San Rafael Swinging Bridge Campground

Location

125 South 600 West
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Policies

Pets

Allowed (per listing)

Campfires

Allowed (per listing)

About

Just south of Buckhorn Draw where Buckhorn Wash meets the San Rafael River, San Rafael Swinging Bridge Campground occupies riverbank sites in the northern part of the San Rafael Swell. The site is divided into three loops Swinging Bridge North, an Equestrian Loop, and Swinging Bridge South with a total of 23 campsites: 22 that accommodate both RVs and tents and one tent-only site. The historic San Rafael Swinging Bridge, a 160-foot suspension span built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937 and the oldest intact suspension bridge in Utah, sits adjacent to the campgrounds; it served as the river crossing until a newer bridge was built beside it in 1990. Each loop has its own character: North has a scattering of cottonwood trees that offer much-appreciated shade in summer, the Equestrian Loop provides corrals at every site plus a central corral area for horse campers, and South includes a few shade structures. Campsites sit on the river's bank with the steep escarpment of Buckhorn Draw to the north and large buttes such as Assembly Hall Peak and Window Blind Peak visible to the southeast; Bottle Neck Peak is only a short drive to the south along Buckhorn Wash Road. Recreation opportunities radiate outward from the campground in every direction. On-site you're a short walk from river access and the southern trailhead for the Little Grand Canyon hiking route a rugged, 17-mile point-to-point hike with numerous river crossings and the broader area offers OHV routes, rock climbing, mountain biking (including access to the Good Water Rim trail), and technical canyoneering. Buckhorn Draw nearby contains petroglyphs and pictographs, the Buckhorn dinosaur track site, several hiking routes (Cow, Calf and Pine Canyon), non-technical slot entry points like Furniture Draw, historic inscriptions tied to Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch, and the MK Tunnels. Practical access notes: the Mexican Mountain Road leading to the North and Equestrian campgrounds is a 30-mile out-and-back semi-primitive dirt road where 4WD and high clearance are advised; seasonally operated sites and fees vary, so check with the managing agency for reservation policies, current seasonal openings, and amenity details before you go. Wildlife commonly seen at dawn and dusk includes mule deer, pronghorn (antelope), and bighorn sheep, and viewpoints such as the Wedge Overlook present strong perspectives on the Little Grand Canyon from nearby pulls.