Join the fun near Castle Dale. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Castle Dale. Find the best campgrounds near Castle Dale, UT. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
The Wedge Overlook offers expansive views of the San Rafael River below and the Sids Mountain Wilderness Area beyond. It's wild and undeveloped landscape offers premier backcountry recreation.
Little Grand Canyon trailhead serves as the starting or ending point for those hiking through the Little Grand Canyon. The trailhead is located past the Swinging Bridge and .8 miles west of the Buckhorn Draw Rd. This hike explores the San Rafael river as it cuts through the Little Grand Canyon. This area is a popular 2-3 day backpacking trip with primitive campsites where user are required to practice leave no trace ethics. The San Rafael River should only be floated in small crafts above 200 CFS and large crafts above 500 CFS. Hikers should only attempt to hike this section when the river is below 50 CFS. The hike is approximately 18 miles with numerous river crossings required. The side canyons along the hike offer endless miles of exploring. The trailhead is located past the Swinging Bridge Campground and .8 miles west of the Buckhorn Draw Rd.
The campground at Goblin Valley State Park consists of 25 sites and two yurts. Goblin Valley camping is divided into ten walk-in tent pads, fourteen RV spaces, and one group site able to accommodate up to 35 people. Showers and flush toilets, as well as a communal water and dump station are all available free of charge. All sites contain a picnic table, metal fire ring, and shade shelter. Cowboys searching for cattle first discovered secluded Goblin Valley. Then in the late 1920s, Arthur Chaffin, owner/operator of the Hite ferry, and two companions were searching for an alternative route between Green River and Caineville. They came to a vantage point about a mile west of Goblin Valley and were awed by what they saw, five buttes and a valley of strange-shaped rock formations surrounded by a wall of eroded cliffs. In 1949, Chaffin returned to the area he called Mushroom Valley. He spent several days exploring the mysterious valley and photographing its scores of intricately eroded creatures. The area was acquired by the state of Utah and in 1964 was officially designated a state park. Goblin Valley State Park is a showcase of geologic history. Exposed cliffs reveal parallel layers of rock bared by erosion. Because of the uneven hardness of sandstone, some patches resist erosion much better than others. The softer material is removed by wind and water, leaving thousands of unique, geologic goblins. Water erosion and the smoothing action of windblown dust work together to shape the goblins. Bedrock is exposed because of the thin soil and lack of vegetation. When rain does fall, there are few plant roots and little soil to capture and hold the water, which quickly disappears, in muddy streams without penetrating the bedrock.
Castle Gate RV Park & Campground is located in Helper, Utah. Only an hour from the Provo area and halfway between downtown Salt Lake City and Moab. Built from scratch and newly opened in 2019, we are excited to have you as our guests!
We have full hookup 30/50 amp Big Rig RV sites, Cabins and tent sites - some with water and electric! Free fiber-optic Wi-Fi, Splash Pad, Laundry, Store, Playground, Horseshoes, and More!
We are just a few walk-able blocks from Historic Helper’s Main Street, with restaurants, coffee shop, bowling alley, museum, art galleries, grocery store, gift shops, bank, business center, liquor store, post office, bar with pool and darts, and many photo opportunities. When you get to Helper you feel like you have gone back in time about 70 years and instantly get a soul soothing feeling mixed with both exhilaration and relaxation. No crowds here. We've got space for groups large and small! Open year-round.
$25 - $150 / night
Joe's Valley Reservoir Campground is located in a high mountain valley next to its namesake, at an elevation of 7,000 feet. Visitors enjoy boating, fishing and exploring the surrounding off-road vehicle trails. A paved road winds around the lake but quickly turns to dirt once the elevation begins to increase.
The reservoir offers good fishing for cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, tiger muskie and trophy splake. Boating, water skiing and canoeing are popular on the lake. A boat ramp is located nearby on the eastern shoreline. Horseback riding, bouldering, hiking and mountain biking are popular in the area as well.
