Steinaker State Park Campground offers more than glamping near the water. Located in Ashley National Forest, this park provides a range of camping options including tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations at 5,520 feet elevation. During summer months, temperatures typically range between 75-95°F during the day, dropping to 45-60°F at night. The campground's 31 sites are positioned among desert vegetation and shady cottonwood trees, with varying degrees of privacy and access to the 820-acre reservoir.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Steinaker Reservoir is stocked with rainbow trout and largemouth bass. "Fishing is so so but the water is warm enough to swim in during summer months. There is also a geocache hidden by the fish cleaning station, if you ask the rangers they can give you the coordinates," shares one camper at Steinaker State Park Campground.
Hiking trails: The Eagle Crest trail provides excellent views of Steinaker Lake and the surrounding valley. "Hike the Eagle Crest trail located at the large group site for beautiful views of the lake, and Vernal beyond. Make Steinaker your basecamp for the many mountain biking trails just up the highway," notes a visitor.
Nearby adventures: Visit the geological features around Flaming Gorge-Manila KOA which is approximately 45 miles north. "There are many walking trails and atv trails accessible from this campground," according to a local camper. Another visitor adds, "There's a nice lake and some amazing geological features just north of the park."
What campers like
Privacy options: Some sites at Ashley National Forest Riverview Campground provide more seclusion than others. "We showed up Labor Day weekend. Almost every spot along the river was taken, but once you were in your camp you could hardly tell neighbors were around," reports one camper who appreciated the privacy despite full occupancy.
Clean facilities: Campground facilities are well-maintained throughout the area. At Steinaker State Park, visitors note "very pleasant cg around a smallish lake near Vernal, UT. Friendly manager of park," highlighting the "pit toilets but also has a flush toilet/4 shower building. And dump station."
Night sky viewing: The minimal light pollution allows for excellent stargazing. "The night sky was amazing, could see the whole milky way galaxy," writes a camper about Riverview Campground. "The toilets were really clean and well maintained."
What you should know
Water availability varies: Not all campgrounds offer drinking water. At Utah Forest Road 13 Dispersed Camping, there are no water facilities. "FS road #13 has large diameter cobble base and makes for a bumpy road. There are much better dispersed sites across the hwy on FS roads #839 and #838 for RVs and TTs," advises one camper.
Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds open from May through October. "This campground fills up fast during the summer weekends so keep that in mind and get up there early," warns a visitor about East Park Campground.
Reservation requirements: Popular sites fill quickly, especially on weekends. "Circle Camp as we have named it is a popular site and your lucky to score it anytime during the summer months," notes a regular at Iron Springs Group Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: The KOA in Vernal offers numerous activities for children. "We visited at the height of the season and there were 20 plus kids in the play areas at all times, but the sound did not carry which was nice. The pool is expertly maintained," shares a visitor at Vernal / Dinosaurland KOA.
Yurt camping options: For families seeking yurt camping near Whiterocks, Utah, several options are available. "This is a great recreation area close to the town of Vernal, about 5 miles out. There is a lake for fishing, swimming and water sports," mentions a camper about the facilities that include yurts and canvas tent options.
Wildlife encounters: Many campgrounds offer wildlife viewing opportunities. "We saw 4 moose" within a few miles of Moon Lake Campground, reports one family. Another visitor adds, "We saw several deer throughout the day. There are a few hiking trails and they offer horse rides as well."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Full-service sites with electrical, water and sewer connections are limited. "The campground has full hook up spots, Electrical, a cabin you can rent and tent sites," notes a camper at Steinaker State Park.
Road conditions: Many forest roads require careful navigation. "The road was pretty rough, some large divits and larger rocks on the road. I drive an outback so I just went slow and it was fine," shares a visitor about Forest Road 13.
Dump stations: Not all campgrounds provide dump facilities. "Laundry was $2 wash and 1.50 dry. Super nice people own. They charge $15 to dump if boondocking nearby. Water is .40c/gallon," reports a recent visitor at Flaming Gorge-Manila KOA.
