Prior to a recent trip to Capital Reef National Park I utilized Google Earth to locate places to boondock along the way. At the coordinates N38 35.768 W111 50.879 I found a sweet camp spot right on Koosharem Reservoir. In fact, if you go to those coordinates and zoom in you will see a RV camped along the water. What Google Earth didn’t show me was the beauty of the surroundings. Upon arriving at the posted coordinates, we found the site has a beautiful view across the reservoir with snow capped mountains to the northeast. On down the mountain slopes were aspens glowing gold in the autumn sun. All this was framed in by juniper trees with that beautiful deep blue Utah sky as a back drop. Wow, what a boondocking bonus! Wait, it gets even better, as the large fire ring in the space was already stocked with a generous supply of firewood for the evening.
Getting a bonus when boondocking, just another great adventure in RVing!
If you choose to go: Koosharem Reservoir lies along the east side of Hwy 24 just north of the Burrville turn off. There are multiple campsites available along the reservoir, you will find the one pictured below at the listed coordinates. If you are heading to Capital Reef National Park in the busy season this is a good spot to spend the night, then get an early start in the hope of obtaining one of the first come first served campsites in the park. If you decide to stay for awhile, nearby activities include fishing in the reservoir, geocaching, and riding on the Paiute ATV Trail. The reservoir is at an elevation of 7,000 feet, expect cool evenings.

Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.
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