A gray 4x4 Sprinter with a roof rack on a two-track through a wildflower meadow, cloud sitting on the mountains behind.

Forest Service campground

Buckboard

Forest Service campground in Manti-La Sal National Forest, San Juan County, Utah. About 8,900 feet. 6.2 miles from Monticello.

Managed by
Forest Service Manti-La Sal National Forest
Elevation
About 8,900 ft As the Forest Service states
Sites
12 10 standard non-electric, 2 group tent only area non-electric
Longest rig
43 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov

Overview

Buckboard Campground sits in the Manti-LaSal National Forest in southeast Utah at the foot of the Abajo Mountains. Visitors enjoy fishing and exploring local trails.

Recreation

Popular activities include fishing, hiking and off-road vehicle riding. Several trailheads are nearby, including Robertson's Pasture Trail and Spring Creek Trail. The Abajo Loop State Scenic Backway passes by the campground. It leads from the desert floor and red rock canyons to steep mountains over 10,000 feet high, with overlooks and panoramic views. The byway is suitable for passenger vehicles from late spring through fall but is not recommended for large RVs.

Facilities

The campground offers several single-family sites, as well as two group sites than can each accommodate up to 50 guests. Firewood may be collected in and around the campground. Forest Road 105 to the campground is paved, while parking spurs and the road within the campground are graveled. There are two vault toilets and the campground has water available (seasonally.) There is a 14 day stay limit at this campground.

Natural Features

Aspens and Gambel oaks surround the site, offering partial shade. The campground sits at an elevation of 8,900 feet, and summer temperatures range from 75-85 degrees during the day and 50-60 degrees at night. Mule deer, wild turkeys and black bears frequent the area.

Nearby Attractions

Other attractions in the area include Canyonlands, Arches and Mesa Verde National Parks, Natural Bridges National Monument, Dark Canyon Wilderness, Edge of the Cedars State Park, Lake Powell and numerous archaeological sites.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • auto touring
  • biking
  • camping
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • hunting
  • mountain biking
  • off highway vehicle trails
  • photography
  • picnicking
  • scenic drive
  • star gazing
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Buckboard

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

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

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.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated March 11, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.