"A mysterious red pictograph (painted) panel accompanied by petroglyphs (pecked images) lies within Black Dragon Wash in the San Rafael Swell. Within a fenced area visitors may view several elongated human and animal like pictograph images attributed to the ancient Barrier Canyon culture. Stylistically different Fremont petroglyphs are located adjacent to the Barrier Canyon pictographs. In the past someone chalked the outlines of the pictograph images, a practice now know to irreparably damage fragile rock art resources. The person chalking the images combined several figures into what appears as a Dragon-like image. This “dragon” gives the canyon its name. Visitors to the site enjoy a short hike to the panel up through the wash and into the San Rafael reef. Nearby canyons and the wash itself provide additional hiking and photography opportunities. The road to the panel is sandy in spots and requires a high clearance vehicle. Do not travel into the area unless you are familiar with desert travel and are aware of the weather conditions. "

Black Dragon Pictograph Panel Dispersed

The Swell is also known as a great place for dispersed camping. Dispersed camping is a term used for camping outside of a designated campground. For those looking to strike off and find the ideal spot to pitch your tent, keep in mind that there are no services – no trash removal, no facilities, no access to water, meaning it is NOT for the casual camper.

San Rafael Dispersed Camping

Eardley Canyon trailhead offers primitive camping, and access to technical canyoneering routes. Non-technical hikers can hike 2.5 miles to the Amazing Pool with out gear.

Eardley Canyon Trailhead

Backcountry dirt roads intersect Interstate highway system here. From the exit 131 camping area go north for Buckhorn Draw, Swasey’s Leap, or the Wedge and go south for Temple Mountain, Sid’s Cabin, Head of Sinbad, Hondu Arch, and Hidden Splendor. Bring water and be prepared.

Exit 131 Dispersed Camping

Green River’s shaded, grassy campground is a beautiful oasis in the desert! The campground has recently been renovated with water and electric hookups for most sites. Modern restrooms provide showers. Sheltered picnic tables provide a relaxing spot to enjoy views of the Green River.

Green River State Park Campground

Shady Acres RV Park

Welcome to Green River KOA, home of the Utah Super Six. Whether you just need a one night stop off I-70, or you're looking for a base camp to explore the amazing Utah landscape, Green River KOA is conveniently located to I-70 and central to so many adventures so you'll a quiet night away from the Moab crowd or you can spend multiple days exploring without having to move around every day!  Here are just some of the local attractions that you'll enjoy:

Arches National Park
Canyonlands National Park
Capitol Reef National Park
Goblin Valley State Park
Deadhorse Point State Park
San Rafael Swell (one of Utah's best kept secrets and a great outdoor adventure for families and pets)
Little Wild Horse Canyon (the perfect slot canyon for all ages; no canyoneering experience needed.  Plus it's great for your furry companions too)
Swasey's Beach (who wouldn't enjoy a large white sandy beach in the middle of the desert?)
Mountain Biking (Athena Trail is only 5 minutes from our door, with hundreds of other trails just 30 minutes away)
Amazing Rock Art & Ghost Towns (Black Dragon, Rochester Panel, Sego Canyon, and many others)
Dinosaurs anyone? (Jurassic National Monument, Fossil Point, Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail, John Wesley Powell Museum)
Robbers Roost (Butch Cassidy's hideout and a canyoneering wonderland; check out Get in the Wild for guided tours)
White Wash Sand Dunes (ride you motorcycle, side by side, or ATV right out of the campground) 

We are the only campground in Green River with a pool (certainly the only one with a Turbo-Twister Slide!), and you can also enjoy our other campground activities like pickleball, basketball, or horseshoes, plus there is a great museum right across the street (with dinosaur fossils your kids will love). 

Open year round; Pool open Memorial Day to Labor Day

Green River KOA

Athena Slabs at Green River

Located just a few hundred yards downstream of the San Rafael campground, this was built by equestrians for equestrians. Six campsites with pullouts to accommodate vehicle and horsetrailer surround a central holding pen with 3 separate stalls.

Equestrian Campground

Buckhorn Draw Dispersed

Buckhorn Draw is a stunning canyon cut into the Navajo, Kayenta, and Wingate Sandstones. Carsonite posts mark where there are primitive campsites where lucky campers might spot bighorn sheep running across the ledges. Camping in Buckhorn Wash is limited to designated sites that are marked with camping signs. Creating new campsites is not allowed. Reservations not available. If there are no marked and designated sites available when you arrive, find another place to camp outside Buckhorn Draw (Check out the Swinging Bridge Campgrounds).

Buckhorn Draw Dispersed Camping

Bureau of Land Management

First off do not pay attention to google directions as it will take you out of the way through a wash. There is quite an easy turn off right off of highway 70 (whether heading east or west, you can turn north off the highway). Once you turnoff of the highway there is a gate that may or may not be closed so once you go through leave it how you found it. 

  

Follow the very manageable dirt road and there will be multiple pull out areas to camp in. The closer to the highway the more busy it is so keep driving. We found a small pull out between the two trails that take you on hike to the Spirit Arches and Petroglyphs and the other up through the wash to the pictographs. 

  

The hike to the pictographs is much more interesting as you enter the narrow canyon. There are several spots that are reachable by RV, but further back you’ll need high clearance and possible 4x4. 

  

There is no camping allowed within the canyon. At the trailhead though there are a few large areas for camping but probably easier with higher clearance. There is no bathroom, trash or water so pack in and pack out even that which you have already digested.;) 

  

No cell service from ATT, Verizon or TMobile, but was able to get a bar or two on Verizon with the cell booster.  Oddly we did have cell reception on the hike within the canyon.

Great Hiking

Access to this is a bit tricky as you need to take a gate from the interstate. It isn't your typical interstate exit. On the eastbound lane you've then got to drive under the interstate which there is a underpass there that they put a concrete ramp in the wash to make it possible to drive through. Most passenger cars can make this route. The campground itself is very basic there's no water there's no toilets. But it is less than a mile from the black dragon pictograph panel and that is the big plus for it. Note that driving in from the west is an extremely rough road that requires a four-wheel drive high ground clearance vehicle and some skill.

Black Dragon Pictograph Panel Dispersed

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Great Hiking

Basic camping near Black Dragon pictograph

Cool, no camping up wash.

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