Tucked under a canopy of Cotton Wood trees and within sight of the stunning mountains into which the Green River cuts, this quaint little NPS campground is an oasis in the middle of the eastern Utah desert. Like many NPS campgrounds, the sites are well spread out and can more easily accommodate tents and smaller campers than big rigs– but even they can find a few places to park. With pull-through and back-in sites, most folks can find something to accommodate their equipment. Keep in mind that there are no electrical hook-ups, so bring your solar panels and leave that generator at home so as to keep this place a true oasis!
The river provides a nice companion to the campground, and swimming is encouraged especially during the hotter months– careful of the current through. In the evening, the river banks host a nature lover’s evening show, which featured beavers and mule deer in addition to water fowl and humming birds while we were there. Along the river’s banks, a nice trail leads to the group camping area and canyon boat landing, giving excellent views of the river.
The campsites were clean and level. The bathrooms were clean with flush toilets and fresh water. Mobile data connection was spotty at best in the campground, however the Visitor’s Center had 24/7 wifi which worked really well.
Within 5 miles of the campsite, the park offers visitors the chance to explore the park at many different hikes between 15 minutes to 4 hours, but a stop at the Dinosaur Quarry Exhibit Hall is a must. With the remains of hundreds of specimens from the ancient past on display as they were first uncovered, you can literally spend hours learning about each species. The park rangers are veritable fonts of knowledge, easily distilling our collective knowledge about these amazing creatures. It’s an amazing learning experience for the whole family.
The closest town is Vernal, UT, which has all the services that you might need, including some crazy dinosaur tourist kitsch.
Ranger
