The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
Camping at Lower Onion Creek campground means you're on the banks of the mighty Colorado River, ready for rafting adventures. Enjoy vistas of the canyon and easy access to Fisher Towers, one of the strangest landscapes in Utah but also one of the most beautiful. Go hiking through a maze of spires and pinnacles. You and your fellow hikers can debate which ones look like gargoyles or minarets. Their distinct look stems from a unique blend of Moenkepi and Cutler sandstone layers. The town of Moab is nearby and has a mild climate all year, where you can enjoy galleries and shops. Microbreweries and restaurants offer you food and beverage ranging from international gourmet to regional southwestern cuisine. Two national parks are close by and worth a visit. Arches National Park to the east encompasses 100 square miles of famously photographed areas and over 2,000 sandstone arches. Head to Canyonlands National Park to the southeast for over 500 square miles of broad desert vistas shaped by rivers carving out canyons over the millennia and all the outdoor recreation you could hope for.
Any trip you take through the Moab area must include seeing the Fisher Tower. This hike is an easy roundtrip that lets you get a different view. The scenic rock formations from the trail's overlook have eroded over time and now appear in several intriguing shapes. Length: 4.4 miles Intensity: Easy
If you visit Canyonlands National Park, this is one of many trails to consider for a hike. It will lead you to a cliff-edge arch. The vistas of the La Sal Mountains are captivating during morning, afternoon, or evening. However, dawn is a popular time for photographers to visit for classic imagery. Length: 0.6 miles Intensity: Easy
This easy hike is great for bringing kids along in the Moab area. You'll find plenty of things to do along the trail that keep them occupied. Many novice hikers love this trail for its ease of use while leading to some of the arches this state is famous for. You can see both the Bowtie and Corona Arches, and the photography at sunset is unrivaled. Length: 3 miles Intensity: Easy
Head to Arches National Park for an arch standing tall over a pygmy forest of juniper and pinon trees. Some of your hikes will pass over grasslands, too. Some scrambling is involved at certain points. Choose for an in-and-out direct arch hike, following a loop, or add this as a part of the Sand Dune Arch trail. Length: 2.3 miles Intensity: Moderate
Another trail in the Moab area, this roundtrip heads up through a narrow but gorgeous canyon. In the end, you reach an idyllic natural bridge. Enjoy various plant and animal species drawn to the stream gently flowing between the sandstone walls. Your hike will cross the waters of this desert oasis several times, so dress for getting wet, and wade through. Length: 4 miles Intensity: Moderate
A stretch of the Colorado River known as the Moab Daily might be the most floated waters in the state. A class III section, these 14 miles are popular with locals and visitors alike. This river is also great for fishing. Expect to see or catch carp catfish, channel catfish, ponytail chub, humpback chub, razorback, flannelmouth sucker, and pikeminnow.
Granary Canyon is technical climbing with six different rappels. Morning Glory is only minutes outside Moab off Sandflats Road with two rappels. If you want to introduce your kids to easy climbing, check out Ice Cream Parlor, Slabs, or School Room. For bouldering, head down Hwy 128 to the Big Bend Campground for an established spot across the road.
Mammals in the area include kangaroo rats, mountain lions, desert bighorn sheep, black bears, and deer. If you spend time on the Green or Colorado rivers, you might spot beavers. Bird watchers have counted over 270 winged species in the area, ranging from turkey vultures and white-throated swifts in the summer to white-crowned sparrows and juncos in the winter. Reptiles here include lizards and snakes.
The La Sal Mountains let you picnic in desert serenity. Oowah Lake has picnic tables and pit toilets, or you can take a short hike through an aspen tree grove for the meadow at Warner Lake. Pack Creek has several fire rings and picnic tables in a woodsy location before you head up La Sal Mnt. Loop Rd.
BLM RV camping at Lower Onion Creek is possible. You can reserve two group sites, but individual sites are first come, first served. The campground has a pair of boat ramps for rafting on-site. Toilets are available, but there are no hook-ups, including water. The 21 individual sites have limits of two vehicles and 10 people per site. If you need RV camping in or around Moab, check out Dead Horse Point State Park or Moab Rim RV Campark & Cabins. Both allow pets and have pull-thru sites with electric hookups and restrooms available.
Head to Manti-La Sal National Forest for free dispersed camping around Moab. You can find campsites throughout the forest, but the best ones are on the La Sal Loop Road. This 60-mile paved road gets steep and has tight hairpin turns, so the biggest RVs and trailers might not access all of it. Look for dirt side roads, especially near La Sal Lookout Point, for spots that overlook Castle Valley and Porcupine Rim. The first few miles of La Sal Loop Road are private property, so enter the forest before camping.
If you visit during the summer, be prepared to avoid the migrations of desert bighorn sheep. Flooding is always a concern in canyons and can close trails or attractions with little warning. Make sure your RV is always stocked with plenty of food, fuel, water, and emergency supplies, and have everyone pack clothes for all seasons so you can handle any weather. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
Most of the natural areas you visit here will seem very quiet, which is common for grasslands and the desert. However, that doesn't mean you're alone, especially if you're camping or spending time right on a river. Many animals here are very adept at not getting seen. Keep a distance from them when you notice them, and pack everything out, using the "Leave No Trace" guidelines, to preserve their habitat.
To reach Lower Onion Creek campground, start from the junction of highways 128 and 191. Drive east on Highway 128, following the Colorado River for 22 miles. When you see the "Fisher Towers" sign, turn left on the other side. This gravel road leads to the campground after 1.5 miles. Address: Moab Field Office, 82 East Dogwood, Moab, UT 84532 Ready to visit Lower Onion Creek Campground? 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 to 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.
