Gates Of Lodore Campground — Hotel in Vernal

Quite possibly the best kept secret in the midwest and my very favorite place on Earth. This is one of those places you have to see with your own eyes to understand how special it is. Also, this area is famously known as a facorite bastion for the infamous "Wild Bunch" as well as popular rendezvous point when the west was still wild and when the fur trade was still thriving. Lodore Canyon is the topic of a significant portion of John Wesley Powell's account of his famous expedition and includes such geography as "Disaster Falls" so do your homework before you try to float the river here especially since it requires special permit with Dinosaur National Park. I've been here several times and had the whole area nearly to myself as there is no one here for miles, save for the few folks who call this place home. Elk appear to outnumber people 20 to 1 here. I HIGHLY recommend bringing an extra tank or two of fuel if you plan to visit because the nearest gas station in any direction is about an hour away and you are unlikely to have any cellphone...

First off, Gates of Lodore is the name for the canyon at this section of the Green River. In 1869 Andrew Hall, a member of John Wesley Powell's expedition, named The Gates of Lodore after a poem called, "The Cataract of Lodore," by Robert Southey. So there's your history lesson.

Second, the campground is quite nice with plenty of spots, plenty of parking and plenty of bathrooms. The ranger station is right there too if you need help.

Third, rafting is great here. If you're a private boater make sure you have your permit. The beach to the water can be quite long and the sand is bad, vehicles get stuck in it. Luckily the place has a moon rover looking thing you can use to load your boat on and take to the water. Check the photo to see what it's like.

Fourth, there's a short hike here that takes you closer to the Gate of Lodore canyon and it's really pretty. So there's that to...

Fantastic campground tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the crowds. This campground seems to be used more by the people rafting - which I was very envious as I looked down the river and saw the sheer cliffs making the Gates of Lodore.

I was on an extensive cross-country motorcycle tour and chose this campground as one of my stops. Unfortunately, I did not pay attention to the road classification to get there and wound up riding my loaded Harley-Davidson touring motorcycle and trailer VERY SLOWLY & CAREFULLY the few miles of washboard dirt/sand road. Thankfully I was able to control the bike the whole way in and out.

The amenities are at absolute minimum. Bring all your food and drinks. Campsite payment...