Behind the Butte East Primitive Permit
Goblin Valley State Park · Utah
Primitive campground east of the valley.
Get an alert when Butte East opens on your dates.
When it opens
- 4 months
- First come, first served from four months before your start dateYou book on the agency's site.
Source: stateparks.utah.gov
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Butte East were gone within 10 minutes.
Butte East reservation dates
- Season
- Year-round
- max group size
- 8people
How to get a Butte East permit
As of September 2026, Butte East in Goblin Valley State Park, Utah requires a permit issued via reservation. Butte East is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Butte East permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Butte East runs year-round.
- Type
- Overnight
- Location
- San Rafael Swell, UT
Step 1: Create a Utah State Parks account
Sign up at Utah State Parks if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.
Step 2: Know the release schedule
Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.
Step 3: Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
Step 4: Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
Butte East pro tips
- These are first-come sites, so arrive with daylight to spare rather than trying to book anything.
- Check the forecast before you commit. The roads are primitive and the park says they may be impassable when wet.
- Carry all your water. There is none in any of the Behind the Butte campgrounds.
- Use a red light after dark. This is a certified International Dark Sky Park and the park asks for it specifically.
- Camp only in a site marked with a tent symbol. Everywhere else along these roads, camping requires an already-established site with a rock fire ring.
- Little Wild Horse Canyon is the reason most people are out here, and it is a slot. Do not go in when thunderstorms are forecast.
- If you want facilities, the developed 24-site campground and the two yurts book four months to the day in advance at 8 a.m. Mountain time through ReserveAmerica.
More on Butte East: Live availability activityWhen Butte East permits open upDo I need a Behind the Butte East Primitive permit?
How much a Butte East permit costs
Butte East permit fee: The park says a $15 nightly fee per site is coming for Behind the Butte East, payable at the self-pay station or the visitor center, and that it does not replace the daily park entry fee.
The Butte East hike
- Route Type
- Varies
- Duration
- 1-14 nights
- Difficulty
- Easy
Butte East landmarks
- 1Valley of the Goblins
Three square miles of hoodoos across three undeveloped valleys with no maintained trails, inside the park
- 2Little Wild Horse Canyon
The slot canyon on the road these campgrounds sit along, and the reason many people are out here
- 3Goblin Valley Campground
The park's developed 24-site campground with two yurts, restrooms and showers, and reservations four months out
Thirty-two first-come sites with tables and metal fire rings on the road to Little Wild Horse Canyon, in a certified Dark Sky Park.
About this permit
Behind the Butte East Campground is one of three Behind the Butte primitive campgrounds along Little Wildhorse Canyon Road at Goblin Valley State Park. These areas were added to the park in 2022, and the park says management changes will be implemented over the next several years to protect natural resources.
Behind the Butte East is the largest and most developed of the three. The park lists 32 designated sites marked with numbers and tent symbols, with picnic tables and fire rings, and says fires are allowed in provided metal rings only. Vault toilets are described as coming soon. Site 5 is called out as good for equestrian camping: the Emery County Back Country Horsemen donated highlines there for horse tie-outs. The park has also announced that a $15 nightly fee per site will be implemented for this campground, payable at the self-pay station or the visitor center, and that it does not cover the daily park entry fee.
The campground is reached off B7217/EM4030. A separate parking area serves it: no overnight camping there, but overnight parking is allowed, no day-use fee is required, and it works as a staging area for trailers.
The rules are the same across all three. Camping is allowed only in sites marked with a tent symbol. All sites are first-come, first served. There is a 14-night camping limit. Site capacity is no more than 4 vehicles, and some small sites will only hold 2. Vehicles and bicycles must remain on designated roads and camping areas, and cross-country riding or driving is not permitted.
The roads are primitive, high clearance is recommended, and they may be impassable when wet. Goblin Valley is a certified International Dark Sky Park, so the park asks campers to limit light use, favour red lights, and avoid shining spotlights on the rock walls.
This is first-come camping, not a reservation system. Utah State Parks reservations through ReserveAmerica cover the developed campground and the yurts, not these sites.
