Lower Bowns
Lower Bowns Campground is located on the east side of Boulder Mountain on the shore of Lower Bowns Reservoir at an elevation of 7,000 feet. Visitors enjoy boating, fishing and exploring local trails. View Lower Bowns Campground Map
More like this: reservable in Utah · big rigs in Utah · pets allowed in Utah · group sites in Utah · dark sky in Utah
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 4 |
| Group sites | 1 |
Site guide
5 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Group | Pull-through | 99 | Gravel | No / No | 50 / 10 | Yes | Yes | Standard | |
| 001 | Standard | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 10 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard |
| 002 | Standard | Back-in | 48 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 10 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard |
| 003 | Standard | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 10 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard |
| 004 | Standard | Back-in | 60 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 10 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 99 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Dark sky | 8.6 miles from Capitol Reef National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park |
| Accessibility | Sites GP, 001, 002, 003 and 1 more are listed accessible |
This campground contains three accessible sites: one group site can accommodate up to 50 people, and two single sites can each accommodate up to 10 people. Vault toilets are provided, and roads and parking spurs throughout the site are gravel.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | April to Until the snow closes the road |
| Forest | Fishlake National Forest |
| Booking | Single campsites two and three require reservations, as does the group site. Reservations can be made on-line at the Lower Bowns campground on rec.gov website or by telephone: 1-877-444-6777; Tdd… |
| Fees | Please Note: All campgrounds on the Fishlake National Forest are managed by High Country Recreation under the terms and conditions of a concession permit that was issued to them by the Forest Service in 2020. Email: [email protected] Phone: 435-979-6868 |
| Rules | Camping is limited to 16 consecutive days. Pets are required to be on a leash. Quiet hours are from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am Mountain Time. OHVs are allowed in the campground for ingress and egress only, they are not allow to be operated for any other reason within the boundary of the campground. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Torrey, Utah, take Highway 24 approximately one mile east to the junction with Highway 12. Turn right and travel 16 miles to Forest Road 186. Take FR 186 5 miles to the campground.
| Nearest town | Loa, Utah |
| Coordinates | 38.1064° N, 111.2768° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedFremont River Rd Piles Rx
40 mi from the campground
- PrescribedSalina Canyon East Rx
48 mi from the campground · 17,375 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 12.2 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Escalante Outfitters ↗ | 29.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miQuaking Aspen2.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.4 miRosebud ATV Trail4.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, e-bike
- 1.4 miOak Creek Trail ↗6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.8 miJorgenson Trail2.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.8 miCat Creek Trail2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.1 miWildcat Trail ↗32.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, 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
Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument begins about 13.5 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 13.5 miGrand Staircase–Escalante National Monument ↗National Monument · Bureau of Land Management · 181,425 acres
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.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Oak Creek DamStructure · Torrey · 7.7 mi
- Grover SchoolBuilding · Grover · 9.4 mi
- Pioneer RegisterSite · Torrey · 9.6 mi
Natural features
The campground is sparsely forested with pinyon pines and juniper, which offer only limited shade. Boulder Mountain lies to the west of the site, and Capitol Reef National Park's Waterpocket Fold and the Henry Mountains lie to the east.
Recreation
Popular activities in the area include hiking, biking, hunting and riding the Rosebud ATV Trail. Lower Bowns Reservoir offers boating, canoeing and fishing for rainbow, brook and cutthroat trout.
Nearby
Capitol Reef National Park is just 45 minutes from the campground. This unique park offers excellent hiking trails, historic sites and breathtaking scenery. Sightseeing along Utah Highway 12, a National Scenic Byway, is very popular. Travelers visit from every corner of the world to gaze upon stunning red rock canyons and desert landscapes.
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 Lower Bowns?
Sites at Lower Bowns are reservable on Recreation.gov. Single campsites two and three require reservations, as does the group site. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Lower Bowns?
Please Note: All campgrounds on the Fishlake National Forest are managed by High Country Recreation under the terms and conditions of a concession permit that was issued to them by the Forest Service in 2020. Email: [email protected] Phone: 435-979-6868
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Lower Bowns?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Lower Bowns open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season April to Until the snow closes the road.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Lower Bowns have?
5 sites, including 4 standard sites without power and 1 group site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Lower Bowns?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Lower Bowns?
Yes, pets are allowed at Lower Bowns. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Lower Bowns?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 2 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Camping is limited to 16 consecutive days.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Lower Bowns?
Sites GP, 001, 002, and 003 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 5 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Lower Bowns good for stargazing?
Capitol Reef National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park, is 8.6 miles away. Skies that dark carry for miles; a moonless night here should show the Milky Way.
Source: DarkSky International
What is there to do at Lower Bowns?
Popular activities in the area include hiking, biking, hunting and riding the Rosebud ATV Trail. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Lower Bowns?
Loa, Utah. Capitol Reef National Park is just 45 minutes from the campground.
Source: Getting there