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Price
$15 - $50/night
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Season
Year-round
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Select a month, then check for open campsites
Price
$15 - $50/night
Booking
Check Site
Sites
Varies
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
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Learn more about alerts →Buckhorn Draw
39.1661, -110.7447
Fall is the sweet spot: cottonwoods gold in October, temps in the 60s–70s, roads dry. Hikers can day-trip Calf Canyon or Furniture Draw (the slot is up that draw, east of the Google Maps pin), and backpackers have trailheads at Johansen Corral and Mexican Mountain Road.
Two-wheel-drive rigs in wet or icy conditions will find county roads impassable. Sites 20–21 add another layer of risk, deep sand, narrow road, AWD/4WD required. No showers, no hookups, vault toilets only.
Context for the broader area surrounding Buckhorn Draw, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.
As part of the John D. Dingell. Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act of 2019, congress designated San Rafael Swell Recreation Area (approximately 217,000 acres). The San Rafael Swell Recreation area features magnificent badlands of brightly colored and wildly eroded sandstone formations, deep canyons, and giant plates of stone tilted upright through massive geologic upheaval.<p> The "Swell" features endless amounts of recreational experiences including: hiking, biking, four wheel driving, horseback, canyoneering, and river running. Don't miss the Little Grand Canyon and Buckhorn Wash Pictograph Panel. For an overview of the "Swell" make sure to check out Cedar Mountain Day Use Overlook. You will be able to discover Petroglyphs and Historical areas throughout the 'Swell".<p> The following Wilderness areas were congressionally designated around the San Rafael Swell Recreation Area as part of the John D. Dingell. Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act and are currently closed to OHV use: Big Wild Horse Mesa, Cold Wash, Devil’s Canyon, Eagle Canyon, Horse Valley, Little Ocean Draw, Little Wild Horse Canyon, Lower Last Chance, Mexican Mountain, Middle Wild Horse Mesa, Muddy Creek, Red’s Canyon, San Rafael Reef, and Sid’s Mountain.<p> Off Highway Vehicle use will continue to be allowed on the following four identified routes: 1) The wash bottom of Coal Wash, including the short dugway from west which enters this wash, and North Fork Coal Wash south until it exits the Wilderness over "Fix-it-Pass", 2) The wash bottom of South Fork Coal Wash from its junction with the North Fork to and including the "Eva Conover" way, 3) The "Devils Racetrack" way and 4) the Justensen Flat access way, including lower Eagle Canyon southeast from the junction of this way.
The San Rafael Swell Recreation Area is close to 217,00 acres in size. To enter the Swell travel west from Green River, UT along interstate 70 or east from Richfield,UT. Wayne County forms the southern boundary, and Cedar Mountain forms the northern boundary.
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Best season: fall. Fall offers the most stable weather and the best combination of comfortable daytime temperatures (typically 60–75°F) and cool, clear nights (30s–40s), making long canyon hikes and wildlife viewing enjoyable. Riparian corridors along the draw show golden cottonwoods in October and wildlife activity peaks as animals prepare for winter. Crowds are lighter than summer, roads are usually dry and passable for most vehicles, and afternoon monsoon risk is gone. Peak months: October, September, May, April Avoid: December, January, February
Fall cited as most stable weather; cottonwoods turn golden in October.
Multiple vault toilets and information stations along the main road. Individual campsites include picnic tables and fire rings. Site suitability varies by vehicle; some sites accommodate RVs and small trailers while others require high clearance/AWD/4WD.
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