The route
Behind the Butte East sits along Little Wildhorse Canyon Road off B7217/EM4030, in an area added to the park in 2022. There are 32 designated sites marked with numbers and tent symbols, each with a picnic table and fire ring, and fires are allowed in the provided metal rings only. Vault toilets are coming. Site 5 has highlines for horse tie-outs, donated by the Emery County Back Country Horsemen. A separate parking area nearby allows overnight parking and works as a trailer staging area, but no overnight camping.
Why it matters
Behind the Butte East is the practical answer to Goblin Valley's booking problem. The developed campground has 24 sites and two yurts and everything releases four months to the day in advance at 8 a.m. Mountain time, which is a race most people lose. This campground has 32 first-come sites, no reservation, tables, metal fire rings and equestrian highlines at site 5, and the same night sky.
The feeling
You are out past the park boundary on a primitive road with the San Rafael Reef standing up in front of you. There is no shade and no water and no ambient light. The park is a certified International Dark Sky Park and describes its skies as virtually free of light pollution from populated areas.
Butte East hike highlights
- 32 designated sites marked with numbers and tent symbols
- Picnic tables and metal fire rings, with fires allowed in the provided rings only
- Vault toilets described by the park as coming soon
- A first-come, first-served campground with no reservation system
- Site 5 set up for equestrian camping, with donated highlines for horse tie-outs
- An announced $15 nightly fee per site, separate from the daily park entry fee
- A separate parking area with overnight parking and trailer staging, but no camping
How hard the Butte East hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required1/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills1/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential2/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity2/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route2/5
Best for: Self-sufficient campers with a high-clearance vehicle who want dark skies and slot canyon access without a booking window.
Recommended experience: Enough desert camping to carry all your own water and read a primitive road.
Not recommended for: Low-clearance cars, anyone who needs water or a toilet at camp, and anyone arriving when rain is in the forecast.
When to hike Butte East
Best time to visit
Spring and autumn, which are the seasons Goblin Valley itself recommends. Summer runs past 100 degrees with no shade and brings flash flooding to the washes and slot canyons. Winter nights drop below freezing but the campground is empty and the sky is at its best.
- Peak
- March through May and September through October
- Shoulder
- November through February
Spring
The park's own recommended season, along with autumn. Comfortable days and cool nights.
Crowd level · high
- Advantage: Best hiking temperatures for Little Wild Horse Canyon and the Valley of Goblins
- Advantage: Long days
- Advantage: Cool nights for sleeping
- Challenge: Spring break demand on a first-come campground
- Challenge: Wind that carries sand
- Challenge: Roads can be impassable after rain
Summer
Over 100 degrees with no shade, and late-summer afternoon thunderstorms.
Crowd level · moderate
- Advantage: Easiest to find a free site
- Advantage: Latest sunsets for night sky viewing
- Advantage: Storm light over the San Rafael Swell
- Challenge: Extreme heat with no shade
- Challenge: Flash flooding in the washes and slot canyons
- Challenge: Severe lightning danger in exposed locations
Fall
The other season the park recommends: warm days, cold nights, stable weather.
Crowd level · high
- Advantage: Ideal camping weather
- Advantage: Long dark nights for the Milky Way
- Advantage: Thunderstorm risk drops away
- Challenge: Busy weekends on a first-come campground
- Challenge: Fast temperature drop after sunset
- Challenge: Shortening days
Winter
Below-freezing nights and occasional snow on the ground, with the quietest camping of the year.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: Easy to find a site
- Advantage: Snow on red rock
- Advantage: Very dark, very clear nights
- Challenge: Below-freezing nights with no hookups
- Challenge: Short days
- Challenge: Roads can be worse when wet or frozen
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
85°
43°
Wed
88°
55°
Thu
89°
56°
Fri
89°
55°
Sat
92°
54°
Sun
90°
56°
Mon
90°
53°
Butte East photography guide
Golden Hour
Last light on the San Rafael Swell from the campground, when the reef walls go orange.
