The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
The Bureau of Land Management is a government agency responsible for caretaking almost a quarter of a billion acres of public land in the United States. It maintains camping areas and facilities at hundreds of locations open to RV camping. You should also park your RV at established camping sites. Bureau of Land Management campgrounds often provide a less expensive alternative to private campgrounds, which is especially useful if you’re planning on staying for more than a week at a time. If your travel plans include central Utah, you might be wondering “Will there be BLM camping near me?” The answer is a definitive yes, at delightful Otter Creek.
At just over three hours by car from Utah’s capital of Salt Lake City, Otter Creek is a peaceful and remote reservoir that offers plenty of outdoor activities, including boating, fishing, hiking, and bird-watching. The site is open year-round and makes a convenient base if you’re planning on doing some hunting or want to visit Bryce Canyon National Park and other attractions in the area.
A flat dirt track with a trailhead at the reservoir, this trail makes an appealing way to see the surrounding countryside and is appropriate for all ages and skill levels.
Length: 5 miles
Intensity: Easy
The waters of Otter Creek are clear and cold, ensuring that it’s the ideal haven for its population of rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, and brown trout. The reservoir itself covers more than 3,000 acres, making boating, kayaking, canoeing, and swimming some of the top pursuits while visiting. Fees to enter the park include the use of the boat launches for watercraft.
While there’s no climbing at Otter Creek, Bryce Canyon is around 40 miles away and offers both repelling and climbing opportunities at the Aquarius Plateau. This volcanic outcropping provides cliff faces with plenty of challenging routes to take. Visitors should pack all the necessary gear and use caution during their climb. Many of the rock formations and cliffs in Bryce Canyon are delicate or are composed of dangerous, shale-like rock, so visitors should restrict their climbing to the Aquarius Plateau area.
Otter Creek is lucky to lie directly in the path of the Pacific Migratory Bird Flyway, making it an advantageous place to be in the spring or fall when dozens of bird species are migrating. At other times of the year, bird-watchers may see golden eagles, Cooper's hawks, kestrels, ravens, mountain bluebirds, owls, and dozens of other species common to the area. This part of Utah is also popular with hunters, and the surrounding hills are filled with deer and elk.
There’s a picnic pavilion with tables for general use.
Otter Creek is an especially popular spot to explore using ATVs. The Paiute Trail system includes several trails appropriate for riding ATVs and is accessed at the reservoir. There are also several trails on Paunsaugunt Plateau located directly adjacent to the reservoir.
BLM RV camping is welcome at Otter Creek at the South Point Recreation Site. There are dozens of campsites for vehicles that are 45 feet or less in length, and while most of them are back-in only, some offer pull-through access. Many of the campsites are directly on the reservoir’s shoreline, allowing quick and convenient access to the water for kayaks or swimming. There isn’t potable water available for campers, so RV users will want to ensure they bring enough supplies for the duration of their stay. There are pit toilets, showers, a dump station, and picnic facilities available.
Bureau of Land Management free camping is available on the east side of the reservoir. The sites are dispersed and don't offer any facilities. There are also semi-primitive sites available on the west side of the reservoir. All free BLM RV camping options are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Most of the activities at Otter Creek center around the water, so don’t forget to bring swimming suits, life vests, and plenty of sunscreen if you’re planning to spend time on the water.
There’s only spotty coverage for cellphones at the site, so it’s a good idea to download, print, or buy a paper map of the local area before you visit in case your navigation app is tied to cellphone tower access.
Part of the beauty of Otter Creek is its peaceful remoteness. This also means there are no services nearby, so campers will want to stock up on fuel and provisions before an extended stay.
Otter Creek’s elevation is more than a mile above sea level. Be sure to pace yourself during strenuous activity if you haven’t acclimated to the altitude yet.
Otter Creek is open year-round, but winters in central Utah can often include cold weather and snowfall, so be sure to pack appropriate clothing and snow-clearing tools like spades or ice scrapers in case there’s a storm during your visit.
Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
In order to ensure an enjoyable stay for your fellow travelers and that camping is still allowed at BLM sites in the future, it’s vital to do your part in cleaning up after your visit. Using the "Leave No Trace" guidelines insures that the land will be preserved for generations to come. There are trash receptacles at the picnic pavilion and other locations around Otter Creek. There’s also an RV dump station at the site for easy disposal of accumulated trash.
From Beaver, Utah, you’ll take I-15 to Exit 95, heading east on Highway 20 toward Panguitch for 20 miles. At the end of Highway 20, take a left onto Highway 89. After 16 miles, take a right onto Highway 62 for 12 miles to UT-22. Your destination will be on the right.
Address: 150 East 90 North, Richfield, UT 84701
Ready to visit Otter Creek? 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.
