Temple Mountain Townsite Campground
Temple Mountain Townsite is a fee campground in the San Rafael Swell Recreation Area.
Need to Know
Located at the base of Temple Mountain, the Temple Mountain Townsite Campground provides convenient access to off-roading and wilderness recreation in a scenic and quiet setting. The campground has two vault toilets, a day use area, nine individual sites suitable for tents and/or RVs, and one large group campsite. All campsites have fire rings and picnic tables. The group campsite has a large shade structure with four picnic tables. This is a first come first serve campground. Please recreate responsible and stay on designated routes.
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.
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.
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.
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving 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.
Available Campsites
- Site Site 08, Loop Temple Mtn Townsite, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 09, Loop Temple Mtn Townsite, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 03, Loop Temple Mtn Townsite, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 04, Loop Temple Mtn Townsite, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 02, Loop Temple Mtn Townsite, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 07, Loop Temple Mtn Townsite, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 06, Loop Temple Mtn Townsite, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 01, Loop Temple Mtn Townsite, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 10, Loop Temple Mtn Townsite, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 05 (Group), Loop Temple Mtn Townsite, Type Group Standard Nonelectric