Best Light
Full dark. Goblin Valley is a certified International Dark Sky Park and the park describes its skies as virtually free of light pollution from populated areas.
Beat the Crowds
These are first-come sites off a primitive road, so midweek is close to empty. The developed campground fills first because it is the one people can book.
Classic Shots
- The Milky Way over the San Rafael Reef
- Camp lit only by red light under a full star field
- Slot canyon walls in Little Wild Horse in reflected midday light
- Hoodoo fields in the Valley of the Goblins at sunrise
Butte East rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- All your water. These are primitive campgrounds with no supply of any kind
- A high-clearance vehicle, which the park recommends for these roads
- A stove, and firewood if you plan to use a ring. Do not collect wood
- Shade you bring yourself: the park describes this as an extreme desert landscape with little or no shade
- A red-mode headlamp, because this is a certified International Dark Sky Park
Rules & regulations
- 01Camping is allowed only in sites marked with a tent symbol along Little Wildhorse Canyon Road, covering Behind the Butte east, west and north
- 02All sites are first-come, first served
- 03There is a 14-night camping limit
- 04Site capacity is no more than 4 vehicles, and some small sites will only hold 2
- 05Vehicles and bicycles must remain on designated roads and camping areas only; cross-country riding or driving is not permitted
- 06Do not widen roads or drive on vegetation
- 07No shooting is allowed in any camping site or area, and no fireworks
- 08Goblin Valley is a dark sky park. Limit your use of lights, favour red lights, and do not shine spotlights on the rock walls
Hazards & considerations
- Primitive roads. High clearance is recommended and the roads may be impassable when wet
- Flash flooding in the nearby washes and slot canyons, particularly in late summer
- Extreme desert heat with little or no shade, in the park's own description of the area
- No water anywhere in these campgrounds. Everything comes in with you
- Fragile cryptobiotic soil and endangered species habitat either side of the designated roads
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Butte East.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Butte East · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Butte East FAQ
Do I need a reservation for Behind the Butte East Campground?
No. The park states that all sites in the Behind the Butte primitive camping areas are first-come, first served. Reservations through ReserveAmerica cover Goblin Valley's developed campground and its two yurts, not these sites.
How many sites does Behind the Butte East Campground have?
The park lists 32 designated sites, marked with numbers and tent symbols.
How many vehicles can I bring to Behind the Butte East Campground?
No more than four per site, and the park notes that some small sites will only hold two.
Is there water at Behind the Butte East Campground?
No. These are primitive camping areas with no water supply. Bring everything you need, and note the park's guidance of at least a gallon of water per person per day in summer.
What kind of vehicle do I need to reach Behind the Butte East Campground?
The park says the roads are primitive, high clearance is recommended, and they may be impassable when wet.
How long can I stay at the Behind the Butte campgrounds?
Fourteen nights. The park applies a 14-night camping limit to the primitive camping areas.
Can I have a campfire at the Behind the Butte campgrounds?
Yes, in the provided metal rings only. Behind the Butte East has picnic tables and metal fire rings, and the park says fires are allowed in provided metal rings only.
Butte East trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Questions
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Trip Reports
Write ReportAlternatives to a Butte East permit
- Same AreaNo permit needed
Behind the Butte West Primitive
30 designated sites with rock fire rings, with improvements the park says are coming in 2025-2026.
Tradeoffs
Similar size to East but less developed: rock rings rather than metal, and no tables listed.
- Same AreaNo permit needed
Behind the Butte North Primitive
Four designated sites with rock fire rings, reached on a road the park recommends 4x4 and high clearance for.
Tradeoffs
By far the smallest and quietest, but the park advises against it when rain is forecast because of the wash.
- Easier AlternativePermit required
Goblin Valley Yurts
Two heated yurts in the park's main campground, booked four months to the day in advance.
Tradeoffs
Heat, a swamp cooler and a bed instead of the ground, but only two of them, and a booking race rather than a first-come drive-in.
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- All Utah campgrounds
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