Barker Recreation Area
Campground · Utah · 16 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Dixie National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 16
- Bookable sites
- 35 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 100
- People per site
- 16
- Accessible sites
- 9,296 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Barker Recreation Area is located high on the Colorado Plateau at an elevation of 9,300 feet. Visitors enjoy canoeing, fishing and exploring local trails.
Recreation
Upper Barker Reservoir provides canoeing, kayaking and fishing for rainbow and brook trout. Numerous hiking, biking and horse trails can be accessed from both the Upper and Lower Barker Reservoir trailheads. Trails, including the non-motorized Great Western Trail, lead to nine backcountry fishing lakes and beautiful mountain views. The area also has excellent stream fishing and spectacular fall colors.Facilities
This recreation area contains 13 single-family sites, three group campsites and a day-use area. Horses are permitted in the Porter group site.Drinking water is provided from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Amenities include accessible vault toilets and bear-proof food storage lockers. Fishing docks are located at Upper and Lower Barker Reservoirs. Roads and parking spurs are gravel.
Natural Features
A dense canopy of aspen and spruce trees forests Barker Recreation Area. Summer wildflowers are plentiful and a variety of wildlife frequents the area, including black bear, blue grouse, golden eagle, ducks and wild turkey.Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (801) 226-3564.Nearby Attractions
Both the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Escalante Petrified Forest State Park are located approximately 45 minutes away. Sightseeing along Utah Highway 12, a National Scenic Byway, is very popular. Travelers visit from every corner of the world to see the stunning red rock canyons and desert landscapes.Bryce Canyon National Park, Kodachrome Basin State Park and Anasazi State Park are also located in the area.
The facts
- Season: Late May – Early September — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
- 16 bookable sites
- 18 sites in total, including non-bookable
- 1 site for day use only
- 16 accessible sites
- Vehicles up to 35 ft
- Up to 100 people per site
- Loops: BARKER RECREATION AREA, Group
Site types
- 13 Standard Nonelectric
- 2 Group Standard Nonelectric
- 2 Management
- 1 Group Standard Area Nonelectric
Amenities
- Campfires allowed
- Fire pits
- Picnic tables
- Grills
- Shade
- Pets allowed
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups.
18 campsites at Barker Recreation Area
Check-in 02:00 PM · Check-out 11:00 AM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | BARKER RECREATION AREA | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 002 | BARKER RECREATION AREA | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 003 | BARKER RECREATION AREA | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 004 | BARKER RECREATION AREA | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 005 | BARKER RECREATION AREA | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 006 | BARKER RECREATION AREA | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 007 | BARKER RECREATION AREA | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 008 | BARKER RECREATION AREA | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 009 | BARKER RECREATION AREA | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 010 | BARKER RECREATION AREA | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 011 | BARKER RECREATION AREA | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 012 | BARKER RECREATION AREA | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 013 | BARKER RECREATION AREA | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| D01 | BARKER RECREATION AREA | Management | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 40 | ♿ 🐾 |
| HOST | BARKER RECREATION AREA | Management | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| Gates | Group | Group Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 35 | ♿ 🐾 |
| Old Lady Young | Group | Group Standard Area Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 100 | ♿ 🐾 |
| Porter | Group | Group Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 35 | ♿ 🐾 |
Getting there
From Escalante, Utah, drive 2.5 miles west on Highway 12, then turn right at the North Creek Lakes sign and right again at the Barker Recreation Area sign, onto Forest Road 149. Drive approximately 16 miles on FR 149. The last 3.4 miles of FR 149 are steep and single-lane with switchbacks and turnouts.
37.92056, -111.81528 · 37°55'14.0"N 111°48'55.0"W
Typical weather
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Low °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Precip in | 2.4 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 2.2 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 3.5 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Barker Recreation Area
- Can you reserve a site at Barker Recreation Area?
- Yes, Barker Recreation Area is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Barker Recreation Area have?
- 18 sites in total, of which 16 can be booked.
- What is the maximum RV length at Barker Recreation Area?
- 35 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at Barker Recreation Area?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Barker Recreation Area.
- Are campfires allowed at Barker Recreation Area?
- Campfires are allowed at Barker Recreation Area. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.
Also listed by
Barker Recreation Area also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Barker Recreation Area's operator.
USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026
- Check fees on www.recreation.gov
Restrictions:
- Quiet hours between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- Campfires in developed fire pits only
- Fireworks are prohibited
- Dogs must be on leash
- ATV and OHV are allowed to ingress and egress all group sites and campsites 1 and 13. Street Legal OHVs are allowed throughout the campground.
- Maximum length of stay: 14 days
- Fishing license fee required.
Accessibility:
- Vault toilets are ADA compliant.
Camping near Barker Recreation Area
- Posey Lake Campground 6.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Lower Barker Reservoir 0.5 mi · Facility
- Upper Barker Reservoir 0.7 mi · Facility
- Joe Lay Reservoir 0.7 mi · Facility
- Flat Lake 1 mi · Facility
- Yellow Lake 1 mi · Facility
- Dougherty Basin 1.2 mi · Facility
- Blue Lake 1.2 mi · Facility
- Round Willow Bottom 1.8 mi · Facility
- Long Willow Bottom 1.9 mi · Facility
- Escalante Ranger District 4.3 mi · Facility
- Blue Spruce Campground 9.6 mi · Campground
Contact
- Phone 435-826-5499
- Email Help.Dixie.Escalante@AmericanLL.com
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-05-22.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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