A dark green Toyota pickup with a roof tent parked in tall dry grass as mist closes in.

Forest Service group campground

Iron Springs Group Ashley

Forest Service group campground in Ashley National Forest, Uintah County, Utah. About 9,200 feet. 17.3 miles from Vernal.

Managed by
Forest Service Ashley National Forest
Elevation
About 9,200 ft As the Forest Service states
Sites
2 2 group standard non-electric
Longest rig
45 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Uintah County

Overview

Iron Springs Group Campground is located approximately 5 miles off U.S. Highway 191, along the Red Cloud Loop Scenic Backway at an elevation of 9,200 feet. Campers enjoy exploring local off-road trails. The Iron Springs Campground Group Sites include both the fenced-in area with picnic tables, and the areas immediately adjacent to site 1 and 2 with a quarter mile for overflow parking.

*Please check the NEED-TO-KNOW section to see if drinking water is available at this location *

Recreation

Red Cloud Loop offers scenic driving on a maintained dirt road, providing miles of trails for ATVs, hikers and mountain bikers. The loop leads to numerous reservoirs and lakes, overlooks, historic sites and through forests and meadows. East Park and Oaks Park Reservoirs are less than 10 miles away. Both are stocked with catchable rainbow trout. A boat ramp is available at East Park; Oaks Park does not have a boat ramp. Brush Creek Caves are nearby, a popular destination for caving and geocaching.

Don't forget to take a drive and visit the amazing Flaming Gorge Reservoir! There are lots of hikes and trail near the reservoir, horseback rides, guided fishing trips, ample birding and wildlife viewing opportunities, and a few local restaurants.

Facilities

The campground consists of two group sites that can accommodate up to 50 people each. Vault toilets are provided. Please check the "need to know" section to see if water is available. Picnic tables and campfire circles are located at each site. Large gravel parking areas are adjacent.

Natural Features

Iron Springs lies at the edge of a grassy meadow bordered by shady pines and aspens. Sagebrush and summer wildflowers dot the meadow. Many small lakes and streams can be found in the vicinity.

Nearby Attractions

Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is known not only for its beautiful red cliffs, but also for its world-class fishing for lake, brown and rainbow trout. Boating, water skiing, jet skiing, canoeing, kayaking, swimming and scuba diving are popular activities on the reservoir.

Flaming Gorge Dam offers guided tours of the working hydroelectric plant and the dam itself; The adjacent visitor center contains area history exhibits.

The Green River below the dam provides spectacular rafting opportunities. A trip down the river offers unique geology, outlaw history and Native American rock art.

The Ashley-Karst National Geologic Recreation Area offers dramatic canyons, densely forested backcountry areas, and vast networks of caves.

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

What people do here

  • auto touring
  • backpacking
  • biking
  • birding
  • camping
  • day use area
  • hiking
  • hunting
  • off highway vehicle trails
  • photography
  • picnicking
  • scenic drive
  • star gazing
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Iron Springs Group Ashley

The ringed pin is this group 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 June 4, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.