at the edge of town, not a drive you have to plan

If you are weighing a move to Tooele, part of what the town offers is this: a reservoir, a campground, and a shaded canyon 2.2 miles from Main Street, the kind of outdoors you use on a normal week rather than save for a road trip. Here is how that reads for someone deciding where to land.

Outdoors on a weeknight

Settlement Canyon starts a couple of miles from City Hall, so a fishing hour or a picnic is a short hop after work or school, not a weekend expedition. That closeness is the whole appeal.

Two canyons, not one

With Middle Canyon a few minutes east, the south and east side of Tooele has a working reservoir and a mountain overlook within reach, so the outdoors here range from a shoreline stroll to a real scenic drive.

If you are house-hunting

Homes on the south end of Tooele sit closest to the canyon mouth, but the whole valley floor is within a few minutes of the gate, so this is an amenity most of the town shares rather than one neighborhood's alone.

Drawn to having a canyon this close to the driveway? The Tooele guide walks through what actually moving here looks like, from the neighborhoods and schools down to the homes on the market, while the Tooele County overview pulls back to show where the town lands among the three valleys and the long run of desert stretching west.

Put it together

An evening, a fishing morning, or a campout up the canyon

A few honest ways to spend the time in Settlement Canyon, sorted by what you are after.

An evening at the reservoir

  • Drive 2.2 miles south from City Hall
  • Pay the day-use fee at the gate
  • Walk the shoreline and fish till dusk
  • Bring your own water; there is none up here

A fishing morning

  • Rainbow trout, stocked by the state
  • Bait, lures, or flies all produce
  • Carry a current Utah fishing license
  • Move along the shore to find fish

A campout in the canyon

  • Reserve a site through the county
  • Tent site or full-hookup RV spot
  • The group site has an amphitheater
  • Pack in your own drinking water

A canyon walk or picnic

  • Grab a shaded table near the water
  • Stroll the paved road up-canyon
  • Loop the reservoir shoreline
  • Best on a quiet weekday afternoon

Keep reading

More of Tooele, from the same valley

The whole picture

Tooele, start here

Tooele in one place: history, canyons, food, and the move-in view.

Read the guide

The other canyon

Middle Canyon and the Oquirrh Overlook

The drive east to a rail above the largest open-pit mine on earth.

Read the guide

The ranked list

Top things to do in Tooele

The honest rundown of what earns an afternoon in and around town.

Read the guide

Just past town

Day trips from Tooele

The gristmill, Ophir, the salt flats, and more, sorted by the drive.

Read the guide

Should I move

Moving to Tooele

The commute over the Oquirrhs, the two roads out, and the honest trade.

Read the guide

The orientation

Tooele County, how it fits together

The three valleys and the west desert, for a newcomer finding the map.

Read the guide

Quick answers

Settlement Canyon, answered

Settlement Canyon opens on the south edge of Tooele, into the Oquirrh Mountains. From Tooele City Hall, head south on Main Street, which is State Route 36, for 2.2 miles to Settlement Canyon Road, then turn left and go about half a mile to the entrance gate. The reservoir and the campground sit roughly a mile up the canyon.

Yes. Day use is 5 dollars per vehicle at the gate in season. A canyon season pass covers both Settlement Canyon and Middle Canyon for the year, with a lower rate for visitors 60 and older, and camping is charged separately by site type. Rates are set by Tooele County, so it is worth confirming the current season before you go.

The state stocks the reservoir with rainbow trout several times a year, from March to October in 2026. Rainbow is the fish most anglers catch, on bait, lures, and flies. Anyone of licensing age needs a current Utah fishing license.

Most people fish from the shoreline, which wraps most of the water. It is a working irrigation reservoir, so check the state stocking report and the water level before a trip.

Yes. The campground, about a mile up the canyon, has picnic tables, camping sites, a playground, a pavilion and hiking trails. Dry camping is $20 a day for a vehicle, and RV hookups are $40 for full and $30 for electric only. The hookup water is not drinkable, so bring your own. The campground runs roughly April through October, weather permitting, and sites are reserved through the county.

The canyon keeps a warm-season schedule, roughly the first of April through the end of October, weather permitting, with the gate open through the day into the evening. Exact opening dates shift with conditions each year, and the county sets the gate hours, so confirm the current season before a trip.

Tooele County Parks and Recreation runs the day-use area and the campground. Because it is an irrigation supply, the water level can drop through the summer and access can change.

Settlement Canyon is the in-town canyon on the south edge of Tooele, built around a stocked reservoir and a campground close to the valley floor. Middle Canyon climbs east into the Oquirrhs to an overlook above the Bingham Canyon mine and opens later in the year. Settlement is the easy after-work outing; Middle Canyon is the longer scenic drive.

Settlement Canyon, because it is the one closest to daily life. It starts 2.2 miles from City Hall, opens early in the spring, and gives you a reservoir to fish, a shaded campground, and a picnic within a few minutes of Main Street. Middle Canyon is the bigger scenic drive when the high road is open, but Settlement is where Tooele actually goes after work.

Scott Buehler, Moving Utah

The canyon tells you the pace, the block tells you the rest

Fishing the reservoir after work and camping a couple of miles up the canyon are the easy part of picturing a life in Tooele. Harder to read off a listing: whether a given house sits on the south end near the canyon mouth, what it costs to be there, and how the daily haul over the Oquirrhs to Salt Lake actually feels in February. That is the part I help with. Send me what matters to you, and I will connect you with a Tooele partner agent who works this ground every day, then stay on the file through the research and the financing.

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Keep going

Continue your Tooele research

Eight more doors into Tooele, chosen for what this page covers.

Scott Buehler

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