BLM Pelican Lake

Looks like the BLM has recently updated and improved this location. Several vault toilets, campsites have tables, fire rings, tent pads and most important.. overhead awnings for shade as main camp sites are in open area with no shade trees. Note there are no trash cans or dumpsters and there is no drinking water either. Two group camping sites and one group day use area. Nice boat ramp and lake is large enough to have fun on. Not sure if lake is drawn down as irrigation season goes to late summer. Camp sites are $10/$5 senior pass. Group sites are $35. No reservations, sites are all first come and 14d limit.

We stayed here during the summer of 2020 due to its proximity to Vernal. It’s a decent enough campground, it’s very well maintained by BLM rangers which is probably the best part about it. Communal picnic tables at a couple of sites and clean pit toilets.

Due to its proximity to Pelican Lake, the sites are VERY buggy, at least they were during the summertime. It was bearable but I would definitely suggest bringing netting of some kind or one of those cheap bug jackets. There isn’t a lot of cover in the slightest, so site privacy is minimal and one can see very easily between each site. Fortunately, during our visit on a weekday, the campground wasn’t at all crowded, so it felt a lot more private than it probably would on a weekend. One upside of our stay was that we got to see some Pronghorns, photo included.

If you’re in the Vernal area, this is a nice, cheap campsite that will definitely suit your needs for primitive camping. I can’t remember the price exactly, but it was between $10-$15 a night and you pay in a BLM dropbox through an honor system.