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South Temple Wash
BLMBureau of Land Management — Utah · San Rafael Swell Recreation Area
| Agency | BLMBureau of Land Management |
|---|---|
| Area | San Rafael Swell Recreation Area |
| Location | Utah · San Rafael Swell Recreation Area · 38.65681, -110.66118 · Map |
| Sites | 12 public sites counted from the federal listing — 10 standard nonelectric; 2 group standard 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 12 sites Water hookups at 0 of 12 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 12 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 12 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 | Not reported in the federal data |
| 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 | Sites 1 & 12 are group sites at $50/night. Sites 2-11 are individual sites at $15/night. |
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 2026-02-25.
From the official listing
Overview South Temple Wash is a fee campground in the San Rafael Swell Recreation Area.
Recreation South Temple Wash campground is located along the Temple Mountain Road on the east side of the Reef. A short distance back to the east of the campground is the turn to go to Goblin Valley State Park. Turning west before the entrance of the state park will lead to Little Wild Horse Canyon, a popular hike for many in a slot canyon. From the campground and driving west on the Temple Mountain Road will lead to the Temple Mountain Pictograph Panel, a short drive further is Temple Mountain Townsite. Here visitors can hike to reclaimed uranium mines. Opposite Temple Mountain Townsite is The Behind-the-Reef Road and it is accessible to most vehicles for six miles, accessing several trailheads for hikes into the San Rafael Reef Wilderness. Two of these (Chute Canyon and Wild Horse Canyon) are accessible for horseback riders. The road continues for another 14 miles requiring high clearance and four-wheel-drive as it follows the rugged base of the reef against a backdrop of 500-foot cliffs and jagged canyons. After about seven miles, the road narrows to a maximum vehicle width of 50 feet. More wilderness slot canyons hikes can be accessed from this road. Motorized vehicle use is not permitted in wilderness.
Facilities South Temple Wash has two vault toilets and an information kiosk. All campsites have fire rings, flat gravel surfaces, and picnic tables.
Natural Features The campground is at the Eastern mouth of a short, steep canyon (Temple Wash) which cuts through the San Rafael Reef. One of the most distinctive geologic features of central Utah, the Reef is a 75-mile-long rocky spine that reaches up to 1,000 feet high and forms the eastern edge of the San Rafael Swell. The Temple Mountain area provides acces to many scenic slot canyons, hills, and spires cut from red and white rock.
Nearby Attractions Goblin Valley State Park (fee area), 2 miles east: The state park entrance is two miles up the Temple Wash Road going back towards Highway 24. The state park is famous for its unique landscape of sandstone hoodoos (goblins) and buttes. The park has hiking and mountain biking trails as well as a fee campground and yurt rentals.
Little Wild Horse Canyon: The Little Wild Horse slot canyon is the most popular hike in the San Rafael Reef. Visitors can appreciate sculpted sandstone walls and narrows through the three-mile canyon. Paired with Bell Canyon via the Behind-the-Reef Road, this makes for an eight-mile moderate day hike with varied scenery. The canyon bottoms are gravel and there are some obstacles requiring straightforward scrambling.
Temple Mountain Mining District: The townsite is in the heart of the historic Temple Mountain Mining District. Visitors can visit sites and learn about the history of Cold War-era uranium mining by foot or vehicle.
Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (435) 636-3600.
Nearest federal campgrounds
0 mi straight-line · Price UtahBLMBureau of Land ManagementTemple Moutain Campground West
2 mi straight-line · Price UtahBLMBureau of Land ManagementTemple Mountain Townsite Campground
2 mi straight-line · UtahBLMBureau of Land ManagementSan Rafael Swinging Bridge Campground
29 mi straight-line · Price UtahBLMBureau of Land ManagementEquestrian Campground
29 mi straight-line · Price Utah
Trip Card — South Temple Wash
Utah · San Rafael Swell Recreation Area
| Agency | BLM · Bureau of Land Management |
|---|---|
| Location | Utah · San Rafael Swell Recreation Area |
| Fees | Sites 1 & 12 are group sites at $50/night. Sites 2-11 are individual sites at $15/night. |
| Getting a site | Reservable |
| Hookups | None reported |
| Max RV | Not reported |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 12 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10283414 · 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.