Elkhorn Campground
Elkhorn Campground is located 20 miles northeast of Loa, Utah, on the scenic Thousand Lake Mountain at an elevation of approximately 9300 feet. Visitors enjoy exploring local trails on foot, bike or off-road vehicle.
The group site takes reservations. Single sites are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in Utah · reservable in Utah · big rigs in Utah · group sites in Utah
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 7 |
| Group sites | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 70 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
8 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G1 | Group | Back-in | 70 | Gravel | Partial | 75 / 15 | Yes |
| 001 | Standard | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 2 | Yes |
| 002 | Standard | Back-in | 49 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 2 | Yes |
| 003 | Standard | Back-in | 22 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 2 | Yes |
| 004 | Standard | Back-in | 44 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 2 | Yes |
| 005 | Standard | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Full | 10 / 2 | Yes |
| 006 | Standard | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Full | 10 / 2 | Yes |
| 007 | Standard | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 2 | Yes |
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 | 70 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The campground contains one group site and a pavilion that can accommodate up to 75 people, with large tables, grills, Dutch oven cooking surfaces and a fire ring with benches. Vault toilets are provided. Roads and parking spurs are gravel. Elkhorn Ranger Station is just across a meadow from the site.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | June to Season closed by snow |
| Forest | Fishlake National Forest |
| Booking | To reserve group area, go to Elkhorn Campground via recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777, Tdd: 877-833-6777. Single Family Sites are first come first serve fees paid thru Kiosk fee tube. |
| 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 | OHVs are allowed only for ingress and egress of the campground. They are not permitted to be operated within the campground for any other reason. Camping is limited to 16 consecutive days. Pets must be on a leash |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Loa, Utah, travel northeast on U-72 for 12 miles. Turn east on Forest Road 206 and travel 8 miles to the campground. The dirt road is narrow, steep and single-lane in some places.
| Nearest town | Loa, Utah |
| Coordinates | 38.4635° N, 111.4566° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedFremont River Rd Piles Rx
15 mi from the campground
- PrescribedSalina Canyon East Rx
22 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 ↗ | 16 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Escalante Outfitters ↗ | 48.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 3.4 miRiley Springs Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 8.8 miPole Canyon Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.5 miNeff'S Reservoir3 mi trail · hiking, horse, e-bike
- 1.7 miGwt Alt (sand Cr- Deep Cr Spr) ↗10.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 1.8 miJahu Flat1.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2 miPole Canyon - Thousand Lake3.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, e-bike
- 2.2 miReese Creek ↗4.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, e-bike
- 2.4 miCedar Creek ↗5.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, e-bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 1.8 miDEEP CREEK LAKE TRAILHEAD ↗Fishlake National Forest · Season June
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
This campground sits inside Fishlake National Forest.
- inFishlake National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,787,979 acres
- 13.4 miLower Last Chance Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Bureau of Land Management · 19,339 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
- Lesley Morrell Line Cabin and CorralBuilding · Torrey · 5.1 mi
- Cathedral Valley CorralStructure · Torrey · 5.9 mi
- Wayne County High SchoolBuilding · Bicknell · 9.7 mi
Natural features
A thick stand of aspen, pine, and spruce trees covers the campground, offering pleasant shade. Summer wildflowers are abundant in the surrounding meadow.
Recreation
Miles of trails, including the Great Western Trail, crisscross the area, offering excellent hiking, biking and off-roading opportunities. Numerous sparkling alpine lakes provide great fishing and scenery.
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 Elkhorn Campground?
For some sites. The group site takes reservations. Single sites are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Elkhorn Campground?
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 Elkhorn Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Elkhorn Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season June to Season closed by snow.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Elkhorn Campground have?
8 sites, including 7 standard sites without power and 1 group site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Elkhorn Campground?
The longest site here provides 70 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
Can I have a campfire at Elkhorn Campground?
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. OHVs are allowed only for ingress and egress of the campground.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Elkhorn Campground?
Miles of trails, including the Great Western Trail, crisscross the area, offering excellent hiking, biking and off-roading opportunities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Elkhorn Campground?
Loa, Utah.
Source: Getting there
What if Elkhorn Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Primitive Campsites At Cathedral Campground (4.9 mi, first-come), Sunglow Campground (9.1 mi), and Bowery Creek (14.2 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby