Mountain forest campground at golden hour

Manti La Sal National Forest · Monticello, Utah

Leave the noise behind. The mountains don't rush — and neither should you.

Tucked along Forest Road 0171, Buckboard Campground is your gateway to slow mornings, crackling fire pits, and starlit skies over the high desert. No Wi-Fi. No crowds. Just you and the Manti La Sal range, exactly as they are.

(877) 444-6777 Discover More

Currently Open

Seasonal campground
reservations recommended

Elev. ~5,600 ft · Manti La Sal NF

Tent campsite surrounded by pine trees and mountain views

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Our Story

A place that remembers
what the world forgets

Buckboard Campground sits where the high desert meets the foothills of the Manti La Sal Mountains — a stretch of forest road that most people drive past without noticing. That's exactly why we love it here.

For generations, this corridor has been a resting point for travelers seeking something quieter, something real. Today, we keep that tradition alive. No resort amenities. No packed schedules. Just carefully maintained campsites, shared fire rings, and the kind of silence that actually sounds like silence.

5,600 feet elevation

18 campsites

100+ miles of trails

What We Offer

Everything you need.
Nothing you don't.

RV & Tent Sites

Spacious, level sites nestled among piñon pines and juniper. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with gravel pad.

Clean Restroom Facilities

Well-maintained vault restrooms and potable water stations throughout the campground. Tended regularly during peak season.

Trail Access

Direct access to Manti La Sal National Forest trails. Hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding at your doorstep.

Fire Rings & Wood

Stone fire rings at every site. Bring your own firewood or pick up locally sourced options nearby.

Pet Friendly

Bring your four-legged companions. Leashed pets are welcome on all sites and trails throughout the forest.

Off-Grid Experience

No cell service, no Wi-Fi, no rush hour. This is your invitation to actually disconnect and be present.

The Experience

Six reasons to
slow down here

Snow-capped peaks of the Manti La Sal Mountains at dawn

Mountain Sunrise

Wake to light spilling over the Absaroka Range. The high desert mornings here have a quality you won't find anywhere else — gold, then violet, then something wordless.

Campfire glowing at dusk with pine silhouettes

Evening Firelight

Gather around the communal fire pit as temperatures drop and the sky opens up.

Forest trail through piñon pine and juniper

Forest Trails

Miles of singletrack and doubletrack through piñon-juniper woodland.

Milky Way visible over the high desert campground

Dark Sky Nights

Without light pollution, the Milky Way stretches overhead like a river of glass. Bring a blanket, lie back, and remember what the universe actually looks like.

Wildlife

Elk, mule deer, and hawks share this landscape with you. Quiet observation is the only rule.

High Desert

Where the Colorado Plateau rises into alpine forest — two ecosystems in one visit.

We came for a weekend and stayed three nights. The silence here is different — it's not empty, it's full. You hear things you've been missing: wind in the pines, coyotes at dusk, your own thoughts without the static.

— A Buckboard guest

Find Us

In the heart of
the Manti La Sal

Buckboard Campground

Manti La Sal National Forest

Forest Rd 0171

Monticello, UT 84535

(877) 444-6777

Seasonal Hours

Open year-round (weather permitting)

Office: Mon–Fri, 8am – 5pm MST

Self-check-in available after hours

Campground at twilight with stars emerging

Ready to Go?

Your site is waiting.
The mountains aren't going anywhere.

Reserve your campsite today. Call us directly or visit during office hours for seasonal availability and rates.

Call (877) 444-6777