Sand Island Recreation Area, near Monticello, Utah, is a fantastic spot for those looking to immerse themselves in nature while enjoying the beauty of the San Juan River. This campground offers a mix of tent and RV sites, with each site featuring a fire pit for cozy evenings under the stars.

Visitors rave about the stunning petroglyphs nearby, which add a unique cultural touch to your stay. The campground is also a popular launch point for kayaking and rafting adventures, making it a hit with water lovers. One camper shared, “I put my kayak in the water in Bluff and paddled to the campground,” highlighting the easy access to water activities.

Amenities include vault toilets and seasonal water spigots, but keep in mind that there are no electric hookups or showers. The sites are spacious, tucked among cottonwood trees, providing some shade from the sun. While the campground is close to the highway, many campers found it surprisingly quiet at night, allowing for a peaceful retreat after a day of exploration.

If you’re up for a little adventure, there’s a six-mile trail leading to the town of Bluff, where you can grab a bite or explore local attractions. Whether you're here for a quick stop or a longer stay, Sand Island Recreation Area offers a blend of relaxation and outdoor fun that’s hard to beat.

## Overview

 Sand Island Recreation Area is a good camping option for visitors launching [San Juan River float trips][1], or wishing to camp close to the town of Bluff or the Cedar Mesa area of Bears Ears National Monument. The campground provides 21 campsites that each feature a tent/trailer space, a picnic table, a fire ring, and vault toilets. Drinking water is available seasonally (typically March through October). Each campsite can hold 8 people and 2 vehicles. Reservations are not available for camping at this location. Individual campsites are available on a first come, first served basis upon arrival at the self-register kiosk at the site. The Sand Island Group Sites are available for larger groups, and may be reserved [here][1]. 
## Recreation

 Sand Island is the primary launch point for multi-day San Juan River float trips. San Juan River trips provide boaters with access to spectacular canyons rich in scenery, geology, archeology, history and wildlife. A [river permit][1] is required in advance. The Sand Island Petroglyph Panel site is located on the sandstone walls on the north side of the recreation area. There are many nearby hiking and scenic driving opportuites in the Cedar Mesa area of Bears Ears National Monument. 
## Natural Features

 Sand Island is located along the San Juan River. Cottonwood trees line the banks of the river and are scattered throughout the campground, providing shade at many of the sites. The north side of the campground is lined with red sandstone walls. 
## Contact Info

 For facility specific information, please call (435) 587-1500. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Bears Ears National Monument San Juan River Cedar Mesa Valley of the Gods Goosenecks State Park 
## Charges & Cancellations

 No refunds are available. 

[1]: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/250986

Sand Island Recreation Area — Bears Ears National Monument

Bluff, UT is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Discover secluded campsites where you can reconnect with nature. Or maybe you like to bring your family and friends along. Either way, there are Bluff campgrounds just for you. Find the best campgrounds near Bluff, UT. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.

Bluff

The Best Camping Near Bluff, Utah

You will find this lovely campground just outside of the town of Bluff, UT. Sand Island Campground is located on the north bank of the San Juan River about 3 miles west of Bluff, Utah, on the south side of Highway 191. The hotels in town fill up fast - but this hidden spot is where you want to be if you love being off on your own!  At $15 per campsite per night (2 car maximum) price is right and they offer 25 campsites. Keep in mind that the campsites are "first come, first served" and self-register. There are some amenities like drinking water,
Picnic tables,Fire grates, &Pit toilets. There is a boat launch that did get regular traffic. What I loved best was the petroglyphs! There are 2 full walls of them and lots to explore down a trail that runs along the river. The sites are fairly small but ours was private and the camping area was near empty when we were there in Sept. You do have to treat yourself to dinner at the Cottonwood Steakhouse while you are there and take time the visit the nearby Bluff Fort. Their home-made rootbeer is the best I have ever had!


Camp under the cottonwoods riverside - Will take you back in time!

A simple campground (there’s water and a vault toilet) with lovely views. It was almost empty when we were there in June. It makes a good stopover since it’s not far from Hovenweep, Four Corners (which isn’t worth the visit, IMHO), Monument Valley, and a small town for basic supplies. No reservations, no caretakers, so get ready to feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere (in a good way). 


Utah primitive camping 

Nice first come first serve sites.
Pit toilets, but potable water, and the standard fire ring and picnic table.
Not too busy.

Great primitive sites

We arrived early on a Friday and met the cheerful helpful rangers at arrival. They were very helpful and gave us directions to campsites as well as info about our checkout for our river trip on the San Juan River the next day. Campsites were clean and close to the boat ramp but also allowed for seclusion. We set up our hammocks n site #1\. A short walk away was the Sand Island Petroglyph Panel. Very cool and well maintained. Our kids met us for the night and enjoyed a night camping with our darling grandbaby. Loved the area and will return.

Perfect jump off

Nice and quiet, has shade trees on A loop. B loop had a few flooded sites. Has potable water and pit toilets. Great stop over between four corners and monument valley/ Grand canyon.

Nice campground on the banks of the San Juan river with petroglyphs nearby.

We stayed in site 8 and literally could have gone for a swim from our site. The sites are too close together for my liking, but we were the only ones at the campground. The pit toilets were clean (and not smelly)..The sites all had fire pit/grate, picnic table and flat spot for a tent or RV parking. The highway noise was a bit annoying, but not unbearable. 

The sunrise over the river was incredible!

