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Activities

Established Camping

Skull Creek

Skull Creek, near Dutch John, Utah, is a scenic campground tucked away in the Ashley National Forest, perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle. With spacious, shady sites, it’s an inviting place to set up camp and unwind under the trees.

The campground is known for its large fire pits, ideal for cozy evenings spent roasting marshmallows and sharing stories. While there’s no drinking water or electric hookups, visitors appreciate the vault toilets and trash disposal, making it manageable for those who come prepared. One camper noted, “The sites were shady and spacious,” which adds to the overall comfort of the experience.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Skull Creek is a gateway to stunning landscapes and recreational activities. The nearby Flaming Gorge offers opportunities for fishing, boating, and hiking, ensuring you’ll have plenty to explore during your stay. Some campers have enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere, mentioning that it’s less crowded than neighboring campgrounds, allowing for a more relaxed experience.

While the access road can be a bit tight for larger RVs, the beautiful surroundings and the chance to connect with nature make it worth the trip. Whether you’re camping with family or friends, Skull Creek provides a welcoming environment to enjoy the great outdoors.

Description

USDA Forest Service

Ashley National Forest

Overview

Skull Creek Campground is located about 35 miles north of Vernal, Utah near Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Visitors enjoy hiking and biking on local trails and boating, fishing and swimming on the reservoir.

Recreation

Red Canyon and Greens Lake are nearby. Canoeing and fishing for rainbow and brook trout are popular activities at Greens Lake. The Red Canyon Rim Trail is a great place for hiking, biking and wildlife watching. The Red Canyon Visitor Center offers interpretive displays and area information. Red Canyon Lodge is situated on the shore of Greens Lake. Canoe and bike rentals, horseback riding, a restaurant and gift shop are available.

Natural Features

Skull Creek lies in a hillside forested with ponderosa pines and aspens near Flaming Gorge Reservoir at an elevation of 7,400 feet. The campground is partially shaded. Summer wildflowers dot the landscape.

Nearby Attractions

Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is known not only for its beautiful red cliffs, but also for its world-class fishing for lake, brown and rainbow trout. Boating, water skiing, jet skiing, canoeing, kayaking, swimming and scuba diving are popular activities on the reservoir. Flaming Gorge Dam offers guided tours of the working hydroelectric plant and the dam itself; The adjacent visitor center contains area history exhibits. The Green River below the dam provides spectacular rafting opportunities. A trip down the river offers unique geology, outlaw history and Native American rock art.

Reservation Info

This campground does have some first come first serve sites. Reservations for reserved sites must be made at least 4 days in advance. This site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) This campground does have a few first come, first served sites. However, it is recommended to make a reservation a head of time to ensure a spot.

Garbage dumpster is available. There is NO WATER available at this campground. There is a fee to use the dump stations that are located at Antelope Flat, Deer Run, Firefighters, and Lodgepole. Showers are located at Deer Run and Mustang Ridge for campers with proof of camping registration.

Firewood is available to purchase at the Greens Lake Campground. Don't Move Firewood: Help prevent the spread of tree-killing pests in our national forests by obtaining firewood near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.

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Location

Skull Creek is located in Utah

Detail location of campground

Directions

Located off Highway 44, just west of the junction of Highways 44 and 191 in the Flaming Gorge area, about 35 miles north of Vernal, Utah.

Address

RED CANYON COMPLEX
Dutch john, UT 84023

Coordinates

40.8627778 N
109.5269444 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Unknown
  • AT&T
    Available
  • T-Mobile
    Poor

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Toilets

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Pull-Through Sites
  • Big Rig Friendly

Reviews

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4.5

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5 Reviews

Reviewed Sep. 20, 2024

Pine forest and tent ground

fantastic campground in utah, the campsites are all in great condition. the road is showing some wear once you get off the highway but it's not bad. 

winds set in and you get to enjoy the sound of the trees.

Site11
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Skull Creek by Ahron B., September 20, 2024
  • Review photo of Skull Creek by Ahron B., September 20, 2024
Reviewed Jul. 13, 2021

Shady and spacious sites

We reserved two spots ahead of time for a family trip. When we arrived, the sites were not marked as reserved and someone was in one of our spots. The guy was less than friendly and we had to contact the host about it. They made it right and made sure we got two sites. The sites were shady and spacious, even though the road in is tight. Fire pits were large and really nice. Some road noise, but hardly any noise from other sites. There was a large group across the loop from us and we didn’t hear much of them at all. We enjoyed it and would definitely stay again!

Site12/13
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Skull Creek by Ally G., July 13, 2021
  • Review photo of Skull Creek by Ally G., July 13, 2021
  • Review photo of Skull Creek by Ally G., July 13, 2021
Reviewed Jun. 6, 2021

Shady but tight

Nice shady FS campground, but road in is a narrow one lane (it does has loop turnaround at end) so large RVs and TTs recon first. CG gets some hwy noise. Vault toilets, trash dumpster but water system is not functioning. Cell signal is good.

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Skull Creek by Greg L., June 6, 2021
  • Review photo of Skull Creek by Greg L., June 6, 2021
  • Review photo of Skull Creek by Greg L., June 6, 2021
  • (26) View All
Reviewed Jun. 6, 2020

Beautiful area

Not quite as busy as the neighboring campgrounds and we were able to get a walk in site. Loved having the shade from the trees.

  • Review photo of Skull Creek by Erin T., June 6, 2020
Reviewed Sep. 12, 2017

Beautiful campground in Ashley Forest

I loved this campground. The scenery is absolutely beautiful. The downsides are that there is no water or restroom (not a big deal if you prepare)

Site2
Month of VisitSeptember
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  • Review photo of Skull Creek by Paige J., September 12, 2017
  • Review photo of Skull Creek by Paige J., September 12, 2017
  • (11) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the max vehicle length at Skull Creek?

    Skull Creek allows vehicles up to 80 feet.

  • Does Skull Creek have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Skull Creek does not have wifi.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Skull Creek?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is unknown, AT&T is available, and T-Mobile is poor.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Skull Creek?

    Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Skull Creek. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Skull Creek, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Skull Creek?

    There are 17 campsites at Skull Creek and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts