Skull Creek
Skull Creek Campground is located about 35 miles north of Vernal, Utah near Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Visitors enjoy hiking and biking on local trails and boating, fishing and swimming on the reservoir.
Some sites take reservations. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in Utah · reservable in Utah · big rigs in Utah
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 16 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 80 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
16 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | 37 | Gravel | Full | 10 / 1 |
| 002 | Back-in | 37 | Gravel | Full | 10 / 1 |
| 003 | Back-in | 39 | Gravel | Full | 10 / 1 |
| 004 | Back-in | 37 | Gravel | Full | 10 / 1 |
| 005 | Back-in | 37 | Gravel | Full | 10 / 1 |
| 006 | Back-in | 39 | Gravel | Full | 10 / 1 |
| 008 | Back-in | 37 | Gravel | Full | 10 / 1 |
| 009 | Back-in | 80 | Gravel | Full | 10 / 1 |
| 010 | Back-in | 37 | Gravel | Full | 10 / 1 |
| 011 | Back-in | 37 | Gravel | Full | 10 / 1 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 80 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
The campground contains 17 single-family sites, each equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets are provided. There is no drinking water available.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Season | May - Opening date may be adjusted due to weather to September |
| Forest | Ashley National Forest |
| Booking | This campground does have some first come first serve sites. Reservations for reserved sites must be made at least 4 days in advance. |
| Fees | $12/night for single unit. The single site fee covers the cost of 1 vehicle. Each single site's maximum capacity is 2 vehicles. There will be an extra vehicle fee for the second vehicle collected on site. |
| Rules | 2 vehicle max. per single site |
Weather by month
Getting there
Located off Highway 44, just west of the junction of Highways 44 and 191 in the Flaming Gorge area, about 35 miles north of Vernal, Utah.
| Nearest town | Dutch John, Utah |
| Coordinates | 40.8628° N, 109.5269° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedD1 Pondo Rx
2 mi from the campground · 532 acres
- PrescribedHole In The Rock Rx
33 mi from the campground · 85 acres
- PrescribedMiddle Beaver Rx
35 mi from the campground · 50 acres
- PrescribedWestern Roughneck Rx
44 mi from the campground · 472 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 ↗ | 4.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Redneck Archery and Pro Shop ↗ | 28.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 54.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Video of Skull Creek, UT from Paige J.
Worth a stop
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is known not only for its beautiful red cliffs, but also for its world-class fishing for lake, brown and rainbow trout. Boating, water skiing, jet skiing, canoeing, kayaking, swimming and scuba diving are popular activities on the reservoir. Flaming Gorge Dam offers guided tours of the working hydroelectric plant and the dam itself; The adjacent visitor center contains area history exhibits. The Green River below the dam provides spectacular rafting opportunities. A trip down the river offers unique geology, outlaw history and Native American rock art.
- 5.2 miEast Park Junction Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 5.9 miHighline Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 6.3 miSpillway Boat Launch Area ↗Boat launch
- 6.5 miSunny Cove Swim Beach ↗Swimming
- 8.8 miSheep Creek Boat Launch Area ↗Boat launch
- 12 mi
Show all 7Hide
- 14.6 miPalisades Park Picnic Site ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miSkull Creek0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1 miCanyon Rim A1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.4 miLake Creek X-C Ski2.2 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 1.8 miSwett Ranch Ski ↗5.3 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 1.8 miCanyon Rim Winter ↗4.6 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 1.8 miCanyon Rim ↗4.6 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
Ashley National Forest begins about 7.1 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 7.1 miAshley National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,401,248 acres
- 13.8 miUinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,912,954 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
- Ute Mountain Fire TowerStructure · Manila · 13.9 mi
Natural features
Skull Creek lies in a hillside forested with ponderosa pines and aspens near Flaming Gorge Reservoir at an elevation of 7,400 feet. The campground is partially shaded. Summer wildflowers dot the landscape.
Recreation
Red Canyon and Greens Lake are nearby. Canoeing and fishing for rainbow and brook trout are popular activities at Greens Lake. The Red Canyon Rim Trail is a great place for hiking, biking and wildlife watching. The Red Canyon Visitor Center offers interpretive displays and area information. Red Canyon Lodge is situated on the shore of Greens Lake. Canoe and bike rentals, horseback riding, a restaurant and gift shop are available.
Guidebooks for Utah
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Skull Creek?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Skull Creek?
$12/night for single unit. The single site fee covers the cost of 1 vehicle. Each single site's maximum capacity is 2 vehicles.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Skull Creek?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Skull Creek have?
17 sites, including 16 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Skull Creek?
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
Is there cell service at Skull Creek?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Skull Creek?
Red Canyon and Greens Lake are nearby. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Skull Creek?
Dutch John, Utah. Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is known not only for its beautiful red cliffs, but also for its world-class fishing for lake, brown and rainbow trout.
Source: Getting there
What if Skull Creek is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Greens Lake (0.9 mi, partly first-come), Canyon Rim (1.8 mi, partly first-come), and Red Canyon (2.5 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby