BUCKHORN DRAW
BUCKHORN DRAW CAMPING and black dragon canyon // SAN RAFAEL SWELL
Nights out: 2 Miles driven: 394 Soundtrack: Josh Ritter — Heaven or Someplace as nice
Turns out the sleeping pad has a hole in it. Slept in the driver’s seat.
A quiet family camping trip through Buckhorn Draw, with desert roads, rock art, camp time, and a long central Utah unwind through the San Rafael Swell.
Day 1
I loaded up the truck with the entire family this time. We were stacked to the rafters and riding on the bumps. The wife and kids would be sleeping up in the RTT, and I'd be on the ground in my cozy one-man tent. We headed south to a part of the state I’d never seen before.
The Wedge is such an interesting formation. As you drive up, the landscape is dry sagebrush and the occasional scattered rock outcropping. If anything, it looks like a high and dry desert. Then, out of nowhere, the world falls away, and the Little Grand Canyon appears.
We set up camp just back from the rim and drew a cliff line in the sand. Kids couldn’t cross the line, or I’d kick their butts. The sun set, bats came out, and the wind died down. The evening was calm, warm, and crystal clear. We sat for hours seeing shapes in the stars and trying to find Mars.
Day 2
Morning broke, bacon was made, and we hit the road. We spent the morning exploring Buckhorn Draw, immersed in an almost spiritual history. The layers of rock, dinosaur tracks, and ancient art provided a sense of connection to something bigger.
The road turned from fast and gentle to slow and rough as we dropped into Black Dragon Canyon. The walls closed in and the historical connection came back. After the exposed Hell’s Revenge trail, the lack of cliffs to drive off was appreciated.
We headed back to camp, where the wind picked up. We spent an hour getting sandblasted by the wind, trying to get water to boil for a solid plate of camping Helth. The sun set, the wind died, and we were graced with another calm, warm, clear night by the fire.
As I crawled into the tent, my sleeping pad hissed as it went flat. I knew I was in for a man-maker of a night. I fought it for an hour before the rock in my ribs did me in. Defeated, I grabbed my pillow and headed to the truck. With the seat reclined and all my gear smashed into one corner, I ate another donut for company morale before wrapping up in a stolen Delta Airlines blanket.
Day 3
Somehow, I awoke a solid eight hours later feeling crispy and fresh. Miraculously, that was the first morning in years my back hadn’t hurt. Looks like I’ll be installing a Bronco driver’s seat in my bedroom.
More bacon, half of a day-old Cinnabon, and we hit the road, headed home.
A FEW PRACTICAL NOTES FROM BUCKHORN DRAW
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Buckhorn Draw is in the San Rafael Swell in central Utah. It connects desert roads, canyon walls, rock art, camp areas, and access toward places like The Wedge Overlook and the Little Grand Canyon.
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Yes. Buckhorn Draw and the surrounding San Rafael Swell area have camping options, including dispersed desert camping in many areas. Conditions, access, and rules can change, so check current land management guidance before picking a spot.
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Yes, Buckhorn Draw can be a good family camping area if you are comfortable with desert roads, basic camp logistics, and keeping kids close around cliffs, washes, and rock features. It has enough scenery and wandering to make the trip feel easy to enjoy without needing a packed itinerary.
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In dry conditions, many main roads around Buckhorn Draw are manageable in a high-clearance vehicle, but weather can change the roads quickly. A capable 4x4 is useful if you plan to explore side roads, dispersed camp, or keep moving after storms.
Keep Wandering
More San Rafael Swell: New Boot Goofin’
More family desert camping: Dirt Castles Until Dark
More Moab slickrock nerves: Hell’s Revenge
