🏜️ Discovering Hidden Utah: Temple Mountain Road & Red Canyon Loop Off-Road Adventure

Switching Gears RV Diary
Jan 5, 2025
4 min read

January 5,2024

Part of our 12-part series exploring Utah’s most remote and awe-inspiring landscapes

🚐 Leaving Goblin Valley: Onward to Temple Mountain Road

After an unforgettable stay among Goblin Valley’s whimsical hoodoos, we packed up and headed north in search of the next remote gem. Our destination? Temple Mountain Road, a dirt road stretching through rugged terrain and linking Goblin Valley to Interstate 70.

If you’re craving true backcountry solitude, this road is a must. It weaves through dramatic red rock formations and offers several opportunities for free boondocking, all while granting access to remote trails, historic sites, and jaw-dropping views.

🖐️ First Stop: Temple Mountain Wash Pictographs

Not far down Temple Mountain Road lies one of Utah’s most accessible glimpses into its ancient past: the Temple Mountain Wash Pictographs.

These Barrier Canyon Style pictographs date back thousands of years and include hauntingly beautiful images of:

🖐️ Human-like figures
🐾 Stylized animals
🔺 Geometric symbols

Easily accessible via a short pullout and walk, they’re a must-see for history buffs and curious travelers alike. Standing in front of those rock walls, you feel a deep connection to the people who once thrived in this unforgiving landscape.

🏕️ Camping Options Along Temple Mountain Road

Whether you’re tent camping or rolling in with your RV, Temple Mountain Road has options for every style of camper.

⛺ South Temple Wash Campground

10 campsites
Picnic tables, fire rings, pit toilets
$15/night
Close to trail access

🏚️ Temple Mountain Townsite Campground

Rustic but peaceful
Basic amenities
Great launch point for further exploration

💡 Boondocking Tip: There are also several scenic pullouts for dispersed camping along the road—free, first-come, and often more private.

🛻 Driving Temple Mountain Road: What to Expect

Temple Mountain Road is generally passable with most vehicles, though it’s still a dirt road—so keep these in mind:

🕳️ After rain, the road can become muddy and rutted
⚠️ Watch for erosion and soft shoulders
🧭 Cell service is spotty, so download maps ahead of time

The views get better with every mile. Temple Mountain looms ahead in the distance, its cliffs shifting color with the sun. We scouted several promising pullouts, but the terrain became rougher as we moved toward I-70.

🔍 The Quest for the Perfect Boondocking Spot

Sometimes, finding the right boondocking spot is trial and error. As we pushed further north, we started to loose good boondocking spots along the road.

Luckily, we crossed paths with a group of friendly fellow campers who tipped us off about a sweet spot near Red Canyon. It was exactly the kind of local intel we needed.

🏜️ Finding Our Site Near Red Canyon

We turned off toward Red Canyon just in time—the landscape around us exploded with vibrant reds and jagged walls, and just before the road turned gnarly, we found it.

The spot.

Remote. Quiet. Level. Stunning.

We parked Miss Kitty (our camper), set up camp, and soaked it all in. The sandstone walls glowed just for us.

🛞 Red Canyon Loop: 20 Miles of Off-Road Beauty

If you’ve got a high-clearance vehicle, the Red Canyon Loop is an absolute must.

🔄 20-mile scenic loop
🏔️ Elevation: ~6,000 feet
🚵‍♂️ Ideal for 4WD, ATVs, dirt bikes, and mountain bikes
🏜️ Landscape: sandstone cliffs, desert scrub, old mine relics

💥 Hidden History: The Lucky Strike Mine

While we missed this spot on our loop (next time!), it’s one of several old uranium mines scattered through the area. These relics tell a story of a different era when this part of Utah was a hub for uranium prospecting.

We encountered a few bikers along the way and spotted more secluded boondocking areas that could be future home bases.

❄️ An Unexpected Cold Snap: Boondocking Lessons Learned

Just as we were settling in, the weather turned. A fast-moving storm rolled in overnight and dropped the temperature dramatically.

🧊 Here's where we messed up:

We almost refilled our propane.
We figured we had just enough.
We were wrong. 😬

Waking up to snow and no heat wasn’t part of the plan. So we packed up quickly and headed to nearby Green River to warm up and resupply.

Lesson learned: when in doubt, top it off.

✨ Final Thoughts: Why Boondocking Is Worth It

Boondocking isn’t always easy. It’s unpredictable. Sometimes inconvenient. Occasionally cold.

But the trade-offs?

🏞️ Unparalleled views
🌌 Silent, star-filled nights
🧘‍♀️ A deep connection to the landscape
🛠️ Skills and resilience you build along the way

From ancient rock art to hidden canyons, from friendly fellow travelers to hard-earned sunsets—this leg of our journey reminded us why we keep doing this.

🔜 What’s Next: Geysers, Beaches & More (Yes, Beaches!)

You read that right—we’re headed for a geyser and a beach, all in Utah! Up next, we’ll share the story of finding unexpected water features in the desert and reveal the next hidden gem you won’t want to miss.

Stay tuned. 🌊🔥

🗓️ Planning Your Trip to Temple Mountain & Red Canyon

📌	Details
Best Time to Go	Spring and fall for mild temps and lower storm risk
Vehicle Tips	High-clearance 4WD recommended for off-road loops
Fees	BLM boondocking = Free; Campgrounds = ~$15/night
Weather	Check daily forecasts — storms can roll in fast
Resources	Download maps in advance (no service in most areas)

💬 Join the Conversation

Have you explored Temple Mountain Road or driven the Red Canyon Loop? Got a favorite boondocking spot nearby or a lesson learned the hard way?

Drop your stories, photos, or advice in the comments—we’d love to hear from you!