Joe's Valley is situated on the Wasatch Plateau in Central Utah. Juniper, pinyon pine and sagebrush cover the area, and aspens and pines dot the surrounding hillsides. Located on a reservoir, there is nearby access to Seely Creek, Littles Creek, North Dragon Creek, and Lowry Water.
Renowned bouldering opportunities are located in nearby Straight and Cottonwood Canyons. Popular mountain fisheries at Grassy Lake, Pete's Hole, and Potters Ponds are all within 10 miles of the group site. The 370-mile Arapeen Off-Highway Vehicle Trail System can be accessed directly from the Reeder Trailhead, which includes 66 and 55-inch OHV trails. Attractions at Joe's Valley Reservoir include the Orange Olsen Guard Station cabin rentals, and Joe's Valley Group Pavilion.
$18 / night
A Swell Oasis in the desert of the San Rafael Swell: Swell Retreat. A great place to stay with your family reunion, youth group, corporate group with lots of fun on site and all around the area.
A pine tree farm was active prior to us purchasing the land, so lots of beautiful trees. A couple ponds stocked with large mouth bass. A Zipline, WIBIT, water slide, a field of hay, and continued improvements to make it into a Swell Retreat!!!
We are a great spot to stay and have onsite a zip line into Lake Elevate, water slide into the pond, adventure island, zipline, kayaking, paddle boarding,
catch and release fishing, and close to all fun in the San Rafael Swell.
20 min or so from three reservoirs for additional fishing, swimming and motor boating, 30 minutes from the Little Grand Canyon for breathtaking views, hiking and mountain biking, petroglyphs and the San Rafael Swell river to float on, 60 minutes from Goblin Valley, within 60 minutes to multiple slot canyons: Little Wild Horse Canyon, Muddy Creek, The Chute (similar to Zion National Park), Baptist Draw, to name a few.
Mountain fun for rock climbing just up the road in Joe's Valley, hiking, biking, fishing, etc. We would love to have you stay on our little farm while you enjoy the fun of the San Rafael Swell adventures.
$25 - $1000 / night
Joes Valley Reservoir Campground is located in a high mountain valley adjacent to and just above Joes Valley Reservoir at an elevation of ~7,000 feet. Juniper, pinyon pine, and sagebrush cover the area, and aspen and pine dot the surrounding hillsides. Several sites provide nice views of the reservoir, and some sites are shaded. The campground contains several single- and double-family campsites, all of which are accessible. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Roads and parking spurs are paved. A boat ramp is located within the campground. The reservoir offers good fishing for cutthroat, rainbow trout, and trophy splake. Visitors enjoy boating, fishing, water skiing, and canoeing, as well as horseback riding, hiking, and mountain biking. The expansive Arapeen OHV Trail System can be accessed just west of the reservoir and has more than 350 miles of designated, well-maintained trails that are suitable for all riding skill levels.
$10 - $18 / night
Little Grand Canyon trailhead serves as the starting or ending point for those hiking through the Little Grand Canyon. The trailhead is located past the Swinging Bridge and .8 miles west of the Buckhorn Draw Rd. This hike explores the San Rafael river as it cuts through the Little Grand Canyon. This area is a popular 2-3 day backpacking trip with primitive campsites where user are required to practice leave no trace ethics. The San Rafael River should only be floated in small crafts above 200 CFS and large crafts above 500 CFS. Hikers should only attempt to hike this section when the river is below 50 CFS. The hike is approximately 18 miles with numerous river crossings required. The side canyons along the hike offer endless miles of exploring. The trailhead is located past the Swinging Bridge Campground and .8 miles west of the Buckhorn Draw Rd.
