U.S. Forest Service · Manti-La Sal National Forest · Monticello, UT

Buckboard

Buckboard Campground sits in the Manti-LaSal National Forest in southeast Utah at the foot of the Abajo Mountains. Visitors enjoy fishing and exploring local trails.

More like this: reservable in Utah · big rigs in Utah · pets allowed in Utah · group sites in Utah

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Brass Scupltures near Abajo MoutainsSite 7S Group Sitesite 3
Photos courtesy of wilderness.org, USFS · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups10
Group tent areas2
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 20 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

12 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFires
1NorthStandardBack-in40Gravel8 / 2Yes
2NorthStandardBack-in27Gravel8 / 2Yes
3NorthStandardBack-in29Gravel8 / 2Yes
4NorthStandardBack-in39Gravel8 / 2Yes
9NorthStandard31Gravel8 / 2Yes
10NorthStandardBack-in32Gravel8 / 2Yes
North GroupNorthGroup tent30Gravel50 / 15Yes
South GroupNorthGroup tentGravel50 / 20Yes
5SouthStandardBack-in20Gravel8 / 2Yes
6SouthStandardBack-in43Gravel8 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length43 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

The campground offers several single-family sites, as well as two group sites than can each accommodate up to 50 guests. Firewood may be collected in and around the campground. Forest Road 105 to the campground is paved, while parking spurs and the road within the campground are graveled. There are two vault toilets and the campground has water available (seasonally.) There is a 14 day stay limit at this campground.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

SeasonMay 1 to September 30
ForestManti-La Sal National Forest
BookingThis site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or on-line at www. recreation.gov.
Fees10 Single Sites - $20 per night; 1 Group Site -$50 per night

Manti-La Sal National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Buckboard20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 1.14 inches of precipitationFebruary: 1.48 inches of precipitationMarch: 1.31 inches of precipitationApril: 1.10 inches of precipitationMay: 0.89 inches of precipitationJune: 0.50 inches of precipitationJuly: 1.62 inches of precipitationAugust: 1.93 inches of precipitationSeptember: 1.67 inches of precipitationOctober: 1.49 inches of precipitationNovember: 1.17 inches of precipitationDecember: 1.39 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 27.0°F averageFebruary: 30.4°F averageMarch: 38.2°F averageApril: 44.6°F averageMay: 53.2°F averageJune: 63.7°F averageJuly: 69.8°F averageAugust: 67.5°F averageSeptember: 59.9°F averageOctober: 48.8°F averageNovember: 37.1°F averageDecember: 27.7°F average0 in0.5 in1 in1.5 in2 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Monticello #2, 5 miles from the campground at 7,086 feet, station USC00425807 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 16 inches a year. The shaded span is the published season, May 1 to September 30.

Getting there

Located in Southeast Utah, six miles west of Monticello on paved Forest Road 105.

Nearest townMonticello, Utah
Coordinates37.8808° N, 109.4493° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • The byway is suitable for passenger vehicles from late spring through fall but is not recommended for large RVs.

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearGearheads Outdoor Store ↗47.7 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Buckboard Campground - Manti-Lasal National Forest, UT

Worth a stop

Other attractions in the area include Canyonlands, Arches and Mesa Verde National Parks, Natural Bridges National Monument, Dark Canyon Wilderness, Edge of the Cedars State Park, Lake Powell and numerous archaeological sites.

  • 2.4 mi
    Robertson Pasture ↗
    6 mi trail · hiking, horse, motorcycle, e-bike and 1 more
  • 2.6 mi
    Cooley Pass Trail
    1.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
  • 2.8 mi
    Pole Creek Fenceline
    1.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, ATV
  • 2.9 mi
    Pipeline Trail
    1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, e-bike
  • 3.2 mi
    Red Ledges ↗
    4.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, motorcycle, e-bike and 1 more
  • 3.4 mi
    Lower Indian Creek Overlook Lp
    2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, e-bike

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Manti-La Sal National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

Aspens and Gambel oaks surround the site, offering partial shade. The campground sits at an elevation of 8,900 feet, and summer temperatures range from 75-85 degrees during the day and 50-60 degrees at night. Mule deer, wild turkeys and black bears frequent the area.

Recreation

Popular activities include fishing, hiking and off-road vehicle riding. Several trailheads are nearby, including Robertson's Pasture Trail and Spring Creek Trail. The Abajo Loop State Scenic Backway passes by the campground. It leads from the desert floor and red rock canyons to steep mountains over 10,000 feet high, with overlooks and panoramic views.

Guidebooks for Utah

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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Buckboard?

Sites at Buckboard are reservable on Recreation.gov. This site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or on-line at www. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Buckboard?

10 Single Sites - $20 per night; 1 Group Site -$50 per night

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Buckboard?

Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Buckboard have?

12 sites, including 10 standard sites without power and 2 group tent areas.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Buckboard?

The longest site here provides 43 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are pets allowed at Buckboard?

Yes, pets are allowed at Buckboard. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Buckboard?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Buckboard?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Buckboard?

Popular activities include fishing, hiking and off-road vehicle riding. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Buckboard?

Monticello, Utah. Other attractions in the area include Canyonlands, Arches and Mesa Verde National Parks, Natural Bridges National Monument, Dark Canyon Wilderness, Edge of the Cedars State Park, Lake Powell and numerous archaeological sites.

Source: Getting there

What if Buckboard is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Dalton Springs Campground (1 mi, first-come), Foy Lake Fishing/Camping Site (3.6 mi, first-come), and Nizhoni (8.4 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby