Fish Springs
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
Set at the southern margin of the Great Salt Lake Desert, western Utah's isolated Fish Springs area has much to attract RVers, with its classic Great Basin desert and mountain scenery. While the immediate area doesn't offer developed campgrounds (and no camping is allowed in the adjoining Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service), there's ample opportunity for dispersed camping along unpaved but generally well-maintained roads on the BLM acreage.
Quick Facts About RVing in Fish Springs
• RV Friendly: Limited • Maximum RV Length: Varies • Camping Type: Dispersed camping • Reservations: No • Hookups: None • Dump Station: None onsite • Potable Water: Bring your own • Cell Service: Limited to none • Pets: Allowed • Roads: Gravel & dirt • Best Season: Spring and fall
Why RV Travelers Love This BLM Area
• Ample opportunities for solitude and adventure via back-of-beyond boondocking in a lightly visited region • Excellent wildlife-watching • Rich history can be woven into an RV trip tracing the Pony Express and Overland Trail • Striking Great Basin scenery, from oasis-like wetlands and desert flats to craggy peaks • Plentiful hiking opportunities in the Fish Springs Range
What to See and Do
Hiking and Biking
North Willow Mine Trail
North Willow Mine Trail is a well-maintained natural path that offers an easy and pleasant outdoor experience. Hikers can enjoy the stunning views of the nearby mountains and landscapes that surround the area. With its gentle inclines, the path is great for those who prefer a more leisurely experience. Deer, birds, and rabbits make their homes in the woods surrounding the trail. Length: 7.8 miles Intensity: Easy
Stansbury Front Trail
The hiking and biking at Stansbury Front Trail are excellent. Numerous interlinking trails lead visitors through a breathtaking expanse of rocky terrain and lush vegetation. Along the way, you can enjoy the views of the surrounding mountains and distant city skyline. The trail is home to a variety of wildlife, so be prepared to spot many of Utah’s native bird species, including blackbirds, robins, and doves. Length: 6 miles Intensity: Moderate
Wildlife Viewing
Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge is a haven for many species of eagles, hawks, and waterfowl. Located in the Great Basin of Utah, the refuge is dedicated to preserving and protecting migratory birds and other species of wildlife. It’s home to a range of raptors, such as bald eagles, golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, and Cooper’s hawks. An abundance of waterfowl, including mallards, American wigeons, green-winged teals, and cinnamon teals, travel throughout the refuge. Visitors can observe birds in their natural habitats and take part in many activities, such as guided tours and birdwatching hikes.
Picnicking
Picnicking at Fish Springs is a fun and unique experience. Visitors can picnic in the lush meadows surrounded by the sounds of nature and the beautiful scenery. With plenty of covered tables and benches available for visitors, Fish Springs is one of the best places for picnicking in the area.
Hunting
Fish Springs offers many opportunities for hunting waterfowl. During Utah’s hunting season, hunting is allowed at Fish Springs during park hours. The refuge is home to a variety of ducks, geese, and swans, so waterfowl hunters are sure to have a successful and enjoyable outing. However, fishing isn’t allowed in the refuge, and hunters must leave the area no later than one hour after sunset.
Bureau of Land Management Camping
RV Camping 
While RV camping isn’t allowed in the refuge, several nearby campgrounds offer full hookups and amenities. Simpson Springs Campground is a popular choice, located about an hour from Fish Springs. It features a wide variety of RV sites, some of which are shaded by juniper trees. Coyote Run Campground & RV Park is another great choice, also about an hour’s drive from the refuge. It offers full hookups, picnic tables, and a camp store. Vernon Reservoir Campground is another great option that is situated on the banks of the Vernon Reservoir.
Dispersed Camping
There are plenty of opportunities for Leave No Trace-style dispersed camping around Fish Springs, given how extensive the BLM land holdings are flanking Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge. Gravel and dirt access roads opening up these Utah boondocking possibilities include the Pony Express Route, which loops around the northern foot of the Fish Springs Range, and Fish Springs Road, which runs south across the western edge of Fish Springs Flat and provides east-side access to the Fish Springs Range. The general stay limit for dispersed camping on BLM land is 14 days within a 28-day period.
Is This BLM Area Good for Your RV?
Far from towns and reachable only by unpaved and sometimes narrow roads, Fish Springs is a remote destination for RV camping. All things considered, higher-clearance, overlanding-worthy rigs are best-suited for this area, whether a smaller-class RV or a truck camper. • Camper Vans: A high-clearance campervan could be a good choice for the Fish Springs area, given the nature of the roads. • Travel Trailers: A rugged travel trailer up for some bumpy roads can also be suitable for this trek. • Fifth Wheels: A fifth-wheeler of the right design might work for Fish Springs, though it's overall perhaps not the best choice for this back-of-beyond desert camping, given some of the twisty and narrow gravel roads. • Class A Motorhomes: A Class A isn't a good pick for Fish Springs, given the extensive driving on bumpy gravel and dirt backroads that may have blind corners. • Class B Motorhomes: A high-clearance and well-equipped Class B could be suitable for Fish Springs RV camping. • Class C Motorhomes: You'd most likely want to choose only a smaller, high-clearance Class C motorhome for heading to Fish Springs.
Free Camping 
If you’re looking for free “BLM camping near me,” you’ll find plenty of options within an hour’s drive of Fish Springs. At Clover Springs Campground, you can choose from a variety of sites with excellent views of Utah’s wilderness. You’ll also discover plenty of open spaces for camping and exploring the local wildlife. At Grantsville Reservoir Campground, you can spend your evenings swimming and fishing in the reservoir. Lookout Pass Campground is the perfect spot for hikers and adventurers. Here, you can enjoy views of the surrounding mountains and capture some fantastic photographs.
RV Rentals Near Fish Springs Plan your next adventure
Planning your Fish Springs BLM trip
When planning your trip, a few helpful tips can ensure that you have a memorable experience. First, check the weather before you go, and pack accordingly. Utah can have unpredictable weather, so double-check the forecast to make sure you’re prepared for any unforeseen changes in temperature or precipitation. Also, ensure that you have all the necessary camping gear, such as blankets and sleeping bags, and before the sun goes down, check to ensure that your chosen campground is RV-accessible. If you’re planning to cook over an open fire, be sure that you have all the necessary ingredients, such as firewood, fire starters, and a cooking grate. If you’ll be camping away from designated sites, don’t forget to bring food, water, and enough backup power for your stay. BLM camping in Utah offers many benefits and joys. From the amazing views of the natural terrain to the abundance of wildlife, it can be an unforgettable experience. And with over 85 million acres of public land, there’s plenty of space to explore the beauty of Utah’s backcountry. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
What RV Travelers Should Know Before Arriving
Overnighting in the vicinity of Fish Springs means self-sufficient RV camping for those comfortable with boondocking in remote areas that not only lack facilities but are also far from basic amenities. Expect an extended drive on bumpy, rocky unpaved roads with no services whatsoever along them to get here. Some of the closest gas options to the Fish Springs area are Delta, Utah, about 90 minutes to the southeast, and the Border Inn in Baker, Nevada, 75 minutes to the southwest. Cell coverage around here is generally spotty at best. You definitely need to be well-stocked and well-prepared for an RV trip out here. Gas up before visiting (and consider hauling extra fuel). Carry extra water and provisions, more than one spare tire, and up-to-date, large-scale maps.
Leave No Trace 
When RV camping in Utah, always remember to "Leave No Trace." This means packing out all your trash, following official rules and regulations, and being careful not to cause damage to the environment. Campers should be sure to clean up any mess they make to help protect the land and its natural beauty. By leaving no trace, you’ll help ensure that future generations can enjoy the same wilderness in its present pristine condition.