The campground at Goblin Valley State Park consists of 25 sites and two yurts. Goblin Valley camping is divided into ten walk-in tent pads, fourteen RV spaces, and one group site able to accommodate up to 35 people. Showers and flush toilets, as well as a communal water and dump station are all available free of charge. All sites contain a picnic table, metal fire ring, and shade shelter. Cowboys searching for cattle first discovered secluded Goblin Valley. Then in the late 1920s, Arthur Chaffin, owner/operator of the Hite ferry, and two companions were searching for an alternative route between Green River and Caineville. They came to a vantage point about a mile west of Goblin Valley and were awed by what they saw, five buttes and a valley of strange-shaped rock formations surrounded by a wall of eroded cliffs. In 1949, Chaffin returned to the area he called Mushroom Valley. He spent several days exploring the mysterious valley and photographing its scores of intricately eroded creatures. The area was acquired by the state of Utah and in 1964 was officially designated a state park. Goblin Valley State Park is a showcase of geologic history. Exposed cliffs reveal parallel layers of rock bared by erosion. Because of the uneven hardness of sandstone, some patches resist erosion much better than others. The softer material is removed by wind and water, leaving thousands of unique, geologic goblins. Water erosion and the smoothing action of windblown dust work together to shape the goblins. Bedrock is exposed because of the thin soil and lack of vegetation. When rain does fall, there are few plant roots and little soil to capture and hold the water, which quickly disappears, in muddy streams without penetrating the bedrock.
Castle Gate RV Park & Campground is located in Helper, Utah. Only an hour from the Provo area and halfway between downtown Salt Lake City and Moab. Built from scratch and newly opened in 2019, we are excited to have you as our guests!
We have full hookup 30/50 amp Big Rig RV sites, Cabins and tent sites - some with water and electric! Free fiber-optic Wi-Fi, Splash Pad, Laundry, Store, Playground, Horseshoes, and More!
We are just a few walk-able blocks from Historic Helper’s Main Street, with restaurants, coffee shop, bowling alley, museum, art galleries, grocery store, gift shops, bank, business center, liquor store, post office, bar with pool and darts, and many photo opportunities. When you get to Helper you feel like you have gone back in time about 70 years and instantly get a soul soothing feeling mixed with both exhilaration and relaxation. No crowds here. We've got space for groups large and small! Open year-round.
$25 - $150 / night
A Swell Oasis in the desert of the San Rafael Swell: Swell Retreat. A great place to stay with your family reunion, youth group, corporate group with lots of fun on site and all around the area.
A pine tree farm was active prior to us purchasing the land, so lots of beautiful trees. A couple ponds stocked with large mouth bass. A Zipline, WIBIT, water slide, a field of hay, and continued improvements to make it into a Swell Retreat!!!
We are a great spot to stay and have onsite a zip line into Lake Elevate, water slide into the pond, adventure island, zipline, kayaking, paddle boarding,
catch and release fishing, and close to all fun in the San Rafael Swell.
20 min or so from three reservoirs for additional fishing, swimming and motor boating, 30 minutes from the Little Grand Canyon for breathtaking views, hiking and mountain biking, petroglyphs and the San Rafael Swell river to float on, 60 minutes from Goblin Valley, within 60 minutes to multiple slot canyons: Little Wild Horse Canyon, Muddy Creek, The Chute (similar to Zion National Park), Baptist Draw, to name a few.
Mountain fun for rock climbing just up the road in Joe's Valley, hiking, biking, fishing, etc. We would love to have you stay on our little farm while you enjoy the fun of the San Rafael Swell adventures.
$25 - $1000 / night
ScoutSolid dispersed camp with room for 2 or more campers. Requires solid 4x4 to get to but not technical driving to get there.
There are one or two spots to park in the final 3/4 mile descent to the trailhead offer even more amazing views (they were occupied when we arrived)
Traveler
this place has lots of spots to park, river, trails, and amazing scenery.
Ranger
Smallish beautiful campground. Site 9 but sites 4, 5, 12 good too. 1 is private but away from toilets. Nice view down the valley to Electric Lake. Decent distance to Scofield. Relatively quiet but sites are fairly close together.
