East Park Campground ~ Ashley National Forest

The East Park Campground is located deep in the Ashley National Forest and a visit will require many miles of mountain dirt road driving. Fortunately most of the dirt roads are smooth in this area, because this National Forest features a very long touring loop that is a popular venture for weekend warriors. Because Flaming Gorge, Red Fleet State Park and all the dinosaur adventures in Vernal await nearby, the Ashley National Forest sees a fair share of tourists seeking an open campsite during the busy summer season. After Labor Day the summer tourism season quickly comers to an end and this is actually when the Ashley National Forest comes to life, because this is when the autumn hunting and fishing season begins.

It does get busy in this neck of the woods during hunting season, which becomes evident when exploring the long dirt roads. A few RV campers with ATVs set up basecamps in just about every open roadside clearing, because dispersed primitive camping is what hunters tend to prefer. For this reason, open campsites are fairly easy to find in developed campgrounds that charge a fee, like the East Park Campground. Even the premium lakeside campsites are usually available this time of year at Easy Park, so there are some perks when planning a camping tour during hunting season.

The East Park Campground is well maintained and it has basic facilities. The spacious campsites are equipped with smooth pads, picnic tables and fire rings, while the main summer activity is fishing in the large reservoir next door. On the downside, the high elevation reservoir lake is drained before winter begins, which is something for autumn season trout fishermen to keep in mind. Unrestricted cattle grazing also negatively affects this area, which can definitely smell like a barnyard at times. When the environmental conditions are perfect, the East Park Campground can be like a dream come true, but it is best to check this site out first before paying any fees, in order to make sure it is the right choice for you.