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Barker Recreation Area
FSU.S. Forest Service — ESCALANTE · Utah · Dixie National Forest
| Agency | FSU.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Area | Dixie National Forest |
| Location | ESCALANTE · Utah · Dixie National Forest · 37.92056, -111.81528 · Map |
| Sites | 16 public sites counted from the federal listing — 13 standard nonelectric; 2 group standard nonelectric; 1 group standard area nonelectric |
| Getting a site | Reservable — the federal listing marks this campground as taking reservations. Some sites or seasons may still be first-come; the listing’s own words are below. |
| Hookups | Electric at 0 of 16 sites Water hookups at 0 of 16 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 16 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 16 sites Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way. |
| Max RV length | Longest reported site fits 35 ft Sites that fit at least — 25 ft: 18 sites · 30 ft: 18 sites · 35 ft: 18 sites · 40 ft: 0 sites |
| Months open | Not in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Not reported — the federal listing carries no fee description for this campground. |
| Check-in / out | In 02:00 PM · Out 11:00 AM (most common in the listing) |
| Pets | Allowed at 18 sites, as reported |
| Accessible sites | 16 marked accessible in the listing |
| Accessibility | N |
| Amenities, as reported | Campground hostDrinking waterVault toiletsWater spigots |
| Phone | 435-826-5499 |
Check availability & book on Recreation.gov →
This site takes no reservations and shows no live availability. Source: Recreation.gov (RIDB export pulled November 5, 2026); this listing was last updated in the federal record on 2026-05-22.
From the official listing
Overview Barker Recreation Area is located high on the Colorado Plateau at an elevation of 9,300 feet. Visitors enjoy canoeing, fishing and exploring local trails.
Recreation Upper Barker Reservoir provides canoeing, kayaking and fishing for rainbow and brook trout. Numerous hiking, biking and horse trails can be accessed from both the Upper and Lower Barker Reservoir trailheads. Trails, including the non-motorized Great Western Trail, lead to nine backcountry fishing lakes and beautiful mountain views. The area also has excellent stream fishing and spectacular fall colors. Facilities This recreation area contains 13 single-family sites, three group campsites and a day-use area. Horses are permitted in the Porter group site.
Drinking water is provided from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Amenities include accessible vault toilets and bear-proof food storage lockers. Fishing docks are located at Upper and Lower Barker Reservoirs. Roads and parking spurs are gravel. Natural Features A dense canopy of aspen and spruce trees forests Barker Recreation Area. Summer wildflowers are plentiful and a variety of wildlife frequents the area, including black bear, blue grouse, golden eagle, ducks and wild turkey.
Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (801) 226-3564. Nearby Attractions Both the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Escalante Petrified Forest State Park are located approximately 45 minutes away. Sightseeing along Utah Highway 12, a National Scenic Byway, is very popular. Travelers visit from every corner of the world to see the stunning red rock canyons and desert landscapes.
Bryce Canyon National Park, Kodachrome Basin State Park and Anasazi State Park are also located in the area.
Directions, from the listing
From Escalante, Utah, drive 2.5 miles west on Highway 12, then turn right at the North Creek Lakes sign and right again at the Barker Recreation Area sign, onto Forest Road 149. Drive approximately 16 miles on FR 149. The last 3.4 miles of FR 149 are steep and single-lane with switchbacks and turnouts.
Nearest federal campgrounds
7 mi straight-line · UtahFSU.S. Forest ServiceCowpuncher Guard Station
10 mi straight-line · ESCALANTE UtahFSU.S. Forest ServicePine Lake Campground
14 mi straight-line · CEDAR CITY UtahFSU.S. Forest ServiceJones Corral Guard Station
22 mi straight-line · Panguitch UtahFSU.S. Forest ServiceAquarius Ranger Station
23 mi straight-line · LOA Utah
Trip Card — Barker Recreation Area
ESCALANTE · Utah · Dixie National Forest
| Agency | FS · U.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Location | ESCALANTE · Utah · Dixie National Forest |
| Fees | Not reported in the federal data |
| Getting a site | Reservable |
| Hookups | None reported |
| Max RV | Up to 35 ft |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 16 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233931 · Source: Recreation.gov, pulled November 5, 2026. Facility details come from federal recreation data and may be out of date — this site takes no reservations and shows no live availability; confirm details and book through Recreation.gov or the managing agency.