Camping spots near Orangeville, Utah sit within the San Rafael Swell region at elevations ranging from 5,500 to 9,000 feet, creating significant temperature variations between day and night. The area features a mix of sandstone formations and mountain terrain, with camping conditions varying dramatically by season. Summer temperatures at lower elevations regularly exceed 95°F, while winter brings snow to higher elevation sites.
What to do
Mountain biking at The Wedge: The area around Wedge Overlook provides exceptional mountain biking opportunities with trails for various skill levels. "This site is at the top of a shallow drainage. Other sites are literally right on the rim," notes one camper. The half-way point of the mountain bike trail passes through several camping areas.
Fishing at Joe's Valley: Joes Valley Reservoir offers excellent fishing opportunities with multiple access points. "There are plenty of fish and crawdads to catch for a big fish-fry," shares a long-time visitor. The reservoir supports various fishing techniques including shore fishing and boat access.
Rock art viewing: The area contains numerous petroglyphs and rock art panels accessible from campgrounds. One visitor at Millsite State Park Campground mentioned they "chose the area because of the Rochester Panel Rock Art and The Dry Canyon trail after two days in the San Rafael Swell area."
What campers like
Rim camping views: Campers consistently highlight the dramatic canyon vistas available at rim sites. At Little Grand Canyon Dispersed Camping, "We grabbed a dispersed site near the east Goldwater rim trailhead. Excellent pit toilets at the three trailheads. Bring plenty of water as there is none available. The views are unbelievable."
Night sky visibility: The remote location provides exceptional stargazing opportunities. "You will never see a more beautiful night sky," reports a repeat visitor to Little Grand Canyon Dispersed Camping. Many sites are sufficiently distant from light pollution sources to view the Milky Way on clear nights.
Privacy between sites: Several camping areas offer good separation between sites. One camper at Millsite State Park Campground noted, "The sites are nice, but closer together than most SP CGs, although the pull-through sites are angled, so you're not looking in your neighbor's windows and there are some trees between them as well."
What you should know
Cell coverage variations: Mobile service is highly variable depending on exact location. A visitor to Millsite State Park reported, "AT&T coverage was fair, with 2-3 Bars of LTE service and speeds up to about 2 MB/s. There were a few tall trees at each of the sites, but there were gaps between them, so we were able to get DISH coverage on all three western satellites at our site."
Road conditions: Many camping areas require preparation for unpaved roads. "Very easy to get to, with some rocky roads getting to campsites," noted one Little Grand Canyon Dispersed Camping visitor, while others mention, "Road in from Castle Dale is very smooth, graded and oiled, until the last two miles."
Temperature fluctuations: Prepare for significant temperature changes between day and night. At New Joe's Bouldering Area Campground, campers experience "temps 10-15 degrees cooler than Green River" due to elevation differences.
Tips for camping with families
Water-based activities: Swell Retreat provides excellent water recreation options for families. "The pond was a great way to cool off and have fun, our family loved the zip line into the water and the giant floating water park! It was so nice to have access to paddle boards, kayaks, and a peddle boat."
Site selection for shade: Look for sites with natural shade, particularly during summer months. "Our site had great shade and was setup with tables, hammocks, and a griddle which made meals a breeze. Plenty of room between sites to give a sense of privacy," reports a family visiting Swell Retreat.
Food storage planning: Consider local shopping rather than bringing perishables. "Shopping is close, and the townspeople were great. We will buy food in town vs. trying to keep it cold. Camping with a large group made cold food a bit of a challenge," advises a family camper.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for RVs: Millsite State Park offers good options for larger rigs. "We have a 36' Class A with a Cherokee Trailhawk tow and stayed in site MI08 for 3 days in mid June. The sites are nice, but closer together than most SP CGs, although the pull-through sites are angled, so you're not looking in your neighbor's windows."
Road navigation: Many roads to campgrounds require careful driving with larger vehicles. "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," advises one RVer at Joes Valley Reservoir.
Satellite coverage: Many sites offer adequate satellite reception despite trees. A visitor to Millsite State Park noted, "There were a few tall trees at each of the sites, but there were gaps between them, so we were able to get DISH coverage on all three western satellites at our site. There were zero OTA channels to be had with our fixed omni antenna."
