BLM · Wilderness area · Utah

San Rafael Reef Wilderness

The San Rafael Reef Wilderness makes up the eastern edge of the San Rafael Swell and is a nearly north-south trending hogback that dips steeply eastward. Considered a major geologic feature in Utah, the...

Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.

Official page at Wilderness Connect ↗
San Rafael Reef Wilderness
Photo from Wilderness Connect, wilderness.net
DesignationWilderness
Managed byBureau of Land Management
StateUtah
Size60,442 acres (Wilderness Connect)
Designated2019, by Congress
Center point38.7985, -110.5410
Night skyVery dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 32)

Boundary map

1 outline

Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground

The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.

Where to camp

Campsite Atlas →

No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 4 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.

Explore

Nearby on the other atlases

National Register listings within 15 miles · 1 in all · Register Atlas

Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.

Reference

Questions people ask

How big is San Rafael Reef Wilderness?

60,442 acres.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Who manages San Rafael Reef Wilderness?

The Bureau of Land Management.

Source: Wilderness Connect

What state is San Rafael Reef Wilderness in?

Utah.

Source: Wilderness Connect

When was San Rafael Reef Wilderness designated?

Congress designated it in 2019.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Can I camp at San Rafael Reef Wilderness?

No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is South Temple Wash, 0.9 miles out. 4 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.

Source: Where to camp

How do I get to San Rafael Reef Wilderness?

A point inside the boundary is at 38.798, -110.541. The official page carries directions and the office address.

Source: Wilderness Connect

How dark is the night sky at San Rafael Reef Wilderness?

NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 32 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, very dark ground, a faint glow at most.

Source: NASA Black Marble

Are there historic places near San Rafael Reef Wilderness?

1 National Register listing within 15 miles, including Green River Presbyterian Church.

Source: Register Atlas

Sources

  • Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
  • Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
  • Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
  • Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
  • Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.