Food aside: Ate Knorr rice with chicken, spiced it up, and Hatch tortillas for dinner. Also Sprouts Hatch M&C with Wal Mart chicken packet and Old El Paso ranch sauce, both good.
Ranger
Dirt road in, off the hwy, was a bit rutted, but we made it okay in van. Took our chances on a FCFS spot, #8 which looked fairly level but was not. There were 2 bathrooms we saw and the site was mostly equidistant from both, and a bit of distance away. Beautiful canyon with walls rising up both sides but were just passing thru so didn't get to see much and didn't stay but basically overnight. Seems like some interesting pull out boon-docking sites on way in but bathroom in day use parking was locked in the am when we left.
Ranger
Stayed in site 8, which has a shallow and uneven driveway. We used several leveling blocks which helped. Site 6 is ideal in terms of proximity to toilets and relatively level site with trees and a water tap just adjacent. There are 9 total sites, 5 are group sites so tend to be LOTS of people around. Group sites are large and are only$20/night and site 9 is roomy, relatively private and has vault toilets adjacent. Walking trails in/around campground.
Lots of families. Safe. Rather enjoyed a sing-along one night with LOTS of kids.
2nd stay (June): Stayed again for 2 nights, this time in spot 6 which is roomier than 8 and one of only a few single family campsites. Renovation installed a new picnic table and fire pit but removed the tent pad. Water tap still adjacent.
Big family gatherings due to large family spots, across were 6 RVs in one spot and trucks parked everywhere including on the grass. Fairly quiet and respectful but dogs were allowed to run loose and while seemingly friendly, they were not supervised for pooping. This also means bathrooms were under serious strain esp re: available toilet paper.
Nearby: On Hwy 31, appear to be a variety of dispersed camping spots, most are not well marked. Some appear to have names, but not sure if they are reservable. Most are for "groups" but are typically only $20/night, some smaller group sites are only$10/night. Seem to be largely FCFS. Several have vault toilets adjacent.
Visited nearby Huntington Lake State Park, which is relatively modest in terms of facilities, basically a lake and a campground (no shade). The sites adjacent to the lake look nice (~sites 1-5) and have partial hookups but the trees are sparse. There is a trail around the lake, but it appears mainly to be a gravel road with some benches here/there.
Food aside (freeze dried packs with our own add-ons): Had Peak beef pasta marinara with italian and garlic seasoning. FQ (fart quotient) is low. Had garlic mashed and Hatch green chile mac (from Sprouts). Added pepper jerky to the mashed before water and the cheese (Mexican blend) and one packet of fajita chicken (Wal Mart, about $1.25) and some Kinder's smoked garlic into the mac when it was ready. Also crumbled some 4 cheese Triscuits on top.
Had Mountain House freeze-dried scrambled eggs in wheat tortillas with cheese, bacon (in at finish), and pepper jerky (in with water). Two servings would have made~4 burritos. Also recommend cutting back on the water to ~2/3-3/4c. Added pepper, garlic powder to eggs.
Had Mountain House pad thai with chicken for dinner. Didn't add sriracha seasoning but put our own smoked garlic, Wal Mart applewood smoked chicken packet and the supplied lime, peanut butter, and nuts (supplemented the nuts with our own).
Traveler
We rented a van in SLC and needed a quick spot to spend the night on the way to Arches/canyon lands. This was easy to find at dusk with a clear road. LOTS of trash around. You could hear the highway a little bit but the noise wasn’t too bad. We only saw one other person who drove in and then left. There is a nice big gas station/truck stop about a mile away open 24 hours so we went there to use the bathroom and get gas. Not sure why this post calls it Canyon Road. It’s off of Consumers Road then Dump road. We did have service with T-Mobile and Verizon.
Traveler
Just needed to find a place for the night and this was perfect! No one around, huge site, beautiful views and free! Cows meander around the campsite..didn't bother us. If you go past where the directions take you, there are 3 or 4 spots that are also nice. Road is easy to travel.
