Rainbow Park Campground, near Dinosaur National Monument, is a remote spot that offers a unique escape into nature. With just four campsites, it’s perfect for those seeking solitude and a chance to connect with the great outdoors.

The campground is right by the river, providing a scenic backdrop for your stay. Visitors have enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere, often noting the stunning views of the Milky Way at night. As one camper put it, “Absolutely pitch black out. There was no one here and no one for miles.” 

While the sites are close together, many have found the experience magical, especially when they had the place to themselves. The area is rich with trails for exploration, and nearby petroglyphs add a touch of history to your adventure. Just keep in mind that the road in is a bit of a trek, but it’s manageable for most vehicles.

Amenities are basic, with fire rings and pit toilets available, but you’ll need to bring your own water and firewood. The campground is also a launch point for river rafting, so expect some activity during the day. If you’re looking for a quiet getaway with a touch of adventure, Rainbow Park Campground is worth checking out.

## Overview

 Rainbow Park Campground is 28 miles (45 km) from the Quarry Visitor Center in the Utah portion of Dinosaur National Monument. It is located on a rugged dirt road that is impassable when wet. The campground sits beside the Green River near the Rainbow Park Boat Ramp at the head of Split Mountain Canyon. Rainbow Park Campground is open year-round, but there is no winter maintenance on the unpaved road. 
## Recreation

 Dinosaur National Monument covers over 210,000 acres (84984 ha). [Visitor Centers. ][1] The monument features two visitor centers - one in Colorado and one in Utah. [Quarry Exhibit Hall.][2] You can see over 1,500 dinosaur fossils still in the rock inside the Quarry Exhibit Hall (Jensen, Utah). [History & Culture.][3] Numerous cultural sites reveal stories of the people who lived here before and include Fremont petroglyphs, homestead cabins and former ranches. Hiking trails allow in-depth exploration. [Hiking.][4] There are miles of trails for hiking and cross-country travel. [River Rafting & Boating.][5] Whitewater rafting, both commercial and private, are is popular on the Green and Yampa Rivers. The Yampa River multi-day rafting trips begin at Deerlodge Park. The Yampa rushes downstream 44-miles (71 km) to join the Green River at Echo Park. Boaters continue downstream on the Green River to the take-out at the Split Mountain boat ramp. The Yampa is the largest free-flowing tributary within the Colorado River system. As such, it has a shorter season marked by fluctuations in water level resulting from snow received in the winter. It is characterized by famous rapids such as Teepee, Big Joe and Warm Springs. Raft trips must be arranged in advance. For more information, visit Dinosaur's [Commercial Guided River Trips page.][6] [Private River Trips][7] require a permit. [Scenic Drives.][8] Several roads provide access to key destinations and scenic sites. Scenic drives allow the windshield visitor to see spectacular geology. 
## Natural Features

 This campground sits beside the Green River near the Rainbow Park Boat Ramp at the head of Split Mountain Canyon. It has wonderful views of geologic features such as the Mitten Park Fault. 

[1]: https://www.nps.gov/dino/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm
[2]: https://www.nps.gov/dino/planyourvisit/quarry-exhibit-hall.htm
[3]: https://www.nps.gov/dino/learn/historyculture/index.htm
[4]: https://www.nps.gov/dino/planyourvisit/hikingtrails.htm
[5]: https://www.nps.gov/dino/planyourvisit/riverrafting.htm
[6]: https://www.nps.gov/dino/planyourvisit/commercialguidedrivertrips.htm
[7]: https://www.nps.gov/dino/planyourvisit/non-commercial-river-trips.htm
[8]: https://www.nps.gov/dino/planyourvisit/scenic-drives.htm

Rainbow Park Campground — Dinosaur National Monument

Jensen is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Jensen is surrounded by family-friendly activities. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your Utah camping adventure.

Jensen

The Best Camping Near Jensen, Utah

This campground is super remote and offers 4 primitive campsites. There are pit toilets and no accessible water. The river runs directly behind camp and trails run through the hills. If you're lucky, you will come across the herd of elk roaming the grounds. There are amazing petroglyphs a short drive down the road. The Dinosaur Nat'l Monument Quarry Visitors Center is approx 45 minutes away but completely worth the drive. Make sure your gas tank is full as there is no cell reception at the campsite.

Remote getaway from civilization

Down a 30 minute dirt road sits this breathtaking park with 4 campsites. We visited on a busy weekend (labor day weekend) and we only had 1 neighbor. This made for a very quiet, relaxing stay.

Each shaded site is equipped with fire ring with attached grill, an adjacent picnic table, and spots for a maximum of 2 tents in each campsite. The skies were very dark at night, perfect for seeing shooting stars and the milky way. You can park your car abut to the site, increasing ease of access to things stored in there, and walk down to the rocky beach for some toe-dipping. Note that you are not allowed to launch boats from there (even kayaks) without a permit, as the water gets fast quickly past the beach.

Sites are $6/night at the campsite payable via personal check or with cash. River rafting trips launch from the adjacent beach daily, so you'll have company at 10am and 6pm daily for ~15 minutes.

Pro tips:

\- There is little firewood around these sites, bring your own from in town.

\- Site has pit toilets, hand sanitizer, recycling/trash, but no running water. 

\- Closest grocery store is the Walmart in Vernal, UT.

\- Bring bug spray! The mosquitoes are vicious here.

\- Road is easily accessible by sedans, SUV's etc…just not in the rain (the road will easily wash out).

\- Be on the lookout for the house about 10 minutes away from the main road that is equipped with its own residential water slide…that was a fun discovery!

Quiet river campsite down a dirt road

Rainbow Park Campground is 4 sites that are very close together offering almost NO privacy. Luckily we were the only ones there. It was magical. The ride in was about 30 minutes of a dirt road easily navigated by my Ford Transit 350. 1.7 miles before the campground road there is a must see Petroglyphs site offering a couple of loop trails that bring you up the hill. The road past the site brings you to some amazing views of the Green River and varying mountain views. 
The campground itself is on the river where there is a raft stop. While we had the campsite to ourselves all night, rafts started landing on the Rainbow boat ramp around 10am. The rafts coming in were fun to watch.  
The site was $6 and if you have a larger group and can get all 4 sites, it would be a fun time. 
We would like to go back but with 3 dogs it would be hard to be so close to neighbors. 
All in all, it is worth checking out the area and campground. 


4 close sites in the middle of heaven 

What a gem! Drove 20 ish miles along a disolate desert dirt road - well maintained - to arrive on a Friday with no other people around. Four sites very close together (the only downside), all on the river. Lots is small and winding trails all over the landscape to explore. Very close to some of the coolest petroglyphs also. Bathrooms were full of flies though. 

A gem in the desert!!

A long, gravel road lead me here on a quiet weeknight in October 2020. Crept in driving a Honda about 15 mph on the 20+ mile dirt road. Just when I thought I couldn’t go any further, that I was hopelessly lost, I saw the sign pointing to the campground. Got out, set up a tent and started a fire (it was in the 30s upon arrival, just under freezing at day break). Absolutely pitch black out. There was no one here and no one for miles. Great view of the Milky Way. Totally silent.

Now that I know it’s here (and not just a beacon on the map), I’d definitely return.

Photos of Rainbow Park Campground — Dinosaur National Monument

Real photos from real campers