Fish Springs Location
To get to Fish Springs from Delta, Utah, take Highway 6 west for about 32 miles, and then turn left onto Highway 132. Follow Highway 132 for about 28 miles until you reach the town of Fillmore. Once in Fillmore, turn left onto Highway 99, and drive about 1.5 miles. The entrance for Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge will be on the left. Fillmore Field Office
95 East 500 North Fillmore, UT 84631 Ready to visit Fish Springs? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you’ll have your RV to return to for the night where you’ll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
Plan Your Day at Fish Springs
• Morning: After daybreak coffee at the RV, take advantage of the morning cool for a ramble in the stunning Fish Creek Range. This fault-block range, the loftiest peaks of which rear above 8,000 feet, rise from barren grassy slopes to pinyon- and juniper-studded crests, and provides notable habitat for pronghorn, mule deer, and a variety of raptors, including bald and golden eagles. •Afternoon: Indulge in little Old West historical sightseeing by visiting the site of the Fish Springs Station, established in 1859 and serving for decades as a waypoint for riders and coaches along such routes as the Pony Express and Overland trails. It's situated near House Spring in Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge. •Evening: Head for Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge in the early evening and take your RV on the 11-mile-long Auto Tour. Skirting marshlands, pools, wet meadows, and desert scrub, this route serves up plenty of opportunities to spot the birdlife for which the Refuge is most celebrated, not to mention other critters such as coyotes and pronghorn.
Nearby Attractions
• Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge: Nearly 18,000 acres in extent, this area protects precious Great Salt Lake Desert spring-fed wetlands. This natural oasis, which drew Indigenous Great Basin peoples for thousands of years and became an important stopover along frontier-era thoroughfares, provides vital habitat for droves of waterfowl, shorebirds, and waders. Depending on where you boondock on adjacent BLM lands, you can set up shop within minutes of the refuge boundaries. • Boyd Station: Only about a 20-minute drive from Fish Springs, Boyd Station is regarded as one of the best-preserved Pony Express stations in all of Utah. • Little Sahara National Recreation Area: Part of one the most notable dune fields in the Great Basin, the 63,000-acre Little Sahara National Recreation Area, about a two-hour drive from Fish Springs, draws off-roading enthusiasts from across Utah and beyond. Offering four BLM campgrounds (including the well-developed, 115-site Oasis Campground, which has a dump station), Little Sahara also encompasses the 9,000-acre Rockwell Wilderness Study Area, closed to ORVs but open to hiking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there drinking water available in the Fish Springs area? You'll want to bring your own water supply when RV camping in the Fish Springs area, as facilities are exceedingly scarce. Drinking water is available for Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge visitors at their headquarters. What is cell service like in the region? Definitely don't expect reliable cell service when camping on BLM land near Fish Springs. Certain providers are better than others when it comes to coverage out here, but decent swaths of these West Desert backlands don't have any at all. Carry an alternative means of communication and keep in mind that, in an emergency situation, there is a payphone at the Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge headquarters. What are road conditions like in the area? Unpaved roads are the only way to reach the Fish Springs area. The main access routes are, overall, well-maintained, but there are bumpy stretches and occasional potholes, so a high-clearance vehicle is best. Four-wheel drive isn't required, although it's certainly handy, and keep in mind that some of these desert routes may become treacherous or impassable in wet conditions. RVers should stick to main roads and also obtain up-to-date information on conditions and recommendations on roads suitable for their rigs from the local BLM branch: the Fillmore Field Office. What is the ideal time to visit for RV camping? Although you can technically boondock in the Fish Springs area year-round, the Great Basin Desert has winters that can be frigid and snowy. Summer travelers, meanwhile, should bear in mind that temperatures can be scorching and shade exceedingly limited, though nights are often refreshingly cool. All things considered, spring and fall are probably the most ideal windows for RV camping here. Are dogs allowed? Except where explicitly prohibited, dogs are generally allowed on BLM lands in this area. Keep in mind that they aren't allowed outside in the national wildlife refuge (except for use in legal in-season hunting).
Rent the Right RV for This Trip
Smaller-class, high-clearance RVs and campervans as well as truck trailers are generally the best choices for BLM camping in the Fish Springs area. If you don't feel you've got a suitable rig, consider renting one. Explore top-quality RV rentals in the Delta, UT vicinity as you prep for a visit to the Great Salt Lake Desert gem of Fish Springs.