Saved Account Join
A gravel road curving into a high mountain valley at first light, the peaks catching the sun.

Bureau of Land Management camping area

Big Bend Recreation Site

Bureau of Land Management camping area, Grand County, Utah. 4.7 miles from Castle Valley.

Managed by
Bureau of Land Management
Reservations
Not reservable Usually first come, first served. Confirm with the office
Stay limit
14 nights within a 30 consecutive day period
County
Grand County

Start your Moab adventure at the Big Bend Recreation Site. Located along the Colorado River, visitors enjoy a sandy beach, boat launch, river viewing areas, picnic tables, campsites, and group campsites. Adventurers also enjoy rafting the Moab Daily, a beautiful section of the river that includes several smaller rapids sections - perfect for all watercraft types. Within close proximity to national parks and countless trails, outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy hiking, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, and four-wheel drive tours in the surrounding area. The town of Moab is approximately 30 minutes away and has dining, shopping, sports rentals, tour companies and museums.

Individual Campsites

Campsites tucked along the "Big Bend" in the Colorado River Canyon. Individual sites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Three group sites are reservable through Recreation.gov. The campsites can accommodate tents, trailers and large RVs. many of the sites are located next to the Colorado River and are surrounded by imposing cliffs. Big Bend has a sandy beach, a river viewing area and accessible facilities. (Do not enter the river without the required life jackets; it has dangerous under currents.).

Group Campsites

The recreation site includes three group campsites that can accommodate tents, trailers, and large RVs. Sites A and B are beside the Colorado River. Site C is across Highway 128 in a side canyon, allowing for privacy and is ideal for small family gatherings or weddings. Each site includes fire grates, picnic tables, vault toilets, and shade shelters. The sites do not include potable water, dump stations, or electric hook ups. All three sites have spectacular canyon views. Reserve your site through Recreation.gov.

Nearby Attractions

Big Bend is conveniently located near Arches National Park. Canyonlands National Park, Hovenweep National Monument and Natural Bridges National Monument are within a day�s drive. The Manti-La Sal National Forest and the La Sal Mountain Loop Road are nearby and offer stunning views, recreation opportunities and relief from the summer heat.

The description, directions and fees are the Bureau of Land Management’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • boating
  • camping
  • hiking

The land around Big Bend Recreation Site

The ringed pin is this camping area; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

Join Overlanding Life
Saved Account

Start with a region

Browse the directory