Traveler
Up the canyon road, past the south campgrounds. BLM site and fees required. We paid $15 for 1 night. Quite and great views of Temple mountain.
Ranger
We needed a spot to stop heading west on 70. Arrived here at 6:30 pm on a September weekday and there were still 6 or so spots available FCFS. We picked a large site. The grounds have very large trees that shade the campsites. The bathrooms were spotless. Didn’t use the showers. Very quiet campground. One train before bedtime. Looking forward to visiting the John Wesley Powell museum on our way out of town. Water and 20/30/50 amp electric. $45
Ranger
We needed a place for the night after leaving the crazy busy area of Moab and this was the perfect spot. We will absolutely return again but with the ATVs.
There were several people camping and riding their ATVs and SXSs but when the sun went down it was quiet and so dark. The night sky is beautiful.
Pack it in and out but a perfect place for us. It had rained the day we arrived and it was not muddy and no problem getting in and out.
The road getting in has a bit of wash board so just take it slow.
Traveler
Stayed behind the rest area fairly close to the road. No one else here. Nice scenery quiet. Signs of past partying. Little bit of trash I picked up. Other than that I will stay here again.Gorgeous sunset
Guide
Nice remote site. Two bathrooms.
Guide
Hot dry but nice shade at each campsite
LegendForested campsites in a narrow canyon. Busy on weekends. Got the last first served sit at 3pm Friday. Sites next to the main road. Traffic peering into the campsite. Young fit crowd. Weak cell reception.
Traveler
About 10 minutes from Goblin Valley State Park. There’s dispersed camping all along Temple Mt Road and Goblin Valley Road. Follow any of the dirt roads to plenty of sites. We first picked a site on top of a hill but quickly realized how windy it could get so we set up camp just after turning left down Goblin Valley Road. We had the whole place to ourselves, very quiet and great views of the Milky Way. No bugs at night but as soon as the sun came up the mosquitos came out and we quickly left.
Scout
Great stop point for me driving SoCal to Boulder.
Nothing here but the aforementioned moonscape.
Arrived dusk 3Jul24 after a hasty retreat from Last Chance 8 or 10 miles west (mosquitos). Only 2 or 3 managed to track me east at highway speed!
There was no one else here, far enough from the highway.
Pulled into the giant dirt bowl, turned right and drove until front of car was slightly elevated for my sleeping position (back of a wagon).
Proceed with caution in inclement weather or you may get stuck.
ScoutArrived 3Jul24 at dusk. There is standing water marsh with a frac tank, possibly for water for the quarry above. Got out of the car to give dog a break and within one minute was scrambling back in. Drove up hill to the quarry and got out with dog....still very bad mosquitos but some breeze. Hid in the car while dog was out on a long rope for a while, covered with mosquitos. After 10 minutes I had killed most that were in the car and the ones waiting at the doors and windows were gone. I cracked the door and began pulling dog rope to get slack in and then had dog climb over me into back seat.
We drove east one Dyrt to Miller Canyon and it was AWESOME. I remember maybe 3 mosquitos there.
There are only two things I can compare this savagery to (and I am in my late 50s):
Alaska (Last Chance Rd dispersed is WORSE--However, note that when I was in AK I wasn't asking for trouble--I was indoors during mosquito hours--I am sure AK has mosquitos as bad as Last Chance if you go looking)
Canada Boundary Waters Boy Scout Canoe Base (about the same at dusk--only fools wouldn't have camp totally ready to be inside tents before mosquito hours. Mornings were fine.
Guide
Great spot, I’ve always found a site here. Just make sure you hold right onto Road 1013 and the campgrounds are about a half mile down on the left.
Traveler
Great sun rises and sunsets. Not all sites are suitable for a 27 foot trailer but there was enough I that I still had some choices.
