For those who want to experience Ferron, but still want the creature comforts of home, consider glamping for your trip. The Dyrt lets you enjoy a unique, rustic Ferron experience while glamping. These scenic and easy to access Utah glamping locations are perfect for any adventurer.
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.
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
$24 - $100 / 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
Orange Olsen is located at 7,000 feet with a panoramic view of Joes Valley. The dwelling and cabin offer amenities including solar powered lighting, LP range and heated shower. The dwelling can accommodate six visitors while the cabin sleeps four. These cabins do not have electricity.
Joes Valley Reservoir offers boating and fishing opportunities just minutes away. A boat ramp is available on the east and west shorelines. Joes Valley Campground is located immediately south of Orange Olsen, with Joes Valley Group Pavilion only a mile away.
The dwelling and cabin are set in an open sagebrush meadow interspersed with pinyon-juniper and ponderosa pine trees. There is no shade available.
Renowned bouldering opportunities abound in nearby Straight and Cottonwood Canyons. Popular mountain fisheries at Grassy Lake, Pete's Hole, and Potters Ponds are all within 10 miles of Orange Olsen. The 370-mile Arapeen Off-Highway Vehicle Trail System can be accessed directly from the dwelling and cabin.
$40 - $60 / night
Buckhorn RV Park and Resort is located in Huntington, Utah, between the Manti La Sal Mountain range and the San Rafael Swell.
We offer spacious pull-through RV spots, luxury cabins and Tipis, as well as tent sites and a group area for rent. There are bathrooms, showers, and a laundry facility on site. Other amenities include WiFi, cable TV, propane, batting cages, pickleball courts, table tennis, horseshoe pits, cornhole sets, foosball, mini golf (coming soon), and a playground.
Nearby recreation includes boating, hunting, fishing, bouldering, biking, horse-riding, and much more. Come enjoy the wild with all the comforts of home at Buckhorn RV Park and Resort!
$24 - $148 / night
Perhaps the most popular recreation area on the Wasatch Plateau is the Miller Flat-Joes Valley-Huntington Canyon Rec Area. The area boundaries are at Huntington Canyon on the north to Wagon Road Ridge on the south, and from the Skyline drive on the west to the east Forest boundary. It’s beautiful, easily accessed from urban areas, and offers a great variety of recreational opportunities. Whether you camp, fish, hunt, hike, explore on OHVs, ride a horse, or enjoy a day on the lake, you can find a place to do it here. You will find developed camping, dispersed camping, lakes and streams, and a network of motorized and non-motorized trails. The scenery is fabulous and there are hundreds of ways to enjoy the outdoors. The closest access is from SR-10 and SR-31. Closest communities are Huntington and Orangeville on the east side of the plateau, although many visitors come through Fairview on the west.
Scout
3 nights in Yurt 1. Coolest yurt location of any we’ve stayed in previously. Beautiful canyon. Heater worked well. There are a couple electrical receptacles. BBQ works well. Fire pit and picnic table are great. The park office has ice and firewood. Everything was great about our stay, EXCEPT… mice. The yurt management should either let guests know this in advance, or set some traps and take care of the problem. Make sure and only store food in mice proof containers, otherwise they will infiltrate.
GuideHad a great time in Goblin Valley. Camping was affordable and so pretty. The night sky was unbeatable. At the time the bathrooms and showers were closed but there was a bathroom open by the yurts. We stayed in an RV lot which was a few minutes from the trail heads. Excited to come back with bikes to see more of the area. Fire pits and fires allowed. No cell service but an amazing way to see Utah without the Moab traffic. It’s a small park with a small visitor center and a handful of trails, but they all make up for the size with their unique views. And, valley of the goblins has no trails so you can wander all day.
RangerThis place is so cool! Truly never seen anything like it. Tent sights are great and nestled in the rocks. We drive in with no reservation and we’re able to find a spot. The yurt spots are really something special though! There’s also a cool frisbee golf course in the camp ground.
ScoutI guess you could say I’m the adventurous one of my friends. I was thrilled when I convinced them to come camping in winter, and we compromised with staying in a yurt. We had the whole park to ourselves and desert fox friends. We woke up to snow in the red rocks and made memories we will never forget.
