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Camping & Lodging Tent and RV Camping Obtaining campsites in Dinosaur National Monument is on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no reservation service for camping in the monument, except group camping at Split Mountain Campground during the summer. Most of the campgrounds do not fill up, except for Labor Day and Memorial Day weekends. Echo Park Campground can fill up on the weekends, but is usually not crowded during weekdays. Call 435-781-7700 for more information on camping. The length of stay limit is 14 days. Recreation vehicles in excess of 35 feet in length cannot be accommodated in any of the campgrounds. There are no hookups. Trailers and motor homes should not be taken on the Echo Park and Rainbow Park roads due to steep dips and sharp turns. Fires may be built only in the fireplaces provided. Keep your fire small, never leave it unattended, even for a few minutes, and be sure it is out cold before bedtime or departure. Green River Campground (5 miles east of Dinosaur Quarry) - $12 per night, has 88 sites, handles tents and RVs, is well shaded, has drinking water, modern restrooms (no showers), tables and fireplaces, firewood for sale, and ranger talks at the campground campfire circle. It is open approximately April to October. Split Mountain Campground (4 miles east of Dinosaur Quarry) in the summer is for group camping only, but is otherwise open all year. In the winter there is no running water, and only vault toilets, no fees are charged during the winter. Rainbow Park Campground (26 miles from Dinosaur Quarry on unpaved road) - no fee, 2 sites, handles tents, no water, vault toilet, tables and fireplaces, and is open all year. Road to campground is impassable when wet. Echo Park Campground (38 miles north of Headquarters) - $8.00/night, 17 camp sites, including one that is handicap accessible, plus 4 walk-in sites and one group site. Water and vault toilets, handles tents. Check with a ranger on present fire use policy. Access is dependent upon weather, the last 13 miles of road are unpaved and impassable when wet. RVs and trailers are not recommended. Deerlodge Park Campground (53 miles east of Headquarters)- $8.00/night, 8 sites, handles tents, is shaded, drinking water, vault toilets, tables and fireplaces, and is open all year. In the winter the water is turned off and there is no fee. Gates of Lodore Campground (106 miles north of Headquarters) - $8 per night, handles tents and RVs, has some shade, drinking water, vault toilets, tables and fireplaces, and is open all year. In the winter the water is turned off and there is no fee. Group Camping Group campsites are located in the Split Mountain and Echo Park Campgrounds during the summer months only (May through October). You can reserve a campsite for your group by calling (435) 781-7759. The Split Mountain Group Campground contains 4 sites. A maximum number of 20 people can camp in each site. The campgrounds are situated by the river with spectacular views. The campgrounds are fairly well shaded and have drinking water, modern restrooms, tables and fireplaces, and firewood for sale. The group camping fee is $10 for a non-refundable reservation fee and $25 per night. Camping Available in the Winter The Split Mountain Campground (4 miles east of the Dinosaur Quarry) is open in the winter. There is no fee or water. A vault toilet is available. Temperatures at night can reach minus 20 to 40 degrees, so be prepared. Echo Park and Green River campgrounds are closed in the winter. The Gates of Lodore, Deerlodge Park, and Rainbow Park campgrounds are open during the winter, but access is dependent upon road conditions due to snow. Backcountry Camping Dinosaur National Monument is not known as a backpack and horse pack park. The reason for this is the monument’s lack of a trail system. However, if you can read a map and are comfortable camping in an arid environment, the backcountry possibilities in the monument are endless. A knowledgeable ranger at one of the visitor centers can help you plan a trip. You can also purchase a USGS or Trails Illustrated topographic map of Dinosaur National Monument. The Trails Illustrated map has suggested backpack routes on the map. Click here on Bookstore to order. Overnight backpack and horse pack trips require a free backcountry use permit available at either visitor center or a field ranger. The Ely Creek Campground in Jones Hole is the only designated backpack campground in the park. You can make a reservation and obtain a backcountry permit for an Ely Creek site at the Dinosaur Quarry visitor center. You can call 435-781-7700 to check whether an Ely Creek campsite is available on the days you plan to visit. The campsite is located two miles down Jones Hole Trail and has two sites. A maximum of 10 people can stay in each site, fires are not permitted. During the low-use river season (second Saturday in September to the second Sunday in May) backpackers can camp at accessible river camps along the Green and Yampa rivers. Because of our arid climate the backcountry of Dinosaur National Monument is slow to recover from inadvertent damage. The following are minimum impact camping practices you should follow. · Select a campsite well away (1 mile) from developed areas, and at least ¼ mile from roads, trails, or cultural sites. Camp at least 300 feet from water. Do not camp where there is an abundance of microbiotic soil (the dark popcorn-like living crust on the soil surface). · Do not trench around your tent or move rocks to build a fire ring. · With the exception of the Green and Yampa rivers, never bathe or wash clothes or dishes in a water source. · In areas without toilets, bury human waste by digging a 6-inch deep hole at least 300 feet from water and frequently used areas. Carry out your toilet paper in ziplock plastic bags. Pick up and carry out all trash. Pick up and carry out all food scraps from eating and food preparation areas. · Use a backpack stove rather than building a fire. If you must build a fire, collect only down and dead wood, never leave your fire unattended, and keep your fire small. When you leave be sure your fire is dead out. Carry out the residue of your fire and leave your site as if no one had ever camped there. · Pets are not allowed in the backountry. · Keep your group as small as possible, 10 is the maximum. Lodging and Accomodations Outside the Park There are no motels or lodges within the park. Commercial campgrounds are located outside the park in Vernal and Jensen, Utah and Dinosaur, Rangely, Craig, and Massadona, Colorado. Most of these campgrounds have sewer drops, hookups, and showers. Motels are located in Vernal, Utah and Dinosaur, Rangely, and Craig, Colorado. Rates for motel rooms range from $32 to $75 a night. Vernal has the greatest selection of motels. During the summer it is advisable to make motel reservations in advance. For a list of motels try contacting the Chamber of Commerce in the town you plan to stay in: · Vernal Area Chamber of Commerce: (435) 789-1352 · Craig Chamber of Commerce: (970) 824-5689 · Rangely Area Chamber of Commerce (970) 675-5290 |
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Last Updated: April 2000 |
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