Lonesome Beaver Campground

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Quick Facts

8,000 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Check Site

Sites

5 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Not Allowed

Opens booking site

Get Directions

Quick Facts

8,000 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Check Site

Sites

5 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Not Allowed

Opens booking site

Get Directions

Lonesome Beaver Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Standard Site Fee$0.00

Hookup Site Fee$0.00

Premium Site Fee$0.00

Hike and Bike Site Fee$0.00

Group Site Fee$0.00

Food Storage Locker Fee$0.00

Total Campsite Fees$0.00

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About Lonesome Beaver Campground

Perched at 8,000 feet where the mighty slopes of Mount Ellen begin their ascent, Lonesome Beaver Campground offers five intimate campsites surrounded by some of Utah's most dramatic alpine scenery. This remote outpost serves as your gateway to the legendary Bull Creek Pass Backcountry Byway and provides a rare opportunity to witness North America's free-ranging bison in their natural mountain habitat.

A very small campground consisting of five campsites at the base of Mount Ellen; the source does not specify whether sites are designated for tent, RV, group, cabin, or glamping use.

Historical SignificanceThe Henry Mountains harbor one of the most remarkable wildlife stories in the American West—a thriving population of free-ranging buffalo that roam these peaks as their ancestors once did across the continent. The nearby Henry Mountains Field Station serves as an educational hub where visitors can discover the fascinating natural history of this resident bison herd, learning about their behavior, ecology, and the ongoing efforts to study and preserve these magnificent animals in one of their last true wilderness strongholds.

ElevationYour basecamp sits at a breathable 8,000 feet, offering comfortable overnight temperatures even in summer, while the towering summit of Mount Ellen soars an additional 3,500 feet above you to reach 11,500 feet. This elevation places you in a transition zone where high desert meets alpine forest, creating a unique ecological crossroads where ponderosa pines give way to spruce and fir, and where the air is crisp, clear, and filled with the scent of mountain vegetation.

Natural Features and SceneryMount Ellen's imposing presence dominates the skyline, its 11,500-foot summit standing as the highest peak in the Henry Mountains and one of southern Utah's most dramatic landmarks. The campground's position at the mountain's base places you adjacent to the renowned Bull Creek Pass Backcountry Byway, where millions of years of geological history are written in colorful stone formations and twisted rock layers. As dawn breaks over the ridgelines, watch for the dark silhouettes of free-ranging bison moving across distant slopes—these powerful animals have reclaimed these mountains as their domain, offering visitors a glimpse into the wild America of centuries past, all framed by sweeping mountain vistas that stretch across the Colorado Plateau.

Geological RegionThe Henry Mountains rise as a dramatic geological anomaly—an isolated mountain range thrust upward by ancient volcanic forces in the heart of the Colorado Plateau. Here at the base of Mount Ellen, along the Bull Creek Pass Backcountry Byway, you're surrounded by textbook examples of laccolith formations, where molten rock pushed sedimentary layers into massive dome structures without breaking through to the surface. The resulting landscape is a geologist's paradise, where colorful Mesozoic sediments drape the mountain flanks and erosion has carved intricate patterns that tell the story of this region's tumultuous geological past.

Campsite details

Sites Size5 campsites

Total Campsites5 campsites

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Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are not allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are not allowed

Primitive

Primitive are not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are not allowed

Activities you can enjoy

Scenic viewing and roadside touring along the Bull Creek Pass Backcountry Byway are highlighted, with opportunities to see geologic features and mountain scenery at the base of Mount Ellen.

Wildlife viewing

Wildlife viewing is noted—visitors may glimpse some of the last free‑ranging buffalo in the country; information on the resident bison herd is available at the Henry Mountains Field Station.