Traveler
Only one site I felt comfortable pulling a 27 foot trailer but it was beautiful and I wished I could have stayed longer. Watch out for rain. The dry wash beds will flood and I’m lucky I left when I did.
Guide
This spot was a little hard to locate because it’s on trust land and the spots look like junk piles. Yuck! There was so much ammo casings on the ground it looked like a war zone. Obviously the locals use it as a shooting range and do not clean up after themselves. We went on down dump road a little bit and found a spot tucked in the canyon and out of site of the road for a little wind break and privacy. I added that location because it was not as bad. Still to much trash laying around though. I don’t understand why people can not take care of these free resources so they are not taken away.
TravelerThis spot was great. We arrived at dusk and it was still easy to find, although there was a long dirt road (about 2 miles) to get to spots marked with a campfire pit. Two or three cars drove by, but it was still secluded enough that we had no worries. We found a spot by a beautiful stream with cool water. Great stargazing. Safe!
GuideThis is trust land so you will see where a lot of people come back here to target practice. Sadly they do not clean up any of their trash. The area is nice, large and very private.
Traveler
This is the place if you like being "off the grid". 18 miles of unpaved (and, for us, muddy) road to get to the campground. It's a 90-minute trek each way from the closest gas/food/retail, so be prepared. It's also a fairly aggressive grade up and down. Brakes and transmissions will need a chance to recover the climb/descent.
Altitude is also a major factor. This is over 10,000 of elevation. Our lungs definitely felt it. While Salt Lake City was hitting 100 degrees, we were sleeping with three blankets at night as temps were in the low 40s/upper 30s.
This campground is definitely not level. Outside of the group sites, most of the spots are sloped, and ours might have been the worst. We needed leveling blocks to lift our pop-up about 8 inches on the dedicated "pad" and there was no flat spot to set up any canopy or EZ Up. Our site did have plenty of shade with direct sun from about 8 am to noon.
We did have a couple of issues that will deter us from coming back. First was the constant flow of ATVs/OHVs/vehicles coming into the campground to use the toilets and unused sites for lunch/dinner. Since there was no camp host on site, this felt a little abusive. There are several open sites along the road to the campground and more as you continue up Skyline Drive. I think everyone using them knows that this is basically a truck stop for them.
The second issue we had was the moths. Having a pop-up, we understand that critters happen. But we must have had over 100 moths that found shelter under our flaps, in the roofline, and inside our camper. It added 45 minutes to our breakdown and pack up.
Those issues, coupled with the long and rough road, make this place a one-and-done campground for us.
GuideLots of spots. Visited after a rain storm and dirt was dirt and not clay like others spots in the area. Trees in area will hide other campers.
Guide
Stopped for the night on the way to Colorado. Very easy check-in via the Web. There are a ton of very well developed sites. There was one other camper we saw that came in a little later than us.
We would stay here again.
We did have a minor issue that the 50a service breaker wouldn't reset even with nothing plugged in. But we simply used the 30a which was plenty for us with the relatively cool weather. We let them know the next day and they said it would be checked.
Scout
The kids really enjoyed this location until about 10 in the morning! But it was very secluded and nice and you could see another site from it but no one was there. The roads were very bumpy so we just went slow.
Camping near Castle Dale, Utah, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and family-friendly activities. Whether you're in an RV or pitching a tent, there are plenty of options to enjoy the great outdoors.
Camping near Castle Dale, Utah, offers a variety of experiences for everyone. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a quiet place to unwind, there's something for you in this beautiful area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Castle Dale, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, Castle Dale, UT offers a wide range of camping options, with 172 campgrounds and RV parks near Castle Dale, UT and 56 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Castle Dale, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Castle Dale, UT is Wedge Overlook with a 4.5-star rating from 21 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Castle Dale, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 56 free dispersed camping spots near Castle Dale, UT.
What parks are near Castle Dale, UT?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 12 parks near Castle Dale, UT that allow camping, notably Manti-La Sal National Forest and Capitol Reef National Park.
