Temple Mountain Townsite Campground
Open year-round, first-come-first-served. No advance reservations available. Sites are nonelectric with no hookups or potable water.
Hydrologic Outlook issued October 8 at 3:13PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
ESFSLC The remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel will merge with a fall-like storm system over the western United States, bringing moderate to heavy rainfall and a resulting threat of flooding. Widespread rainfall of 1 to 3 inches is expected, locally in excess of 3 inches, particularly across south aspects of southern Utah mountains, between late Saturday and Monday morning. Expect many area waterways including streams, rivers, normally dry washes, creeks, and slot canyons to have rising, fast flows by Sunday evening. Current forecasts do not bring any rivers to flood stage, but this will be monitored as the fine details of heavy rain bands become more confident. Those with activities near rivers, streams, creeks and recent burn scars should closely monitor the forecast over the next several days. Those with outdoor plans Sunday onward that include any travel near waterways across Utah should consider alternate plans. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will remain possible through at least Wednesday. While the rainfall rates with these additional rounds of precipitation will generally be lower, areas that receive significant precipitation during the weekend will be extra sensitive to any additional rainfall.
About
Temple Mountain Townsite Campground occupies a striking location at the mouth of Temple Wash, where a short, steep canyon cuts through the San Rafael Reef. The Reef is a 75-mile-long rocky spine reaching up to 1,000 feet high that forms the eastern edge of the San Rafael Swell. The surrounding landscape features red and white rock formations, scenic slot canyons, hills, and spires. The campground serves as a basecamp for exploring the historic Temple Mountain Mining District, a Cold War-era uranium mining area. Visitors can hike to reclaimed mines, drive to the Temple Mountain Pictograph Panel, or tackle the longer North Temple Wash loop. The Behind-the-Reef Road provides access to wilderness trailheads including Chute Canyon and Wild Horse Canyon, with the first six miles passable by most vehicles and the remaining 14 miles requiring high-clearance 4WD. Goblin Valley State Park lies just two miles east, famous for its sandstone hoodoos and buttes. Little Wild Horse Canyon, the most popular slot canyon hike in the San Rafael Reef, can be accessed nearby and paired with Bell Canyon for an eight-mile loop.
Directions
From Highway 24, turn west onto Temple Mountain Road (signed for Goblin Valley State Park). Continue straight past the state park turnoff as the road turns from pavement to gravel and enters a short canyon. The campground is on the north (right) side of the road as the canyon opens up, seven miles from the highway turnoff.
Nearby Campgrounds
Location
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | — |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $15 - $50 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | — |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| utprmail@blm.gov | |
| Phone | +1 (435) 636-3600 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Useful Links
| View on Recreation.gov | |
| BLM Temple Mountain Townsite |
Availability
Photos
Community Posts
No posts yet. Be the first to share your experience!