The Summit Springs district manager told me to camp at the best campground in the area. She even told me which campsite was her favorite. I’ll tell you how to get to the campground, but I’m keeping the best site to myself.
I followed a dirt road that took me past aspens and red rock before dropping into a canyon full of tall pines. Down at the bottom, where Carter Creek and Deep Creek meet, there was only one other camper. I pitched my tent close enough to the water that I could hear it from my sleeping bag. A few hours later, when I got up in the dark, I realized just how close I’d pitched it.
Tucked away in a hidden canyon of the Ashley National Forest lies Deep Creek Campground. This first-come, first-serve spot made me feel like I’d found a place that people still keep to themselves.
Deep Creek Campground: Ashley National Forest, Utah
You can’t ask for a more serene location to spend the night. Although it was the middle of summer, the flowing water at the bottom of the canyon provided a cool climate for a good night’s sleep under the star-filled sky.
The campsites aren’t particularly big so don’t plan on bringing your 60-foot fifth wheel. If you have a smaller RV camper there are some ideal spots for you. I chose the tent right by the water to give me the natural sound machine while I slept.
Being this far from light pollution, I knew the stars would be putting on a show. What I didn’t realize was how dark the forest floor would be. I carefully shuffled to a good spot to take the picture, nervous I’d ruin my night by falling in the creek.
There are two ways into Deep Creek. You can come west on Highway 44 off U.S. Highway 191 that travels between Vernal, Utah, and Rock Springs, Wyoming. The other option if you’re coming east into Manila, Utah is to drive south until you get to the Sheep Creek Geological Loop that boasts over a billion years of geological history. As you loop around, you’ll eventually make it to Hickerson Road that turns onto Deep Creek Road and down into the valley.
With the development of Recreation.gov, campers are able to find and reserve spots at the most beautiful campgrounds across the nation. However, like Deep Creek, not all campgrounds make it onto the government’s website, making it hard for explorers to find these hidden gems. The only way to know about them is to grow up in the area having your father’s father pass down the secret through generations, or someone who loves it enough to tell you about it.
So, if you’re in the Flaming Gorge area and find yourself tired of all the boaters and fisherman crowding the reservoir, this thirty minute adventure away from the nearest boat launch is well worth the drive.
