It’s a rarity these days to find a state park that doesn’t charge a day use fee and even rarer to find one that allows free camping, so to find a state park that offers both is like winning the jackpot! Goosenecks State Park near Mexican Hat, Utah is such a rarity. The park has a stunning viewpoint of the San Juan River as it bends back and forth through the canyon a thousand feet below. The bends or “goosenecks” are recognized as one of the best examples of entrenched river meanders in the world. In the area encompassed by the park, the river snakes through five miles of canyon while progressing only one mile to the west. Beyond the park, the river continues to twist and the canyon deepens as it travels about another 35 miles before joining Lake Powell. The park offers little in the way of services, hence the free admission and camping. Dispersed camping (aka Boondocking) is allowed anywhere along the rim of the canyon. RVers can park just a few feet away from the edge of the cliff gazing down onto the river far below. The canyon is a series of stepped cliffs and terraces, denying any safe and sane pedestrian access to the river from your campsite. The park is reached by (UT 316) a 4 mile paved side road that branches off Utah Hwy 261 a little way north of the town of Mexican Hat.
A free state park with priceless views on the edge of a thousand foot precipice, just another adventure in RVing!
Learn more about the park here.
Rene says
Dave I just want to say [b]THANK YOU[/b] for letting us know about Gooseneck. We had a chance to go there this month and LOVE it. What a gem! We will definitely be back.
FYI: campers can get water for a very nominal charge at the Shell in Mexican Hat.
Dave Helgeson says
Rene, Glad you enjoyed it.