cancel
Showing results forย 
Search instead forย 
Did you mean:ย 

Green River Ut

lvnrdream
Explorer
Explorer
Has anyone camped or spent time in the Green River Ut area. We are headed out that way. Just trying to get an idea of what the area is like. Thanks
16 REPLIES 16

tatest
Explorer II
Explorer II
Stayed in Green River for a week in 2000 to study rocks and map sedimentary structures in the book cliffs. The area was an analog of the field we would develop over the next two years. The area is used extensively for field training geologists because of access to the same formations at many different points over a large area. If you are not a geologist, I guess bare rocks are scenery?

That trip, we used a motel, you don't really "camp" with a group of 20 geologist and engineers for field work unless there are no other options.

For what we were doing, going up oil field service roads and following powerline and pipeline inspection routes for access, 4wd was necessary to get to the places where we would start hiking and climbing. There are a few places where you can get close to the rocks with a car, 4wd takes you further, dirt bike or small 4-wheelers would be even better, but you'll still put in a lot of miles on foot to really see the area.

In 2006 I was there for an overnight in the RV. Stayed at Shady Acres RV Park, which was adequate; restaurant within walking distance, and at least one tree, we parked next to it.

Trees are pretty special in that part of Utah. Other than a stop at the park service museum/visitor center, and buying melons, we didn't do much in Green River that trip, we were headed toward the canyonlands.

Downtown Green River on a Sunday morning early in October:



If you are looking for "developed" recreational and tourist facilities, you'll find more of that down the road in Moab, but you are in different rocks that tell a different story.
Tom Test
Itasca Spirit 29B

Windwalker55
Explorer
Explorer
Clattertruck wrote:
Green River UT is a good place to use as a base camp to explore the San Rafael Swell area and the Book Cliffs.
The San Rafael is runs both north and south of I-70. The Book Cliffs are on the north side of I-70 with interesting roads out of Thompson Springs
We always stay at the KOA, which we like.


The Little Grand Canyon is in the north of the Swell , it can be reach from the lovely Buckhorn road.


On the Buckhorn Wash road,




The arch in the Eagle Canyon jeep road on the south.


Sego Ghost town in the Book Cliffs
Ron


Nice photos. What time of year did you take these?
2007 Kodiak 160 Hybrid
"The mountains are calling and I must go." John Muir
My Blog

Thunder_Mountai
Explorer II
Explorer II
Oldtymeflyr wrote:
Green River is one of those have to places, if you have to, you go to the place.

We have been going through Green River for probably 40 years(We used to stop, not so much in the past 10 years.) It has a decent museum. Somebody said there was a decent hamburger in town, maybe one place, maybe so. Go figure a bar in Utah.

From what I can tell its one of those towns whose best days are in the past.

Good Luck!

Rick


Yes, the town's best days are in the past, but the reason to stop there is Mother Nature.
2016 Winnebago Journey 40R
2018 Rubicon
1982 FJ40 Toyota Land Cruiser
2020 Keystone Outback 327CG
2020 Dodge Ram 2500
Polaris RZR XP 1000
4 Cats
3 Dogs
1 Bottle of Jack Daniels
Two old hippies still trying to find ourselves!

Oldtymeflyr
Explorer
Explorer
Green River is one of those have to places, if you have to, you go to the place.

We have been going through Green River for probably 40 years(We used to stop, not so much in the past 10 years.) It has a decent museum. Somebody said there was a decent hamburger in town, maybe one place, maybe so. Go figure a bar in Utah.

From what I can tell its one of those towns whose best days are in the past.

Good Luck!

Rick

2gypsies1
Explorer II
Explorer II
Thunder Mountain wrote:
Lot's of unknowing people answering your question. Over the years, we have spent at least six weeks in Green River. Now, our interests and activity level probably don't match the typical geezers our age.

We've always stayed at the KOA. Not a great place but nice.

The town of GR sucks.


Well...we, too, are active old geezers who love 4-wheeling. However, we wouldn't stay in Green River to do it. We'd stay closer to the places that we want to explore.

We've boondocked at San Raphael Swell and stayed much closer to Goblin, Book Cliffs and Capitol Reef in gorgeous places. We've explored every direction of that area but not by staying in Green River at a KOA.

While passing through enroute to other beautiful places we have stayed in Green River at the state park for one night but we didn't do our exploring from there.
Full-Timed for 16 Years
.... Back in S&B Again
Traveled 8 yr in a 40' 2004 Newmar Dutch Star Motorhome
& 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th Wheel

Two_Hands
Explorer
Explorer
I sit corrected and apologize to Green River.
2015 Fleetwood Excursion 33D
2016 Grand Cherokee Limited
Retired Law Enforcement
U.S. Army 1965-1973/RVN 1968-'69


I am the frequent recipient of "Get out of the way old man!"

Thunder_Mountai
Explorer II
Explorer II
UTCoyote wrote:
Thunder Mountain wrote:
No food worth eating except maybe the Chesters Chicken at the bus stop.



Have you tried Ray's Tavern? I'll occasionally stop in Green River just to get a cheeseburger and a beer at Ray's. Definitely the best food in town.

