Shifting sand dunes, juniper and pinyon pine trees, stable sand ridges, sagebrush, and grasses on flats are some of the beautiful features that make Rockwell Wilderness Study Area a premier destination for primitive camping, outdoor recreation, and memorable getaways. This 21 square mile Bureau of Land Management property lies 28 miles west of Nephi, Utah, in an area that can be accessed easily by vehicles. The wilderness itself is closed to the use of vehicles and other mechanical equipment.
There are several ways to enjoy the outdoors at this BLM park. If your interest is nature study, you’ll find a unique four-wing saltbrush that is found nowhere else, the Atriplex canescens, in this park. This is in addition to other flora species such as junipers, greasewood, and sagebrush. Wildlife and birds also abound in this park., inviting viewers to take photographs. The sand dunes themselves are an absolutely fantastic spectacle. Not only that, they make the area a premier OHV riding destination. Adventurers also visit Utah Lake nearby for additional recreation such as fishing, boating, kayaking, and many more.
Primitive recreation and camping opportunities abound in Rockwell WSA. More developed camping options are provided at Lake Sahara Recreation Area and further south at Fishlake National Forest.
Rockwell Wilderness Study Area lies 28 miles west of Nephi, in central Juab County, Utah. Access to this Bureau of Land Management wilderness area is from Utah Highway 6, 32 miles north of Delta. The wilderness lies in the northwest corner of Little Sahara Recreation Area. Other access routes to the wilderness are Highway 32 and Juab County Road 1812.
Majority of the routes that lead to Rockwell WSA are paved and maintained, particularly the highways and major roads, so two-wheel drive vehicles are good for them. However, local dirt roads around wilderness areas may require four-wheel drive vehicles. Guests should note that the use of motorized vehicles and other mechanical equipment is not allowed within the boundaries of this BLM park. The parking spaces outside the wilderness area and at Little Sahara Recreation Area are available for vehicles. The use of wheelchairs is allowed in the wilderness.
There are no direct public transportation services to this BLM park.
If you wish to get developed camping equipment such as RVs, fifth wheels, and trailers, you will find rental services at Juab County and Nephi.
Little Sahara Recreation Area features several camping areas that provide great spots to close your day after hiking, backpacking or horseback riding through Rockwell WSA. There are four campgrounds in the recreation area - Jericho, Sand Mountain, Oasis, and White Sands Campgrounds, where campers of all ages can relax year-round.
More than 200 campsites are available in this BLM park, offering dry, tent, group, and RV camping opportunities. Amenities include potable water, toilets, dump station, picnic tables, and grills. Pets are allowed in the campgrounds.
Campsites that accommodate vehicles in the recreation area can take RVs and trailers up to 40 feet.
Rockwell WSA is a beautifully decorated site featuring a wide variety of visual settings, owing to the resplendent flora within its corridors. The park consists of old juniper trees and impressive dunes. The vegetation within the park is mainly scattered junipers, greasewood, saltbrush and sagebrush. The juniper woodlands also consist of a few old gnarled junipers here and there.
Flora enthusiasts will find a unique plant, Atriplex canescens var gigantean, growing in the WSA. This plant species is the final relic of a once-common species.
Good opportunities to enjoy wildlife and bird watching are provided to guests at Rockwell WSA. This Bureau of Land Management property in Utah is well-known as a habitat for 48 mammal species, one amphibian, 15 reptile species, and 115 bird species.
Some of the wildlife and birds that keen observers in the park will spot include kit fox, long-billed curlew, ferruginous hawk, and burrowing owl. In winter, bald eagles spend time in the park areas.
Sometimes all you need is just a place to enjoy some peace and quiet, away from the noise and rush of daily life. For that, Rockwell WSA is perfect.
This vehicle-free wilderness offers the chance for visitors to enjoy solitude and watch as various natural processes unfold. The flora communities and fauna in the wilderness offer good sights for those enjoying time away from home. Feel free to come along with your camera and binoculars so you can make the best of your vacation here.
The sands that are prevalent in Rockwell WSA and the surrounding region were formed from the deposits left by Sevier River, a river that once flowed into Lake Bonneville, about 15 millennia ago. The action of wind and the Sand Mountain that sits in the middle of the dune field in the area caused the deposition of lots of sand.
All of these led to the 124 square mile expanse of giant free-moving sand dunes that’s hard to miss by all who visit the area.
If you’re looking for a world-class off-highway vehicle riding spot, the 94 square miles of sand dunes, juniper hills and sagebrush flats at Little Sahara Recreation Area is just perfect for you. This recreation area offers trails and open areas for OHV riding, part of which is the opportunity to climb up Sand Mountain, a 700-feet high mountain.
So popular is this area for OHV recreation, that it is dubbed Utah’s premier OHV area among outdoor enthusiasts.
Utah Lake is a major attraction to campers enjoying good times at Rockwell WSA. How would campers not enjoy a visit to the 151.5 square mile lake where recreational opportunities such as fishing, hiking, boating, canoeing and kayaking abound?
Fish species swimming in the lake include perch, crappie, bass, catfish, and pike. Lakeshore and boat fishing are available. Public launching areas and ramps are also provided for guests to launch their vessels. Rental services are provided too.
