Pelican Lake Campground

Ouray Valley — lakeside, fishing

Location: Vernal, UT, UT

Price: From $10 per night

Price range: $10–$35 per night

Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)

Season: May through October

This Campground is on a First Come - First Serve Basis, vistors are required to physically be at the campground to purchase and claim a site. You must also occupy the area the day you pay for it, no advance payments. We encourage our visitors to download the recreation.gov app to take advantage of the Scan & Pay Option.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): moderate signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Fishing

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/pelican-lake-campground to be notified when sites open up.

Pelican Lake Campground offers 13 affordable sites at $20/night with clean vault toilets and direct water access for fishing and boating. The scenic location at 4,800 feet elevation provides excellent wildlife viewing opportunities including pronghorn, prairie dogs, and various bird species.

Wildlife alert: Pronghorn, White-tailed Prairie Dog, Red-tailed Hawk, Redhead, Ross's Goose, Western Kingbird

Insider tips for Pelican Lake Campground: First come, first serve basis — arrive early to claim sites Download recreation.gov app for Scan & Pay option or use the Iron Ranger with cash or check Must occupy your site the same day you pay; no advance reservations allowed Two group sites and two individual sites directly on the water are premium locations

Skip Pelican Lake Campground if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available at most sites. You require advance reservations — only first come, first serve available. You're sensitive to industrial noise — oil pump jacks operate near the campground. You rely on GPS directions — Google Maps directions reported as unreliable; use official RIDB directions (25 miles southwest of Vernal on UT-88).

Best time to visit Pelican Lake Campground: May-October — Official operating season for the campground.

Nearby campgrounds: Desolation Gray Canyons Screen Cabins (Price, UT), Green River Campground (Jensen, UT), Split Mountain Group Campground (Jensen, UT), Uinta River Group (Duchesne, UT).