LegendThe goblin Valley Campground is located within goblin Valley State Park in Utah. This is pretty much in the middle of nowhere between Hanksville and Green River on a 12 miles off detour off Highway 24. The park itself provides access to a rare and bizarre landscape of rock formation some assembling goblins mushrooms and other spires which is pretty unique to the area. The campground is nestled on the edge of some of these rock for atto a in a really scenic location. Covered picnic tables fire rings we’re also provided and a paved driveway and tent pads were also provided. No water, electric hook-ups. However, despite a fairly steep price for a standard non-electric site ( $30) minimal facilities were offered. The bathrooms and showers were closed for the season (it was late December) ang there was only access to a pit toilet near the yurts a little walk away from the campsites. There were flushing toilets a couple of miles away at the visitor center and a at the major view point over the valley of goblins. no cell reception on either Verizon or AT&T.
GuideThe park and campground are small and the camp sites are fairly close to one another, so it's likely that you will hear and interact with other campers. The campground is a short hike and even shorter drive to the goblins and the grounds itself is surrounded by red rock that you can climb and explore. I stayed in a tent, but there are yurts available as well. It's also about a 10-20 minute drive to Little Wild Horse and Bell Canyon if you're interested in slot canyons. Very family friendly. I'd also recommend the Goblin's Lair hike. My favorite by far in the park.
RangerGoblin Valley State park is located on off of Hwy 24 between Hanksville and Green River UT, This is a 24 site campground inside the park. There are 14 Vehicle / RV sites and 10 tent only. There are also two yurts to rent. The campground is in good condition, Each site has a paved parking spot, four are pull through ADA spots for bigger RV's. There are fire pits, picnic tables, and tent pads at each site. There are also sunshade structures at each site. Note: be careful when you pick a site online, a few structures face into the afternoon sun, we chose poorly, we had to put up a tarp for shade. There are flush toilets and showers located in the one restroom. There is also a pit toilets up near the yurts The park is super family friendly and there are a lot of areas to explore. So the CG will have a good amount of families and kids. That didn't bother us, we enjoyed seeing all the kids explore the goblins and rock formations near the CG. There is a big group site too which looks to cost $100 on the reservation site. There is a dump staion and trash dumpsters located across from the rest room. There are potable water spigots located throughout the CG.
The CG gives direct access to the Curtis Bench Trail and the Entrada Canyon trail. You can hike and Mt. Bike right from the CG to all areas of the park. Some notable hikes are the Three Sister, Carmel Canyon, and Goblins Lair, which is actually the Mollys Castle overlook trail.
GuideGoblin Valley is a drive, but a beautiful State Park Campsite. The amazing formations are on your doorsteps! There are 24 site campground, 1 group site, and 2 yurts with centrally located restroom and shower facilities. Yes, I said showers!! And pretty clean and maintained showers/ restrooms. Because of the limited numbers of campsites, do plan ahead. You will need to stay a few days!! And if you enjoy mountain biking!! Don’t forget to carry it.. there are many off roading bike routes! This place is very much kid friendly.
If the weather is right, visit the Wild Horse Slot Canyon, 8 miles round trip. There are so many trails and hikes in the surrounding area. Have fun!!
LegendWe came in winter this time and got a tent camp easily, only one other group was camping. If you dont want to tent camp in the winter they also have yurts for rent. We had a different approach to Goblin Valley this time around and decided to do the Lair of the Basilisk (Goblins Lair) canyoneering route. We got to hike in and around snow covered hoodoos that culminates in a 100' drop into the lair! It is truly a magical place and worth a visit! You can also get ti the lair by a now popular marked trail around the east side of the park. 60 m rope recommended plus helmets.
LegendGeneral: Small campground with 24 sites, and two yurts. Sites are designated as RV or tent with the main difference being that the tent sites have multiple vehicle pads right next to each other. We did see some vans in the tent sites and in November, that was not a problem. All camping is dry camping. Each site has a covered picnic table with side shelters, not needed when we were there in November but a necessity in the warmer months, and a fire pit.
Site Quality: All camper pads are paved and level. Some were pull-thru and others back-in. The ones on the exterior of the loop have the best views IMO.
Bathhouse: (automatic) flush toilets, two sinks, paper towels, and soap. There were showers but they were closed for the season as of November 6.
Activities: There are three valleys filled with hoodoos. No distinct trails so you can wander freely among the hoodoos. Several moderately challenging hiking trails, including one directly from the campground (Entrada). We did the Caramel Canyon Loop which included several scrambles in narrow canyons (but doable for two seniors – 65 and 71 years old in good physical shape). There are also designated biking trails and horseback riding is allowed in the Red Canyon Primitive area.
