BLM · Moab Field Office (BLM) · Moab, UT

Goose Island Group Sites

The two sites at Goose Island are ideal for groups wishing to be close to the town of Moab and Arches National Park. The area offers outdoor enthusiasts many options for hiking, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, and four-wheel drive tours. The town of Moab is 10 minutes away and has dining, shopping, sports rentals, tour companies and museums.

This is the group site. Looking for the main campground? Goose Island Campground, 20 sites, is next door.

More like this: reservable in Utah · pets allowed in Utah · group sites in Utah · dark sky in Utah

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Goose Island Group SitesGoose Island A Group SiteGoose Island Group Site AGoose Island Group Site B
Photos courtesy of Moab BLM · Recreation.gov

Site mix

group shelter nonelectric2
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

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

SiteEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresRating
A20GravelPartialRiverfront25 / 10YesBasic
BPull-through20GravelPartialRiverfront40 / 10YesBasic

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 11:59 AM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length30 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesGroup Site A (max people 25): $125. Group Site B (max people 40): $175
Dark sky7.5 miles from Arches National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park

The group sites have fire grates, picnic tables, vault toilets and shade shelters. The group sites do not have water, dump stations or electric hook-ups. When you enter Goose Island the group sites are at the far end of the loop past the individual sites.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Goose Island Group Sites30°40°50°60°70°80°90°January: 0.65 inches of precipitation, 1.7 inches of snowFebruary: 0.66 inches of precipitation, 1.4 inches of snowMarch: 0.70 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowApril: 0.77 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowMay: 0.82 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 0.35 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.92 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.88 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 0.89 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 1.03 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowNovember: 0.70 inches of precipitation, 1.0 inches of snowDecember: 0.76 inches of precipitation, 4.9 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 32.4°F averageFebruary: 39.6°F averageMarch: 50.1°F averageApril: 57.4°F averageMay: 66.7°F averageJune: 76.4°F averageJuly: 82.7°F averageAugust: 80.0°F averageSeptember: 71.2°F averageOctober: 57.6°F averageNovember: 43.7°F averageDecember: 33.0°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 in5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Moab, 3 miles from the campground at 4,053 feet, station USC00425733 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 9 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 9 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Moab, drive north on Highway 191 to the junction of State Route 128. Drive two miles on SR 128 to the entrance to Goose Island campground. The group sites are at the far end of the campground.

Nearest townMoab, Utah
Coordinates38.6097° N, 109.5578° W · Directions ↗

Charges and cancellations

  • Please contact the BLM Moab Field Office for assistance with changes and cancellations at 435-259-2100.
  • Changes
  • You can make changes to a reservation through your online Recreation.gov user account any time prior to the arrival/first date of the reservation.
  • There is a $10 change fee If you wish to change to dates entirely outside of the original reservation dates.
  • There is no change fee if you wish to extend or shorten the original reservation dates as long as the changes include dates from the original reservation.
  • There is a $10 change fee if you wish to change to the other group campsite at Goose Island.
  • You cannot make changes to your reservation after the arrival/first day through your Recreation.gov account. However, the BLM Moab Field Office may be able to assist you, 435-259-2100.
  • For reservations with dates at the end of the available booking window (a.k.a. sliding window), you will not be able to make changes or cancellations until the site has been available to the general public for four days.
  • Cancellations
  • Please cancel your reservation if you do not plan to use it. This opens highly sought-after campsites for others to reserve.
  • You can cancel your reservation online through your Recreation.gov user account or through the call center (call center incurs an additional fee). A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation.
  • Late Cancellations
  • A late cancellation occurs less the 14 days before the arrival/first date of the reservation (a.k.a. cut-off window).
  • Late cancellations will incur a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee.
  • Early Departures
  • If you spend at least one night and then leave prior to the scheduled departure check-out date, please contact the BLM Moab Field Office (435-259-2100) to open the remaining nights for others to use. You will not be able to cancel these nights through your Recreation.gov account.
  • You will be eligible for a partial refund of the nights AFTER you depart that you did not use. If you depart after the facility check-out time, you will not be eligible for a refund for that night
  • No-Shows
  • A No Show occurs if you do not arrive at your campsite or cancel your reservation by check-out time (Noon) on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time (Noon) on the day following the arrival date.
  • No-shows are assessed a $20.00 Recreation.gov service fee and forfeit the first night’s recreation fee.

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearCanyon Voyages ↗2.3 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗3.6 mi

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

Explore

Worth a stop

Goose Island is only 10 minutes from Arches National Park. Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park are within a half-hour drive. For people looking for guided tours or rentals, the town of Moab is only five minutes away.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

Goose Island is beside the Colorado River with cottonwood trees providing much sought after shade in the desert and striking canyon views. Across the river, the red cliffs of Arches National Park glow in the afternoon light.

Recreation

From Goose Island Campground, a paved bicycle trail leads to Arches National Park, the Bar M Mountain Bike Trailhead, the town of Moab, or up State Route (SR) 128 along the Colorado River. Arches and Canyonlands National Parks are nearby and have many scenic overlooks, hiking trails, and four-wheel drive roads. The SR 128 river corridor is filled with red rock canyons, hiking and equestrian trails, river access and activites, and scenic vistas.

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 Goose Island Group Sites?

Sites at Goose Island Group Sites are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Goose Island Group Sites?

Group Site A (max people 25): $125. Group Site B (max people 40): $175

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Goose Island Group Sites?

Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 11:59 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Goose Island Group Sites?

You can cancel your reservation online through your Recreation.gov user account or through the call center (call center incurs an additional fee). A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation.

Source: Charges and cancellations

How many sites does Goose Island Group Sites have?

2 sites, including 2 group shelter nonelectric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Goose Island Group Sites?

The longest site here provides 30 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 there showers or a dump station at Goose Island Group Sites?

The group sites do not have water, dump stations or electric hook-ups.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Goose Island Group Sites?

Yes, pets are allowed at Goose Island Group Sites. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Goose Island Group Sites?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Goose Island Group Sites good for stargazing?

Arches National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park, is 7.5 miles away. Skies that dark carry for miles; a moonless night here should show the Milky Way.

Source: DarkSky International

Is there cell service at Goose Island Group Sites?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Goose Island Group Sites?

From Goose Island Campground, a paved bicycle trail leads to Arches National Park, the Bar M Mountain Bike Trailhead, the town of Moab, or up State Route (SR) 128 along the Colorado River. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation