Temple Mountain Townsite Campground

Overview

Temple Mountain Townsite is a fee campground in the San Rafael Swell Recreation Area.

Recreation

Temple Mountain Townsite is at the intersection of Temple Mountain Road and the Behind-the-Reef Road. From the campground, visitors can hike to reclaimed uranium mines, drive a short distance down the wash to the Temple Mountain Pictograph Panel, or drive the longer North Temple Wash loop. The Behind-the-Reef Road 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.

Natural Features

The campground is at the 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.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (435) 636-3600.

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.

Camp site features

Across 10 camp sites:

Group sites: 1 of 10 sites

Fees

Individual sites $15/night and group sites $50/night, paid at self-pay kiosks.

Directions

From Highway 24, turn west onto Temple Mountain Road (signed for Goblin Valley State Park). Continue straight on this road past the state park turnoff as it turns from pavement to gravel and enters a short canyon. Temple Mountain Townsite is located on the north (right) side of the road as the canyon opens up, seven miles from the highway turnoff.

Reviews

5 reviews

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

Kendra V

Loop:Temple Mtn Townsite

Site:

Reviewed 3 months ago

It was pretty mid. Nothing great at all but not horrible. The bathrooms were clean so that’s good.

Daniel B

Loop:Temple Mtn Townsite

Site:

Reviewed 5 months ago

Lots of free blm sites around this cg. No benefits to paying for an outhouse on site that folks on the free blm areas are using. At least provide a dumpster. My mistake. Won’t stay here again.

Greg H

Loop:Temple Mtn Townsite

Site:

Reviewed 5 months ago

This is one of the better campsites in the area for large groups as it has a large pavilion covering 3 picnic tables. Plenty of space for many vehicles and tents/trailers. There is a downside to this site and that is the dirt road adjacent to the campground. Everything you have at this site will get covered in dust due to the traffic up and down the dirt road. If you're willing to deal with that, the site in worth it.

Rebecva T

Loop:Temple Mtn Townsite

Site:

Reviewed 5 months ago

For a paid camp site there should be available trash collection

Don M

Loop:Temple Mtn Townsite

Site:

Reviewed a year ago

Beautiful area with awesome views. Level gravel spots, two vault toilets, clear view of the sky (solar and Starlink), two mountains that block wind, lots of dog walking space. QR code for paying online. I have this place on my list for next time.

Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

Reserve Watch

Camp Sites

Nearby Campgrounds

South Temple Wash

1.5 miles away

12 camp sites

Camping