We were last here 35 years ago, but it was so much fun to explore the area again. Utah State Parks are getting pricey (not the only expensive state) but this one is worth it IMO. It is a photographer's dream!
TravelerHere is the deal. If you need a campground with some amenities then this might be the place for you. It has a dump station, places to fill up water and bathrooms/showers. Keep in mind that during the winter the water is probably shut off.
You get the above for $35 a night. This includes free neighbors close by to talk to.
Now, if you don't really need all of the above and don't want to pay $35 a night, you need to check out all of the BLM land out here. There are SOOO many FREE places to camp away from everyone. Certain times of the year can get busy but you still can't beat free.
Okay, back to the campground review. When I visited the area was well kept and clean. The water was off for the winter so the flush toilets and showers weren't available. Vault toilets were open.
The sites aren't crammed together but you will still have neighbors. Each site has a table, fire pit, shade shelter and tent pad area. There are a couple of yurts that you can rent and also some tent only spots that you are required to walk to.
Overall, it is a decent campground but I would prefer to stay for free on BLM land. I am also set up with a toy hauler that I can be self sufficient for a week. So, if you need or want the amenities of a campground then you can't really go wrong here. You also don't have much of a choice out here in the middle of nowhere. 🤣
TravelerI stayed at the campground for one night. As with all Utah State Parks we have stayed the place was clean and well maintained. I am so impressed with Utah State Parks.
RangerUtah has such a wide variety of geology and Goblin Valley campground is in the middle of it. Sites are a bit close together, but they have shelters over the tables and there are some walk-in tent sites that are more secluded. Nice, free showers too.
RangerOnly 24 sites makes this one of the hardest campgrounds in Utah to book. If you’re lucky enough to get in then you are going to love Goblin Valley. All of the sites come equipped with a shade structure, picnic table & fire ring. Best sites are on the out side of the loop, with the cliffs right behind you. No hook ups, but the is potable water & dump station. Small visitor center/store offers a few essentials. Very hot & windy when we were there in June. Dark skies offer amazing star gazing. Clean bathrooms and free, private showers.
LegendOur group was approaching Goblin Valley State Park around 8 pm and stopped at a gas station in Hanksville, Utah. A worker at the station gave us the great advice to save a few dollars and enjoy a more desolate camping experience by utilizing the BLM land along UT-24. We took a 4x4 road (38.460945, 110.674291) and drove up for about 15 minutes to the top of a ridge line at dusk until we found a flat spot to pitch our tent and an existing fire ring. When we woke up we were astounded by the magnificent views. I would definitely recommend camping here if you are in the area and looking for a primitive spot to get away from civilization in the desert.
Traveler
Right near the reservoir, I had a freat, secluded time, while in between bouldering seasion. Will visit again but will camp roght outside park with the other renegades
LegendJoe's Valley Reservoir Campground is in the Manti-La Sal Forest about 22 miles off the main road (Route 10). The water and OHV trails outside the campground are what draw people here.
No campsites are close to the water, but you can find a path to the water from the campground and there are nice views from many sites. The marina and boat launch are past the campground entrance. This is not the type of place for a quiet camping experience, but I didn't expect that at a reservoir campground with nearby OHV trails. (Trail maps are on the back of the information board as you enter.)
Sites 1 through 7 are the only non-reservation sites, but we had no problem on a Thursday afternoon choosing a site for one night among the reservable sites. Based on the reservation placards on the posts, the campground was filling up on Friday.
Site notes:
Our site (23) was wide and deep and had lots of trees. We enjoyed the privacy as we couldn't see sites on either side, and we were far enough back that we couldn't see the site across the road.
As you enter, sites 7 up through the 20s have many tall trees. The other side of the campground is more open, and the trees are not as tall.
Double sites (D on the post, 17 out of 48 sites) cost $18 instead of $10. A double site has two picnic tables and a pad that is double in width. There are no discounts on double sites with a pass such as the America the Beautiful Senior Pass.
Tenters, this doesn't look like the best place for tents, but people were managing to find relatively flat spots.
Pads on single sites for back in or pullthrough easily accommodate large trailers and fifth wheel campers. That translates to many generators which can be run from 6 am to 10 pm.
ATVs and larger OHVs are popular. People were riding the smaller ones on the campground loops...fast.
This is a no frills Forest Service campground with vault toilets and drinking water. Be prepared to take your trash home because there are no dumpsters.
