Goosenecks State Park Campground
Reviewed Sep. 30, 2024

Amazing Canyon Rim Camping

Gorgeous Views literally camping on the rim of a 1000 foot high cliff overlooking the goosenecks of the San Juan river below. No designated campsites. Just pick your spot along the canyon rim. Great place for trailers / campers. I wouldn't want to camp here in tent. 

Pros:

Easy drive in and pull up to a spot. 

Dark sky area so you can get some amazing night photography shots

Close to other attractions including Valley of the Gods, Muley Point (which would also be a fun campsite), Monument Valley (a bit further afield), etc. 

The canyon below is stunning and the goosenecks are quite remarkable

Cons: 

This is not a site for small children. You are literally camping several feet away from a 1000 foot cliff. 

You are on top of a mesa and we had some strong winds blowing across. 

The terrain is very flat, but is also rocky. I would not want to set up a tent on the rocks and/or fight the wind with a tent. 

The pit toilets are reasonably clean, but only located by the park entrance gate. So if you park further along the rim, you either need your own facilities, you have a very long walk, or you are driving back and forth over the rocky road (disturbing all of the other campers along the way). 

The last observation is that while the goosenecks are truly incredible, especially from the main lookout spot, the color of the rocks in the canyon aren't as varied as other places (i.e., compared to Dead Horse Point State Park). As a photographer, I kept hoping the coloring would be more captivating once the light shifted, shadows moved, etc., but that never happened. Go in with the right expectations and you won't be disappointed.

Month of VisitSeptember