Hidden San Rafael Swell

Pictograph panel in Buckhorn Draw, San Rafael Swell The Buckhorn Panel pictographs, the anchor of this loop. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

The San Rafael Swell is one of the best boondocking regions in the state, and most people who visit only see Buckhorn Wash. This loop adds two more stops that see a fraction of the traffic: a canyon-rim overlook locals call "Utah's Little Grand Canyon," and a 1,500-year-old pictograph panel tucked into a wash off I-70.

Quick Facts
Trip Length 2 days
Rig Suitability Vans, trucks, and high-clearance rigs; trailers stick to Buckhorn Wash
Overnight Stops 1-2 (Buckhorn Wash both nights, or looped with Moab)
Regions Covered San Rafael Swell
Best Season Spring and fall
Road Conditions Graded dirt at Buckhorn Wash; rougher high-clearance spurs to Wedge Overlook and Black Dragon Canyon

Map

Map points are approximate waypoints meant to show the shape of the route. Use the individual spot write-ups linked below for precise access directions.

The route

Night 1 — Buckhorn Wash Nine miles of canyon road between towering sandstone cliffs, with a mix of free dispersed sites and numbered fee sites ($15/night). The historic Buckhorn Panel pictographs sit roughly halfway through the canyon with their own small parking area. Graded dirt road suitable for tents through full-size RVs — see the full write-up for site-by-site notes.

Daytime stop — Wedge Overlook

San Rafael Swell canyon country near the Wedge Overlook San Rafael Swell canyon terrain near the Wedge. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Twenty miles of graded gravel road from Castle Dale gets you to a rim view over the San Rafael River canyon dramatic enough to earn the "Little Grand Canyon" nickname. Camping here is designated-site only (not truly dispersed) and free, but note that a BLM proposal has been floated to reorganize the area into a single developed campground — check current status before planning to camp here specifically. No sites right on the rim fit an RV; day-use only for anything over van-sized.

Daytime stop — Black Dragon Canyon

Dikes exposed in Black Dragon Canyon, San Rafael Swell Black Dragon Canyon, home to a Barrier Canyon style pictograph panel. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

About 13 miles west of Green River off I-70 (watch for the turnoff just past mile marker 147, through a livestock gate), a red pictograph and petroglyph panel attributed to the ancient Barrier Canyon culture sits in a fenced area within Black Dragon Wash. Reaching the panel by vehicle requires high clearance; without it, it's an easy 1-mile round-trip hike from the low-clearance parking area.

Night 2 — Back to Buckhorn Wash, or continue toward Moab Loop back to Buckhorn Wash for a second night, or continue east toward Mineral Point Road or Yellow Circle Road near Moab if you're extending the trip.

Good to know

  • Black Dragon requires opening and closing a livestock gate — leave it as you found it.
  • The Wedge Overlook is currently under a BLM proposal that could change camping access — this is worth checking before you build a trip around camping there specifically; Buckhorn Wash is the more reliable overnight anchor.
  • No potable water anywhere on this loop. Bring everything you need.

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