LegendSince I was about 3, my family has gone to Joes Valley Reservoir for an extended family reunion! We tend to reserve the entire lower loop for a week in August. It's a bit of a downhill walk to the lake, but worth it given that there are plenty of fish and crawdads to catch for a big fish-fry!
There are toilets and picnic tables, and the roads have been paved in recent years. The best part about the campground is its ability to host a large group. The area is spread out yet open enough to feel like everyone has their own space and still together as a group. So, if you're wanting to plan a family trip, this may be where you want to go!
It is a bit noisy, however. Everyone has 4-wheelers and most people bring RV's with generators... so expect some noise, lol.
RangerI found Joe’s Valley reservoir on a Facebook group and I hadn’t ever heard of it. After seeing the pictures, my family decided to give it a shot and we were not disappointed. The drive up along the river is so beautiful. It is a little narrow, but there was some equipment out so it appeared they were working on the road and fixing it up. Take it slow with the big rigs.
My kids loved the water despite the wind throughout the day. There were a fair amount of people boating, swimming, fishing, kayaking, etc around the shoreline near the marina, but I didn’t feel it was too crowded at all.
We camped in site 49 which is a double site. The site has two picnic tables and a double wide parking pad. Trees are limited except with the sites on the rim starting with number 7.
I would definitely come back.
GuideI've camped at this campground twice now; once in August of 2020 and once in July of 2021. Both times the experience has been good. The campsite has potable water and vault toilets. Before my two visits, I reserved my sites on recreation.gov. This made the experience hassle-free.
One thing to note is that although you can tent camp at this site, the majority of campers are those using RVs. I enjoyed my experience tent camping. However, if you are somehow bothered by RVs or excess noise, you might want to find another campground.
Overall, a good place to stay and I will certainly be back.
TravelerThe camp sites were great. They were clean and well kept. The water was really low. We don’t own a boat, so we were shore bound. Lots of rocks and trash on the shores and the sand was like quick sand along the water. Long story short, don’t go to hang out by the water and swim.
It is also worth noting that there is water available, but not at each site.
GuideEven with the effect of the drought this campsite is still beautiful. No facilities except fresh water fountains and vault toilets sparsely located. Very quiet during the week, weekends busy but respectful. Road into camp is paved but curvy.
ScoutSite was clean and quiet. Weren’t too many campers around. Lots of trees for shade. Lake is drying up and looks a bit sad. Water is far out from any marina or anglers point so if you plan to fish or kayak be ready for a good walk Or a drive to take you to the other side of the lake! Also campground does not have dumpsters. You are required to pack everything out so try to have as little of garbage as possible or make space for it with you to take.
Scout
Stayed 3 nights. Very pretty and very easy to get to. Didn’t stay at the campground drive down an oil rig road and found a camp spot with no one around!!.
TravelerEndless trails to ride/hike good camping and fishing highly recommended!!!
LegendJoes Valley Campground is beautiful campground in the idle of Manti-La Sal mountain range.
The campground is clean and well kept. We stayed in site 26. There were trees on both sides of the campsite and there is ample spacing between sites. There are water spigots throughout the campground to fill water containers, but non at the individual sites.
There are no trash bins onsite, so what you bring in, you have to pack out. The campground sits right on the Joes Valley Reservoir which is a beautiful turquoise color and is great for boating and fishing. The water is still very cold for swimming.
There is no shortage of biking, hiking and riding trails. The campground sits adjacent to the Arapeen Tail which is a network of OHV trails. We stayed two nights here and wished we could stay more. Will definitely be back. Highly recommend.
Scout
I really want to give a poor review so no one else will take my future reservations. However, they really are in a great location and easily accessible. The Dwelling is large enough to hold a really big family or two couples with small children. The cabin is pretty small but large enough for a family of four. Both have showers, toilet, with running water. The lake is about a mile down the road. The nearest open boat dock is on the other side of the lake (~3 miles). The ATV trails are endless and right out the driveway is access to Skyline Drive AKA God's Country. Fishing is good at Joe's spring and fall. Summer time is better for swimming and wake boarding. The smaller lakes and ponds are better suited for summertime fishing. Luckily the are short drives. Not much of a rock climber but I know the only reason my in-laws come is to go drag themselves up a rock while I wet a fly. Overall a pretty laid back place to spend a few days relaxing.
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Ferron, UT is Goblin Valley State Park Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 58 reviews.
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