We stay in Green River at least once a year for a long weekend - hotel, not RV. Drive our Jeep there and use GR as a base camp to access the unlimited cool stuff in ever direction. The San Rafael Swell is probably the best kept secret in Utah. More neat stuff to see and do than I can list, but no tourists.

I've seen lots of bikes at Ray's on weekends but never stopped in. I'll give a try next time.

- UTCoyote
2016 Winnebago Journey 40R
2018 Rubicon
1982 FJ40 Toyota Land Cruiser
2020 Keystone Outback 327CG
2020 Dodge Ram 2500
Polaris RZR XP 1000
4 Cats
3 Dogs
1 Bottle of Jack Daniels
Two old hippies still trying to find ourselves!

Clattertruck
Explorer
Explorer
I agree, Rays is the best. The hotel food is OK. We normally eat our own food.
The museum is worth visiting. Moab prices are high so we often stay in GR.
Maybe we should not talk-up the area so it may stay more of a secret.
Ron
Clattertruck
2008 SD F450 Pickup PSD 6.4L CC 4X4 DRW, Lariat Auto trans 4.30 LS, 2013 Lance TT 1885, Toyota 2014 Tundra Crew Max 5.7.

UTCoyote
Explorer
Explorer
Thunder Mountain wrote:
No food worth eating except maybe the Chesters Chicken at the bus stop.



Have you tried Ray's Tavern? I'll occasionally stop in Green River just to get a cheeseburger and a beer at Ray's. Definitely the best food in town.

We stay in Green River at least once a year for a long weekend - hotel, not RV. Drive our Jeep there and use GR as a base camp to access the unlimited cool stuff in ever direction. The San Rafael Swell is probably the best kept secret in Utah. More neat stuff to see and do than I can list, but no tourists.

- UTCoyote

Clattertruck
Explorer
Explorer
Green River UT is a good place to use as a base camp to explore the San Rafael Swell area and the Book Cliffs.
The San Rafael is runs both north and south of I-70. The Book Cliffs are on the north side of I-70 with interesting roads out of Thompson Springs
We always stay at the KOA, which we like.


The Little Grand Canyon is in the north of the Swell , it can be reach from the lovely Buckhorn road.


On the Buckhorn Wash road,




The arch in the Eagle Canyon jeep road on the south.


Sego Ghost town in the Book Cliffs
Ron
Clattertruck
2008 SD F450 Pickup PSD 6.4L CC 4X4 DRW, Lariat Auto trans 4.30 LS, 2013 Lance TT 1885, Toyota 2014 Tundra Crew Max 5.7.

Thunder_Mountai
Explorer II
Explorer II
Lot's of unknowing people answering your question. Over the years, we have spent at least six weeks in Green River. Now, our interests and activity level probably don't match the typical geezers our age.

We've always stayed at the KOA. Not a great place but nice. Free coffee and pastries every morning.The best part is the owner. He can give you lots of maps and advise on things to do.

The ATVing and Jeeping exploring the old uranium mines and scenic areas is absolutely wonderful. From just west of Green River you can drive SUV/Jeep/ATV south all the way to Goblin Valley. There are some routes through washes that are every bit as beautiful as nearby Moab. If you are a bit adventurous, you can even make you way all the way down to Capitol Reef NP.

West on I70 and north of Green River are some "roads" that will take you to one of the most phenomenal Native American pictograph images in Utah. There is another drive you can do in any vehicle to an old suspension bridge and north and back east to the Provo highway.

The museum in GR river is wonderful. It documents the exploration of the Colorado by Powell.

There is some of the best hiking in Utah just west of GR in the San Raphael Swell. The Black Dragon is very memorable but a bit of a grunt. Lots of other short hikes on the way to Goblin's Valley.

The town of GR sucks. There is a small very expensive grocery but a good Ace Hardware. No food worth eating except maybe the Chesters Chicken at the bus stop.

If you are just car bound tourists, two to four days should do. Remember to ask the KOA owner for suggestions.
2016 Winnebago Journey 40R
2018 Rubicon
1982 FJ40 Toyota Land Cruiser
2020 Keystone Outback 327CG
2020 Dodge Ram 2500
Polaris RZR XP 1000
4 Cats
3 Dogs
1 Bottle of Jack Daniels
Two old hippies still trying to find ourselves!

Two_Hands
Explorer
Explorer
I agree with 2gypsies. It is a good place to spend the night, but nothing more.
2015 Fleetwood Excursion 33D
2016 Grand Cherokee Limited
Retired Law Enforcement
U.S. Army 1965-1973/RVN 1968-'69


I am the frequent recipient of "Get out of the way old man!"

2gypsies1
Explorer II
Explorer II
There's really no reason to stay in Green River. It's a stop-over spot enroute to better places.
Full-Timed for 16 Years
.... Back in S&B Again
Traveled 8 yr in a 40' 2004 Newmar Dutch Star Motorhome
& 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th Wheel

tegu69
Explorer
Explorer
We camped at Green river state park for one night back in 2009 on our way from Moab area. It was decent, but nothing special. It did have a small golf course.