River View

We camped here in mid October as a stopover between Sedona, AZ and Telluride, CO.
The place was very full and several people who arrived after us (5:00pm) did not get a spot.
Loop A is quieter as it’s farthest from the bridge/highway above Loop B.
Loop A was 100% tents when we were there. Loop B was mostly RV, but we did see a couple of tents there too. Vault toilet was clean.
Coming from the red rocks of the Sedona area....arrived to peak fall colors with the golden trees ablaze. It was fantastic. 80 degrees day/40 degrees night.
It’s a cool location that really does feel like an oasis with the trees and water.

October oasis

We stopped here on our loop of the Utah big 5. Weren't expecting much but it surprised us! There was a nice river and some petroglyphs a short walk away. Water fill and some picnic tables. Spots were of a reasonable size.

There was a boat put in, and it seemed like many people were canoe camping.

Close to Mexican Hat, Valley of the Gods and Goosenecks state park

Convenient spot on the Utah loop

This review is for the campground. Total of 23 campsites in two loops. The 8 sites in loop A are for tenters and van campers...there is a vehicle  length restriction posted.  Loop B has 15 sites that are designed for larger campers, trailers and RVs.  Scattered water spigots, vault toilets at both loops and a trash dumpster at entrance by the boat ramp area.  15$ nite for camping. 14 day limit.  Sites are tucked into cottonwood trees and the San Juan River is close adjacent.  In addition there are two group camping sites close to the boat ramp area. This seems to be the put in for floating the San Juan River down to??. Only issue and reason for only 4 stars was the constant truck traffic noise heard in Loop B due to the hwy 191 bridge close by.

Nice camp but hwy noisy

Easy access and right on the San Juan River. water and Vault toilets. Two camp areas A &amp;B. B is larger as are the sites. A is for no lthing longer than 22 ft and no trailers.
The campground has hundreds of petroglyphs, you can hear the wild donkeys and we saw wild hordes on the river bank.
$15 per night
Poor cell service -Verizon 
Butler wash down the road an mile or two has Boondocking and some amazing ruins that are just a mile or so off the road.

Petroglyphs and wild horses 

I'm writing this review from my camp chair. This is one of those sites you don't want to tell people about. I stopped on a road trip from Denver to Phoenix- I showed up on a Friday night around 5:30pm (March 11th, so still a little early in the season) and there were quite a few people parked at the boat ramp, but loop A was basically empty. You could spit into the river from sites 7 and 8 and there's gorgeous red rock views basically 360⁰. The vault toilet is right across from my site and it's as clean as you'd hope for. No one working on-site, so just paid at the little box in the middle of the loop. I have 2-3 bars of service (Google Fi, so not sure which tower I'm pinging). Can't complain, 10/10 will stop here on my next road trip to Phoenix.

The site you didn't know you wanted

This is a clean, very quiet  campground right off of the highway, very easy to find. Lots of people here but you would never know it, everyone has been very quiet thus far! There are petroglyphs a short 5 min walk from B loop that are absolutely fantastic! There is also river access from the boat launch, but I didn’t find any other access places that were easy to get to. There is no power available, but there are outhouse type restrooms and water taps in each loop. Very little noise from the highway, the Verizon phone service is very spotty. 

Sand Island Campground

We were planning to stay elsewhere but saw this shady place from the road and decided to take a look.    Road noise ceases at night until early morning. Hot spot but plenty of shady cottonwoods. Fast flowing river with camping near shoreline. Gorgeous rock art panel in campground. Nice 6 mile trail to town of Bluff. Sites are spacious with long flat gravel pads.

Nice suprise

Came here to see petroglyphs which are next to the campground along the San Juan River. 

  

The campground is $15/night first come first served and can accommodate big rigs. The sites are dirt and gravel and each has a fire pit and picnic table. Area was dusty and very sunny though some sites offer some shade. 

  

The campground is not far off of the highway so there is some road noise. There is a boat ramp for river access. There were quite a few fishers so must be good fishing area though I don’t really know. There is no garbage and water is available seasonally, but pit toilets are available so pack in and pack out and bring lots of water. The campground was clean and the petroglyphs were cool, it's just too bad that people vandalized them. 

  

Good place to stay for a day or two.

Petroglyphs!

Came here to see petroglyphs which are next to the campground along the San Juan River. 

  

The campground is $15/night, first come first served and can accommodate big rigs. 

  

The sites are dirt and gravel and each has a fire pit and picnic table. Area was dusty and very sunny though some sites offer some shade. 

  

The campground is not far off of the highway so there is some road noise. There is a boat ramp for river access. There were quite a few fishers so must be good fishing area though I don’t really know. 

  

There is no garbage and water is available seasonally, but pit toilets are available so pack in and pack out and bring lots of water. 

  

The campground was clean and the petroglyphs were cool, it's just too bad that people vandalized them. Good place to stay for a day or two.

Was late and quickly running out of options when we found this treat. We pitched in the A loop along a natural large stone wall. A perfect setting for the night

An oasis 

Tucked along the San Juan river, this CG is also the rafter boat launch for river trips.  Loop B is the larger loop for the larger TTs and RVs. Loop A is for the small tenters and has a length restriction for RVs.  $15/$7.50 senior, water spigots available, vault toilets, dumpsters. Cell signal is fair on T-Mobile. 
 

Great BLM cg

Sites are nice. Is right on the San Juan.   Great for Kayaking. Put my Kayak in the water in Bluff and paddled to the campground. 

What a Gem

We just needed an overnight site. Sites were clean and quiet. Water and pit toilets available. 

Decent camping

Popular BLM spot next to river where there’s rafting. Spots are ok and small. Interesting rock art.

Good BLM camping safe

A quiet campground with well maintained facilities, pretty remote area but a cool place to stay if you’re in the area.

Photos of Sand Island Recreation Area — Bears Ears National Monument

Real photos from real campers